The hottest Cultural critique Substack posts right now

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New(ish) Books

Castalia • 119 implied HN points • 06 Nov 22
📚 Literature Book Reviews Fiction Non-fiction Authors Cultural critique
  1. In 'The Family Chao', the story explores the complexities of immigrant life in America through quirky characters, but struggles to fully connect their experiences and motivations. It uses a blend of humor and drama to highlight the challenges of cultural assimilation.
  2. Raymond Geuss's 'Not Thinking Like A Liberal' offers a unique perspective on education and community, contrasting Catholic and Protestant viewpoints. He emphasizes how being raised in a different cultural environment can provide valuable insights that challenge mainstream liberal ideas.
  3. Both books share a theme of questioning societal narratives. While 'The Family Chao' delves into personal identity against a cultural backdrop, Geuss critiques liberalism's shortcomings, suggesting that our understanding of society is more complex than commonly accepted beliefs.

Bard Meme Lab: DEEP STATE Multimedia Installation

Do Not Research • 39 implied HN points • 17 Jul 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Performance art Visual art Photography Cultural critique
  1. The DEEP STATE Multimedia Installation by Bard Meme Lab at Bard College featured a variety of artists, performers, and curators
  2. The project called 'Deep State' challenged viewers to rethink truth and fiction, and virtue and sin as categories to be played with
  3. The exhibition featured a range of artworks exploring themes like engineered godliness, organic leanings, and sexy aesthetics

New(ish) Books

Castalia • 119 implied HN points • 12 Jul 22
📚 Literature Book Reviews Contemporary Fiction Cultural critique Literary Analysis Author studies
  1. Ocean Vuong's writing is often seen as powerful but can be overly sentimental and filled with clichés. Critics argue that this style makes the meaning less clear.
  2. Jill Lepore's book discusses the early tech company Simulmatics and how its ideas of data and manipulation have shaped today's technology landscape. She highlights how these concepts were developed long before modern tech emerged.
  3. Lepore stresses the importance of understanding the history behind Silicon Valley innovation. She argues that many ideas considered new today actually have roots in past government and corporate projects.

In Search of Artistic Integrity

Castalia • 59 implied HN points • 11 Feb 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Theory Literary Criticism Cultural critique
  1. The book 'Foodie' seems to be intentionally obscure, and the author chose anonymity to focus on genuine artistic expression rather than popularity. This suggests that true art can exist without the need for a large audience.
  2. Guy Debord's idea of the 'society of the spectacle' highlights how society values appearances more than substance. This shift makes being an artist more about social media presence than the quality of work.
  3. Authentic art is not about making money or gaining fame; it's about connecting with others and expressing true emotions. Artists should focus on their work rather than trying to be famous.

UNPAYWALLED: Renaud Camus part 2

Reactionary Feminist • 3 implied HN points • 18 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Ideology Conspiracy Power Dynamics Cultural critique Political theory
  1. Renaud Camus is known for his controversial idea of 'the Great Replacement,' which has been heavily criticized by those who may not fully understand his work.
  2. The second part of the discussion explores 'replacism' as an ideology with new insights and interpretations from Camus' later writings.
  3. There are provocative ideas about power dynamics in politics, suggesting that some people might naturally prefer to follow rather than lead.
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New(ish) Books

Castalia • 39 implied HN points • 24 Feb 23
📚 Literature Book Reviews Short Stories Literary Analysis Author studies Cultural critique
  1. The 2022 O. Henry Prize Winners collection shows little innovation in short story writing, mainly leaning towards gritty realism or magical realism, with some disappointments in quality.
  2. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s short story ‘Zikora’ stands out for its honest depiction of childbirth from a woman's perspective, showcasing deep emotional truths.
  3. Isaac Butler's book 'The Method' explores how acting techniques influence cultural identity, suggesting that the shift towards naturalism in acting reflects broader societal changes in the 20th century.

Curator

Castalia • 39 implied HN points • 05 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Film analysis Philosophy Sociology Literature Cultural critique Media Studies
  1. Technical disaster movies highlight how human mistakes can lead to disastrous situations. They show the gap between experts and the public and how technical problems often arise from neglect or poor management.
  2. Friedrich Hayek argued that central planning by a few people can't effectively manage complex markets. He believed that knowledge is dispersed and that no single authority can understand or control the economy completely.
  3. Gnosticism is compared to technocracy, seen as a challenge to rational thought. There's a belief that while technocrats think they have everything figured out, human searches for meaning and truth are still important and should not be ignored.

LARP, InfoLARP, and UniLARPy

Rounding the Earth Newsletter • 5 implied HN points • 22 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political theory Media influence Social Behavior Cultural critique
  1. LARP stands for Live Action Role Playing, where people act out stories or events like in reenactments. It's a fun way for people to bring fiction to life.
  2. InfoLARP is when media pretends to be serious news but is actually misleading. It's designed to confuse people and often makes money by targeting particular audiences.
  3. UniLARPy refers to a bigger scheme where certain groups create narratives through media and politics. This can shape public opinion and personal beliefs in a way that's like living in a controlled reality.

Japanese aesthetics: A podcast(!) and Q&A

Kyle Chayka Industries • 55 implied HN points • 12 Mar 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Aesthetics Podcast Translation Cultural critique Literature
  1. Kyle Chayka published his first audio project discussing Tanizaki's 'In Praise of Shadows' with Nate Gallant, exploring Japanese aesthetics and its relation to modernity.
  2. Tanizaki's essay delves into personal taste, the impact of technology on art, and the cultural implications of aesthetics in Japan.
  3. The essay critiques Western ideals of perfection and light, praising the beauty of shadows and imperfections in Japanese aesthetics.

Pretend I’m dead

Austin Kleon • 99 implied HN points • 09 Jul 21
📚 Literature Writing Books Authors Narrative Cultural critique
  1. Reading books about writing can be a fun way to avoid actually writing while still feeling productive. It's like pretending to care about writing without doing it.
  2. Attention can be interpreted differently in various languages, suggesting that how we think about focusing on things can change based on culture. This shows how language influences our perception.
  3. The idea that the year can feel either half full or half empty is a nice reminder to look at life positively. It really depends on your perspective!

thinking about time horizons

Midnight Musings • 39 implied HN points • 03 Oct 22
📖 Philosophy Human nature Cultural critique Mental health
  1. Short-term thinking can lead to poor decision-making and bad predictions about the future. It's important to be aware of how the media and news might shape our understanding in a narrow way.
  2. People often feel pessimistic because they focus on immediate negative events instead of longer-term progress. Expanding our view can help us see the brighter side of things and be more hopeful about the future.
  3. Understanding human nature and historical perspectives can improve our ability to strategize and make decisions. Looking deeper into ancient wisdom might provide better insights than current trends.

Throwing Soup on a Painting Wasn't As Nonsensical as People Claim

The 21st Century Proletarian • 19 implied HN points • 02 Nov 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Climate Crisis Cultural critique Symbolism
  1. Throwing soup on a painting was a symbolic act meant to attract attention to climate activism.
  2. The action was more about performance art and disturbing the status quo than about causing real damage.
  3. The use of soup as a symbol conveyed a message of impending loss and the need for radical change to save what we have.

Political Art

The False Consensus Effect • 19 implied HN points • 02 Nov 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Political art Art history Social Commentary Cultural critique
  1. Political art reflects how groups in societies make decisions to live together peacefully.
  2. Art has historically played a role in politics, from Michelangelo to contemporary political artists.
  3. Artists throughout history have used their creations to provoke thought, question authority, and bring attention to important societal issues.

Beyond Gay Birds: The Enchanting Worldview of Queer Ecology

As If We Were Staying • 1 implied HN point • 25 Jun 24
🎭️ Culture Ecology Social justice Environmental Studies Cultural critique
  1. Queer Ecology goes beyond just finding queer behavior in animals. It challenges our views on nature and encourages us to see connections and interdependence in all living things.
  2. This field of study highlights how our understanding of ecology has often been limited by narrow cultural perspectives. By considering diverse viewpoints, we can uncover a fuller picture of our natural world.
  3. It invites us to rethink our relationship with nature, moving from a stance of fear or indifference to one of wonder and respect. We can learn so much more when we appreciate the intelligence and connections present in non-human life.

Paper, Blogpost, Podcast

Research && Reflection • 1 HN point • 14 May 24
📖 Philosophy Psychology Rationality Media Analysis Cultural critique Communication
  1. The struggles in dating are different for men and women today. Women often deal with being 'involuntarily single', while men may feel 'involuntarily celibate'.
  2. You can improve how you think by letting go of beliefs that don't help you predict the future. This means trusting only the ideas that work for you.
  3. The Dwarkesh Podcast features experts discussing important topics. Learning from their insights can help you understand complex subjects better.

On Timepass and Tutankhamun's Transcendent Tunes (Ch. 11)

Ink-uilab • 0 implied HN points • 04 May 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Music Poetry Literature Performance Cultural critique
  1. The newsletter delves into the concept of 'timepass' and discusses the speech given at the Yale College Henry James TenEyck Prize Competition on the topic.
  2. Philip Glass' opera Akhnaten is explored, highlighting its mystical and historical themes, including the use of ancient languages in the production.
  3. The newsletter also touches upon the work of Agha Shahid Ali and his contributions to New Formalism, particularly focusing on the 'English ghazal' poetry form.

Marie Larsen: Everyone is Bored, Everything is Boring

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Cultural critique Online Learning Community Building
  1. Legacy institutions are losing public trust by failing to adapt to the rapidly changing modern world.
  2. Cultural institutions struggled to innovate during the pandemic, highlighting a need for creative restructuring.
  3. Young artists are seeking alternative communities outside traditional art schools due to dissatisfaction with the current art world.

We Don't Understand Time

The Apéritif • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jun 24
📚 Literature Fiction Authors Books Cultural critique Creative Writing
  1. Kurt Vonnegut's life and work show that he had a unique understanding of time. He believed that moments in time, like past, present, and future, all exist together, which he explored in his writing.
  2. The film 'Unstuck in Time' captures Vonnegut's gentle and funny spirit, as well as his belief in the importance of family and creativity. It reflects on how modern technology can steal away children's wonder and imagination.
  3. Vonnegut's personality and wisdom feel rare today. He had a charming way of speaking that made people feel connected to him, and his experiences shaped his ability to convey deep truths about life.

Jake Hasapopoulos: Hunter & Noelle

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art Mixed Media Cultural critique Folklore Semiotics
  1. The artwork 'Hunter & Noelle' by Jake Hasapopoulos reflects a fusion of American political and cultural references like Hunter Biden and Noelle Bush's connection to crack addiction juxtaposed with historical events.
  2. Through his art, Jake Hasapopoulos aims to blend religion, spirituality, radical politics, and entertainment to create a new expressive language.
  3. The artist's focus on examining cultural phenomenon, questioning the separation of church and state, and exploring American mythologies shows a deep dive into societal dynamics and beliefs.

Screening + Q&A: Jon Rafman: Punctured Sky (2021) w/ Filip Kostic

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Film Storytelling Visual Arts Digital Art Cultural critique
  1. A key theme discussed is the exploration of lost truth and memory in the protagonist's search for meaning in Jon Rafman's film _Punctured Sky_.
  2. Rafman highlights the importance of constructed narratives in understanding self-identity and consciousness, especially in a world where reality and history are increasingly complex and fragmented.
  3. The conversation touches on the significance of using free apps and hacks to create art in a way that embraces playfulness and transparency in showcasing the process of image splicing and storytelling.

Groomed to be a Weed Head

The Other Side of Fear • 0 implied HN points • 07 Mar 24
🎭️ Culture Music Cultural critique Substance Use
  1. Marijuana culture can have a strong influence on individuals, leading to changes in behavior and priorities.
  2. Mass media, like music and movies, can play a significant role in promoting drug culture and influencing perceptions.
  3. Reconsidering the influence of music with lyrics and taking breaks from such music can help in breaking free from mass hypnosis.

Andrea Karch: In de Duysent Vrees (Amid the Thousand Fears)

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Visual art Performance art Political art Cultural critique Film
  1. Andrea Karch's performance explores the connections between neoconservative and liberal critiques, revealing how extreme beliefs thrive on fears of crises and collapse.
  2. The title 'In de Duysent Vrees' references a fabricated enemy that symbolizes racial paranoia, prompting a reflection on the motivations behind embracing drastic political views.
  3. The piece raises questions about the nature of meaningful antifascist movements today and how they could be envisioned.