The hottest Social Commentary Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

Book giveaway

Granted • 19806 implied HN points • 15 Oct 23
📚 Literature Social Commentary
  1. Gratitude book giveaway for loyal readers on Hidden Potential launch
  2. Interesting insight from Hidden Potential quiz results on key character skills
  3. Variations in character strengths based on gender, age, work, and country

The Trouble with ‘Murder at the End of the World’

Common Sense with Bari Weiss • 3083 implied HN points • 20 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Feminism Literature Social Commentary
  1. In the show _A Murder at the End of the World_, the protagonist Darby Hart stands out as an unexpected detective due to her age and gender.
  2. The series aims to deliver feminist messages and social commentary, but some viewers find it heavy-handed and lacking originality.
  3. The portrayal of Darby as a young, attractive amateur detective solving a mystery challenges traditional crime genre conventions, but some viewers question the believability and depth of her character.

Before the police arrives: Bookstores on Saturdays

Global Inequality and More 3.0 • 1125 implied HN points • 22 Feb 24
📚 Literature Bookstores Reading Memoirs Classics Social Commentary
  1. Allocating a fixed amount for book purchases can help maximize pleasure and choice.
  2. Exploring bookstores on Saturdays armed with book reviews can lead to thoughtful decisions on what to buy.
  3. Exposure to diverse literary works, especially during intellectually stimulating periods, can strongly influence individual interests and perspectives.
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The Specific Catharsis of 'That Guy"

Culture Study • 7219 implied HN points • 13 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Gender Dynamics Internet culture
  1. The TikTok filter 'That Guy' accurately portrays a specific type of man with entitlement issues.
  2. The filter highlights the dynamics between men and women, showing how some men view women as objects to possess.
  3. The meme provides catharsis by showcasing and ridiculing behaviors of 'That Guy' and shedding light on societal roles in enabling such behavior.

What have I been up to lately? Recent essays and plans

Tracing Woodgrains • 884 implied HN points • 03 Feb 24
🎨 Art & Illustration Writing Social Commentary
  1. The author experienced a sudden surge in attention and opportunities after posting on Twitter.
  2. There is a struggle to balance writing between Substack and Twitter due to differences in reach and community building.
  3. The author values deep investigative writing but finds it challenging to dedicate time to it alongside other commitments.

Midwittery to Humility

thestoa • 668 implied HN points • 30 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary
  1. Midwit meme illustrates intellectual arrogance and narcissistic supply.
  2. Intellectual humility involves accurate self-assessment of views and capacities.
  3. Cultivating intellectual humility involves distinguishing various qualities of intelligence.

AI Legislation Ideas, After Xi, Tweets of the Week, Weibo Doom Scroll

ChinaTalk • 177 implied HN points • 08 Mar 24
🌍 World Politics Social Commentary Cultural analysis
  1. There's a push for AI legislation, where engaging in the legislative process can shape the future of policies.
  2. The succession plan after Xi Jinping in Chinese politics remains unclear and involves intricate power dynamics.
  3. Discussion around various societal topics in Chinese culture, like superstitions in housing and parenting practices.

Desolation Row

Daily Dreher • 1356 implied HN points • 22 Oct 23
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Personal narrative
  1. The post discusses a meeting with Gad Saad, an evolutionary biologist with a significant online following.
  2. The author expresses a wish to disagree with Prof. Saad about something after reflecting on recent events.
  3. Readers are encouraged to subscribe for a 7-day free trial to access more of Rod Dreher's Diary.

Pop über alles

Banana Peel Pirouette • 197 implied HN points • 09 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Music Youth culture Pop culture Social Commentary Artistic expression
  1. The evolution of music criticism, the rise of poptimism, and the shift towards commercial pop music have reshaped the music scene and challenged traditional ideas of authenticity and subcultural affiliation.
  2. The collapse of the middle ground in the music industry mirrors broader economic shifts, with mainstream pop stars dominating the landscape and influencing youth culture.
  3. Poptimism and hustle culture celebrate a pragmatic acceptance of commercial success over traditional values like originality and authenticity, reflecting a broader cultural trend driven by economic realities and the digital age.

The Work of Writing About Taylor Swift

Oliver Bateman Does the Work • 137 implied HN points • 31 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Music Pop culture Critique Social Commentary Celebrity
  1. In a world of cultural commentary, perspectives on public figures like Taylor Swift can vary widely.
  2. Public figures like Swift are often appropriated as symbols for different causes, regardless of their personal beliefs.
  3. Swift's broad appeal allows for numerous and often conflicting interpretations, leading to a commodification of opinions in pop culture.

In the Grim Darkness of 2024, There is Only War

Trantor Publishing • 2 HN points • 18 Apr 24
🎭️ Culture Entertainment Politics Ideology Social Commentary Fiction
  1. Wokeness has been impacting various entertainment franchises, pushing for diversity and representation, often leading to controversies and changes in beloved IPs.
  2. The Left utilize tactics like gaslighting, representation demands, and creating unnecessary problems to sway companies and control the narrative in the entertainment industry.
  3. Creating entertainment properties grounded in truthful depictions of humanity can resist Leftist influences and provide spaces for storytelling that align with right-leaning perspectives.

Tales of the City

So Here’s a Thing • 806 implied HN points • 30 Jun 23
⚔ Fiction Dystopian Satire Social Commentary
  1. The Almost Central Station in The City had a mix-up during construction but the mishap was taken in stride as a character-building exercise.
  2. Certain districts in The City got coded names to prevent residents from identifying too closely with their living spaces; this led to crackdowns over time.
  3. In The City, even language usage is monitored by the Ministry of Words, sometimes leading to unintentional bans; employees find themselves in silence most days.

02/06/24 - Men with ED are the cutest.

Moly’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 07 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Relationships Health
  1. A blogger discusses the interesting conversations and interactions that can occur with a partner who has ED, highlighting the importance of patience and communication.
  2. Various healthcare anecdotes from around the world showcase different experiences and approaches to medical issues.
  3. Social dynamics and gender roles within families during holidays are highlighted, emphasizing the inequality in household responsibilities.

Going Broke and Getting Rich

The False Consensus Effect • 59 implied HN points • 31 Dec 23
🎨 Art & Illustration Creativity Social Commentary Poetry Visual art
  1. The author plans to maintain expenses below the U.S. poverty level for a year, challenging themselves to make under $399 profit, showcasing a unique thought/action experiment.
  2. There is a focus on living frugally and embracing a minimalistic lifestyle as a form of protest against government systems and societal norms.
  3. The author emphasizes the importance of stories and rare artifacts as valuable remnants of past resistance and cultural significance.

“Superstore” Is A Pro-Labor Classic

JoeWrote • 22 implied HN points • 15 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture TV shows Labor Rights Social Commentary
  1. Superstore is a show that portrays the struggles and realities of America's minimum wage workers, highlighting issues like low pay and being treated as expendable by corporate bosses.
  2. The character Jonah in Superstore represents the guilty white liberal, contrasting with majority-POC working-class characters who are more accustomed to exploitation. The show tackles themes like union busting and the use of undocumented workers to suppress labor rights.
  3. Superstore goes beyond the typical narrative of workplace sitcoms by delving into serious topics like exploitation, deportation threats, and the harsh realities of capitalism, making it a pro-labor classic.

01/11/24 - You never see real life in news.

Moly’s Substack • 39 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Internet culture Satire Relationships Humor
  1. People in their 30s might still be single because of factors like appearance, temper, laziness, or being too picky.
  2. Korea is facing a declining birth rate and population collapse, leading to economic and social challenges in the future.
  3. Real life situations often differ from what is portrayed in the news and online discussions.

The Myth of Cain and Abel

Banana Peel Pirouette • 178 implied HN points • 01 Aug 23
📚 Literature Mythology History Social Commentary Evolution Narrative analysis
  1. The Cain and Abel story can be interpreted as representing the agricultural revolution and its societal impacts.
  2. The narrative reflects the conflict between nomadic pastoral and sedentary farming societies, highlighting the transformative role of agriculture.
  3. Through the characters of Cain and Abel, the story also delves into the historical consequences of agriculture, including slavery, inequality, and the exploitation of labor.

The void

Close-reading the reruns with Phoebe Maltz Bovy • 235 implied HN points • 25 Apr 23
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Identity politics Feminism Twitter Online Culture
  1. The post discusses a tweet involving a white woman and a shirt slogan in a Pilates class - there's a void at the core of the story.
  2. The narrative explores how social media posts can project feelings onto situations and individuals.
  3. The author questions the meaning behind a shirt slogan stating "Literally nothing I do is for men" and the implications it carries.

A photo of a hamburger

Internal exile • 9 implied HN points • 23 Feb 24
🎭️ Culture Technology Entertainment Critique Social Commentary
  1. Generative models like Sora can automate video creation but may lead to an influx of unwanted content and job loss in the industry.
  2. OpenAI's Sora model aims to attract investment by presenting itself as a promising video simulator, emphasizing sample quality improvement.
  3. The 'dopamine culture' narrative simplifies complex societal issues around attention and addiction, shifting focus away from larger systemic problems.

Happy humility: Philosophy Club call for paid subscribers

Tessa Fights Robots • 8 implied HN points • 16 Feb 24
📖 Philosophy Great Reset Humility Social Commentary
  1. The article discusses the concept of a 'great reset' that aims to disconnect people from their empowerment and direct them towards centralized authority.
  2. Throughout history, reformers have tried to undermine rural communities to implement their top-down changes.
  3. Practicing 'happy humility' is crucial to dealing with challenges and focusing on personal responsibilities without trying to carry the weight of the world.