The hottest Social Commentary Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top Culture Topics

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.

A Beautiful Despair

Critic at Large • 99 implied HN points • 01 Jul 23
🎶 Music Social Commentary
  1. Marvin Gaye's album 'What's Going On' was a bold departure from Motown's typical upbeat tunes, focusing on social issues and political statements.
  2. Despite facing resistance from Motown's boss, Gaye persisted in creating an album that touched on themes like war, poverty, and environmental degradation.
  3. Through his music, Gaye managed to convey powerful messages of love, hope, and societal introspection, leaving a lasting impact on the music industry and inspiring future generations of artists.

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.
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What I’ve Been Reading This Year

Cybernetic Forests • 139 implied HN points • 18 Dec 22
🎨 Art & Illustration AI Art Creative Process Social Commentary
  1. Reflection on the problems and implications of AI-based image generation in art
  2. Consideration of the origin and context of AI training data, highlighting issues like exploitation and biases
  3. Exploration of rethinking AI images as material for artistic expression, and the importance of artists reclaiming agency over these tools and the images they create

Succession: Shiv Misunderstood

Kvetch • 55 implied HN points • 04 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture TV shows Gender Roles Character analysis Social Commentary
  1. Shiv from Succession is often misunderstood by fans who compare her to characters like Skyler White.
  2. The show Succession doesn't portray its flawed protagonists as entirely dislikeable, instead revering them in their complexities.
  3. The series explores themes of power, succession, and generational dynamics through the lens of dysfunctional relationships and characters' sexual expressions.

Paying Attention in Polarized Times: Sarah Watling on the Spanish Civil War

The Octavian Report • 33 implied HN points • 11 Jun 23
🎭️ Culture History Literature Photography Activism Social Commentary
  1. Sarah Watling's book explores individuals who actively engaged with the Spanish Civil War, showing the costs and possibilities of taking sides.
  2. The book highlights the diverse voices and perspectives beyond well-known figures like Virginia Woolf, shedding light on the significance of the war internationally.
  3. The concept of solidarity is central to the book, demonstrating the complexities of enacting meaningful solidarity in times of crisis and the importance of diverse perspectives in understanding history.

The Fundie Baby Voice

The View from Rural Missouri by Jess Piper • 1 HN point • 08 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political culture Social Commentary Conservatism Women's issues Feminism
  1. The 'fundie baby voice' is a soft, high-pitched, breathy tone often used by some women in Fundamentalist communities to show submission and sweetness.
  2. This voice can be habitual for some women or used to hide secrets, but it doesn't always indicate malice; some just follow learned behavior.
  3. When powerful figures speak with the 'fundie baby voice', it can signal a mix of condescension and submission to maintain proximity and favor with those in power.

More for Less

The Leftovers • 19 implied HN points • 25 Nov 22
🎭️ Culture Consumerism Civil Unrest Social Commentary
  1. Black Friday is a day that can become a ritualistic and violent frenzy driven by consumerism and desire for material goods.
  2. Looting during protests or riots can be a political act that symbolizes desire to challenge the system and social positioning.
  3. The act of looting is often televised to reinforce the power of consumer society and divert attention from larger socio-political issues.

The Truthiness of Hasan Minhaj

Good Reason • 3 HN points • 28 Sep 23
🎭️ Culture Comedy Satire Entertainment Social Commentary Media industry
  1. Comedians often exaggerate and fabricate stories, but there are limits to how far they can go.
  2. Shows like 'The Daily Show' and 'The Colbert Report' used comedy to critique mainstream news media and promote intellectual discourse.
  3. There is a risk of catering to audience expectations and generating 'clapter' in comedy, leading to echo chambers and a focus on emotional truth over factual truth.

I Am Not Going to Try and Sell a Painting

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 14 May 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Painting Artistic expression Social Commentary Activism Personal Reflection
  1. Art is not for sale as a commodity; it should continue beyond the sale and be a process that the buyer engages in.
  2. Consider boycotting products that support causes you do not agree with, like Sabra hummus supporting Israeli military bosses.
  3. Engage in practical actions, like supporting political candidates aligned with your values, to address issues you are passionate about, such as challenging Apartheid.

The Art Critic Part II

The False Consensus Effect • 39 implied HN points • 15 Jan 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Art Criticism Art market Social Commentary Creative Process
  1. The post discusses the events surrounding the Capitol riot on January 6, highlighting the insurrection, sedition, and impeachment of a U.S. President and lawmakers.
  2. The author reflects on the art world, critiquing the influence of money and power in auctions and the value of artwork compared to the intentions of the artists.
  3. Effective altruism and the debate around the impact of creating art versus supporting charitable causes are explored, with strong criticisms towards the idea of art being considered frivolous in the face of global suffering.

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.

"Links" Weekend Edition: We all know how that ended

Links I Would Gchat You If We Were Friends • 0 implied HN points • 09 Oct 15
🎭️ Culture Internet Social Commentary Media Literature Technology
  1. There was a real, heated debate in the 1920s about whether all cats should be dead.
  2. You can download digital culture #longreads from the post as an ebook or click directly into the links that interest you.
  3. The post also includes links to various interesting articles about topics like Reddit, Twitter, smartphone addiction, and online vigilantes.

Nicholas Aloisio-Shearer: Reject Modernity, Embrace Tradition II: I Have Been In This Place Before

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Exhibition Digital Art Social Commentary Internet culture
  1. The exhibition showcases jacquard woven tapestries inspired by the Apocalypse Tapestry from the 14th Century, merging biblical allegories with internet culture and contemporary image production.
  2. The artworks in the exhibition blend traditional artistic techniques with modern internet imagery, creating a bridge between historical tapestry production and current computational logic.
  3. The pieces in the collection draw on a variety of sources, including 3D print repositories, internet memes, and religious iconography, reflecting a fusion of technology, mythology, and cultural critique.

Julianna Ham: Cultural Learnings of a Post-Borat America

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 16 Oct 22
🎭️ Culture Comedy Documentary Ethics Social Commentary Reality
  1. American comedic film and TV can be categorized into two eras, pre and post the 2006 film Borat, reflecting the changing cultural landscape in America.
  2. The emergence of 'reflexive mockamentary' genre in filmed comedy showcases a trend where protagonists interact with real-world subjects in a deceptive manner, revealing the complexities of human behavior under social influence.
  3. The genre blurs the line between reality and fiction, raising ethical and philosophical questions about the power dynamics between the 'addressant' who knows the truth, and the 'addressee' who is unaware, highlighting the human desire to explore the limits of truth and absurdity.

Reuben Dendinger: Review of Gillian Wearing: Wearing Masks

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Feb 22
🎨 Art & Illustration Exhibition Identity Postmodernism Social Commentary
  1. Gillian Wearing's art explores individual self-expression, but it also raises questions about collective identity and political content.
  2. The postmodern period's emphasis on fluid identity and masks reflects a shift towards extreme individualism and consumer-focused culture.
  3. Wearing's work challenges the depoliticized view of identity and highlights the importance of recognizing class-based exploitation and collective struggle.

Sjef van Beers: Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece #1

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 15 Sep 21
🎨 Art & Illustration Gaming Online Culture Visual art Social Commentary
  1. Online culture often portrays gamers in a negative light, highlighting stereotypes such as being socially inept and aggressive.
  2. The _Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece_ series reimagines the gamer stereotype using gamer subculture visuals to give it a new political identity.
  3. The artwork _Gamer Keyboard Wall Piece #1_ uses RGB lit keys of gamer keyboards as pixels in a video installation that addresses themes like loneliness and anxiety.

I just wanna do FUN STUFF!

Anxiety Addiction & Ascension • 0 implied HN points • 21 Jun 22
🎭️ Culture Society Morality Globalization Principles Social Commentary
  1. Some people prioritize 'fun stuff' over principles and morality, leading to compliance with mandates they originally opposed.
  2. Believing in principles and standing strong against coercion is crucial to prevent further encroachments on personal freedoms.
  3. Middleclass urban professionals often value 'fun stuff' more than personal pride and ideals of liberty, making them susceptible to manipulation and control.

Margo Bergamini: Rate Your Shelf

Do Not Research • 0 implied HN points • 06 Apr 21
🎭️ Culture Literature Podcasts Politics Art Social Commentary
  1. The importance of a genuine love for literature and resisting cultural decline in online literary communities.
  2. The emergence of an intellectually ambitious fringe right Twitter group that values intellectual growth and rejects mainstream political movements.
  3. The need for the left to focus not just on material improvements, but also on expanding human freedom and creative capacities to fulfill the promises of modernism.

The club

The Leftovers • 0 implied HN points • 10 Oct 21
🎭️ Culture Social Commentary Society
  1. In clubs, there are members who love being exclusive, non-members who aspire to join, and non-members who reject the club altogether.
  2. The pattern of loving and hating clubs can continue as new clubs form and evolve, posing challenges and uncertainties.
  3. Clubs can perpetuate elitism and exclusivity, causing divisions between those inside and outside the group.