The hottest Nostalgia Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Things Worth Remembering: The Art of Nostalgia

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 2810 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
📚 Literature Poetry Nostalgia Art
  1. It's common for people to look back nostalgically, especially during difficult times, but it's important to be wary of falling into the nostalgia trap by selectively remembering only the good.
  2. Resisting the nostalgia trap becomes even more challenging when reflecting on one's childhood or early adulthood.
  3. Philip Larkin's ability to find special meaning in the past and turn it into art highlights the value of interpreting our memories creatively.

One Day, Tracy Chapman and why we're obsessed with looking back

The Shift With Sam Baker • 838 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia Music TV & Film
  1. The author discusses the wave of nostalgia that many are experiencing, triggered by events like Tracy Chapman's resurgence and the popularity of 'One Day.'
  2. Nostalgia plays a big role in our fascination with 'One Day,' as it brings back memories of landlines, phone boxes, and waiting for calls that never come.
  3. 'One Day' is praised for its casting, script, pacing, and locations, but its real charm lies in evoking a sense of nostalgia for a time without the distractions of the 21st century.
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#20: Finding a forgotten flavour of chips

Pea Bee • 113 implied HN points • 03 Mar 24
🍲 Food & Drink Food history Nostalgia
  1. The search for a forgotten flavor of chips led to a journey through old blogs, archives, and random discoveries.
  2. Discovering the missing flavor brought a mix of nostalgia, satisfaction, and the joy of finally solving a mystery.
  3. Unintended discoveries like old marketing strategies and technologies enlivened the search experience, making it more than just finding a chip flavor.

The Ghost in "Dylan's Ghost Story"

Letters from Fiddler's Greene • 609 implied HN points • 05 Nov 23
🎭️ Culture Storytelling TV shows Nostalgia Community Building
  1. Telling stories with no clear resolution can keep an audience engaged, even if it lacks a traditional ending.
  2. Modern media often presents entertaining narratives that ultimately unravel, leading to self-referential gibberish and a lack of satisfying conclusions.
  3. Nostalgia for a past era, like the 1990s, is often rooted in a desire for the hope, community, and optimism that characterized that time.

Bullet Points: OpenAI looks for its FarmVille, 90s tech nostalgia, and more on the Substack drama

The Future, Now and Then • 237 implied HN points • 13 Jan 24
🕹 Technology AI Nostalgia Media Content Moderation Platform
  1. OpenAI is aiming to become a platform similar to how Facebook invited developers for apps.
  2. Nostalgia for 90s tech optimism is prevalent but may not be constructive for the present tech landscape.
  3. The Substack management issues are conflicting with their core value of empowering writers to build their own audience.

February Bookclub reveal

The Shift With Sam Baker • 159 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
📚 Literature Book Club Fiction Nostalgia
  1. The Shift With Sam Baker is a reader-supported publication, offering perks like joining the bookclub, winning free copies, and author Q&A by becoming a paid subscriber.
  2. This month's bookclub pick, 'The List of Suspicious Things' by Jennie Godfrey, is a unique coming-of-age tale set in 1979 with a child's view of society amidst a serial killer stalking West Yorkshire.
  3. The book provides a nostalgic look at 1979, featuring Margaret Thatcher as PM, drain pipe jeans, cherry lip gloss, and a more insightful exploration of society rather than just focusing on the crime aspect.

A Requiem for Techno-Optimism

Banana Peel Pirouette • 118 implied HN points • 01 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Technology Nostalgia Capitalism Consumerism
  1. Vaporwave and mallsoft genres often reflect nostalgia for the past and critique the impact of digital culture on societal norms.
  2. The evolution of internet culture from anonymity to personal branding shifted social dynamics and expectations.
  3. The decline of physical malls symbolizes the shift towards online shopping and the changing nature of consumer experiences.

⬜ Luxury in the Pokémon era

One Thing • 118 implied HN points • 22 Nov 23
🪞 Fashion & Beauty Luxury Collaboration Jewelry Design Nostalgia
  1. Rimowa is expanding their luxury brand image with new products like backpacks and handbags, maintaining a cosmopolitan aesthetic.
  2. Tiffany's collaboration with The Pokémon Company is criticized for a lack of childlike fun and adding unnecessary luxury to the brand's cultural existence.
  3. Different luxury brands require unique strategies for success in the market, as seen with Rimowa and Tiffany's distinct approaches.

All Skate

Slack Tide by Matt Labash • 229 implied HN points • 20 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia Fashion Music History Conversation
  1. The author reminisces about skating rinks in the early '80s and the pressure to look cool in front of others.
  2. The post invites readers to share their thoughts on various topics, from politics to pop culture, in the comments section.
  3. Paid subscribers have the opportunity to engage in discussions and express themselves on a range of subjects.

Memory Trains

lettersonbeing • 294 implied HN points • 01 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Memory Childhood Nostalgia Music
  1. The author reminisces about childhood memories associated with the sounds of trains
  2. Solitude is embraced and valued by the author as a warm blanket of safety
  3. The sounds of passing trains were a comforting part of the author's childhood environment

Albert, unforgotten

Sundman figures it out! • 157 implied HN points • 03 Jun 23
📚 Literature Personal Story Friendship Nostalgia Books Novel writing
  1. The author reminisces about the life of his childhood best friend, Albert, who was tragically murdered in Atlantic City.
  2. Albert was a unique and focused individual, with a deep interest in topics like history, philosophy, and stamp collecting.
  3. Despite their close friendship throughout childhood, the author and Albert drifted apart during their college years, and the tragic news of Albert's death came as a shock years later.

The AI Man (or, a Buster and Sally Meet-Cute Redux) - A new AI-Powered Short Film Reimagines a Silent Film Classic

The Cosmic Companion • 19 implied HN points • 14 Jan 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Film Technology Nostalgia Connection Innovation
  1. The AI Man is a modern take on the classic 1928 film, The Cameraman, blending artificial intelligence and romance.
  2. The film cleverly juxtaposes past simplicity with modern technology to offer a fresh perspective on love and connection.
  3. The AI Man captures nostalgia while staying relevant and timeless, showcasing the enduring essence of human connection.

The Art of Regret

Litverse • 239 implied HN points • 16 Nov 22
📚 Literature Regret Nostalgia Philosophy Art & Illustration
  1. Regret is a part of life that teaches us lessons and keeps us grounded in humanity.
  2. Nostalgia, while holding good memories, can also bring pain and a yearning for the past.
  3. Learning to navigate and express regret can lead to self-discovery and growth, showing that embracing one's past can be a path to wisdom.

Manhattan Hotel Futurism

Kneeling Bus • 136 implied HN points • 14 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Nostalgia City Planning Architecture Cultural Preservation
  1. Cities are facing an existential crisis as urban activities move online, disconnecting from physical spaces.
  2. New York is clinging to past eras due to powerful nostalgia, which hinders progress and adaptation to emergent forces like technology.
  3. The future city may resemble suburbs more than traditional urban areas, with less inertia to hold onto the past and more openness to embrace technological advancements.

Pulp Memories

Sounds Good! • 117 implied HN points • 26 Mar 23
🎭️ Culture Film Cinema Nostalgia Art Music
  1. The author reflects on revisiting classic Tarantino films like Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction after many years.
  2. Pulp Fiction holds a special place in the author's heart, being the film he watched the most number of times in cinemas.
  3. Nostalgia for iconic films like Pulp Fiction should be cherished, as they continue to have an enduring impact on popular culture and filmmakers.

[57] Pokemon: Fad That Never Fades

Life in Color • 98 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🎭️ Culture Pop culture Community Nostalgia Entertainment Arts
  1. Pokemon is one of the most successful media franchises in history, with a value of over $90 billion.
  2. The success of Pokemon can be attributed to its creator Satoshi Tajiri's innovative monster-catching concept and strategic partnerships for global expansion.
  3. The Pokemon universe's focus on collecting, social engagement, and continuous innovation through new products has helped it create a lasting and iconic cultural impact.

Your Dreams Should Stay There

Everything's Broken • 78 implied HN points • 13 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture TV shows Nostalgia Sci-fi Critique Fandom
  1. The latest episode of Star Trek Picard disappoints Star Trek fans by resorting to ham-fisted nostalgia and clumsy writing.
  2. The show takes a disappointing turn by disregarding its own canon and insulting the intelligence of the viewers.
  3. Star Trek Picard fails to maintain consistency with its past seasons and insults the core concepts of the Star Trek universe.

The Bermuda Depths

The Leftovers • 79 implied HN points • 20 Sep 22
🎭️ Culture Film Nostalgia Community Review Memory
  1. Childhood memories can have a lasting impact on our lives, even if we remember only fragments of them.
  2. Nostalgia can be powerful, leading us to seek out and revisit things from our past that hold special meaning.
  3. Shared experiences from childhood can create connections with strangers around the world, uniting people in unexpected ways.