culture porn 10/20
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
extremely online: the untold story of fame, influence, and power on the internet (simon & schuster, audible)
taylor lorenz is exactly the writer you'd want to write what is essentially the history of social media to date, having chronicled the explosion of platforms like TIK TOK and the birth of the creator economy. listening to the audiobook feels like the most relevant way to consume the past 20-plus years of digital innovation; speeding up the narration to 1-1/2 times helped!
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cocaine bear
having read the reviews and not seen the film, it was time. the movie is redonkulous in every sense, but going in with incredibly low expectations, i found it hilarious in its extremity. if i had shelled out to see it in theater, i might have felt differently.
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top boy (netflix)
if you're a fan of the italian drama GOMORRAH and steven soderbergh's FULL CIRCLE (both on MAX), dive into the drake-produced new season of this gritty UK crime show. drugs, guns, and gangs are just the context for complicated relationships interlaced with betrayal, family, and bad luck, along with a queer subplot. in this world, grim economic realities force bad decisions, all in the will to outlive others.
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my maria (brooks & dunn)
a few weekends ago, i went country line dancing. and it was incredibly fun! i enjoy country music and stepping in rhythm to this song reminded me why - it's one of my old-school favorites. we've been following country's heightened cultural import in our heartland-focused work.
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san francisco sounds: a place in time (mgm+)
lately i've taken comfort in other eras. this 2-part docuseries immersed me in the music of the bay area in the late 60s, and i loved seeing new (to me) footage of grace slick and jefferson airplane. slide into terrific archival footage and interviews with janis joplin, the band, sly & the family stone, steve miller, the dead, etc. – basically anyone who mattered then, and still matters now.
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beetlejuice (max)
as my fiancé had not yet seen this 1988 masterpiece, the time was now...certainly before the reboot comes out, which yes - i'm salty about! re-watching this certainly dated it (beetlejuice's character is a real perv, which i kind of forgot about) but gave me great nostalgia for all things tim burton, 80s, and comedy macabre. it's brilliant enough to say three times: beetlejuice, beetlejuice, beetlejuice!
insights & inspo
the new phone call etiquette: text first and never leave a voice mail
who even leaves voicemails anymore? phone etiquette has evolved and the rules have changed. heather kelly has laid out a practical guide in the washington post for navigating the rapidly changing tech landscape in 2023 and NO, it’s NEVER okay to use speakerphone in public.
more insights here
full body scans, health “journeys” and the psychology of the medical photo dump
our co-founder sarah unger spoke with NYLON’S laura pitcher about the new age of medical sharing on social media and the internet's evolving stance on health and wellness. it’s being expressed through blurry celeb selfies and influencer photo dumps all in the name of “wellness” and of course - not without endorsements.
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
it’s hard for me find words right now. perhaps pete davidson’s SNL monologue best expresses what i am feeling. i hope you take comfort in it. xlinda
thanks to katherine barna at WAYMO, i turned a 15 minute walk into a 3-minute into an autonomous vehicular adventure. the car impressively navigated a roundabout, a midstreet dumpster, parallel parking and the mystified stares of pedestrians. still, i missed having a chatty driver to share the experience with. maybe someday AI will fix that?
meanwhile in hollywood, diversity has been set back at least 5 years thanks to industry decline. that’s what i said to nicole laporte at THE ANKLER, who found that many sadly felt the same.
more insights here