culture porn 10/21
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
the watcher (netflix)
i read the long 2018 article in THE CUT documenting the true story this was inspired by and had to tune in. unfortunately the execution wasn’t there for me. but, i highly recommend the original article, easily available via google. it’s creepy, unresolved, and maybe all this PR will crack the case.
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abbott elementary (abc)
at a time when public school teachers are under more pressure than ever, i’m thrilled that showrunner du jour quinta brunson and her ensemble are back for a second season, mining laughs in absurdity and bureaucracy - and they do not disappoint.
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24 frames (jason isbell and the 400 unit)
on a recent work trip to Nashville, thanks to the team at UTA i was able to catch a bit of the jason isbell residency at historic Ryman Auditorium. his rich vocal tone and excellent guitar stills were impressive and very catchy, rounded out by a talented band. with my dad being from Alabama - as isbell is - listening to him feels a little nostalgic.
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archetypes: bimbo (spotify)
like many, i've been avoiding meghan markle's podcast, but after watching a constructive, THE VIEW-style debate among female journalists on CNN TONIGHT, i wanted to check this out. in a sit down with paris hilton, markle compares her own experiences of objectification as a model and "briefcase girl" on DEAL OR NO DEAL, and the internet is loving the controversy.
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atlanta (fx)
donald glover continually surprises and impresses me with his bold leaps into inventive storytelling, and S4 E5 (entitled WORK ETHIC) trains his satirical lens on tyler perry via a mysterious entertainment mogul named "mr. chocolate." trust me, you will be talking about it.
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call her daddy: an abortion story (spotify)
sex-positive comedic podcaster alex cooper travels to Charleston to explore the real-life impact and consequences of women who can't get abortions in other states, due to SCOTUS' reversal of ROE V. WADE – showing unexpected depth and urgency, without letting her own opinions get in the way.
insights + inspo
how Gen Z is redefining ugliness
what defines beauty? typically, societal norms, but lately those feel increasingly irrelevant. as marie dollé outlines, GEN Z is helping push us away from beauty binaries and finding gorgeousness in things conventionally unappealing. as an avid watcher of VOGUE's "extreme beauty" series on YOUTUBE, i'm enchanted by the shift.
more insights here
the great guinea pig giveaway has begun
my sophomore year in college at UT austin, i brought a bunny rabbit home from a shelter to live in my small, off-campus apartment. while it was cute at first, i quickly learned that my party-girl ways left me ill-equipped to care for this furry little being, and so i sadly returned him a few weeks later. now, with so many people having adopted pets during the pandemic returning to the office or life in general, the inevitable second thoughts have set in. sadly, many adorable creatures of all stripes are being returned to shelters – or worse, abandoned – with animals other than cats and dogs having the hardest time staying in the family.
more here
#AdventuresWithSarahAndShep
while i was hiking in the Rocky Mountains, eric and a friend did a cannonball ride over Labor Day to Wyoming and then ultimately my aunt’s ranchita in the Black Forest of Colorado. after a week of working from there, eric and i rode back over the course of three days, taking in the incredible sights of the Million Dollar Highway, Monument Valley, the alpine vibe of Flagstaff, and even Forrest Gump Hill (where Forrest Gump famously stopped running). we got rained on in the Mojave Desert and had a blast!
more of sarah’s adventure here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
this week, sarah and i are culture vulturing through the midwest. my first stop: ann arbor, michigan, home to the BIG10's (now) 4th-ranked UM team, who totally dominated PENN STATE. i haven't been so excited by a game since i was in high school, and it was great to celebrate with former CIVIC colleague jacqueline thompson among 110,812 screaming wolverines. #goblue!
yours truly was booted offline a few times, after i tweeted about nancy pelosi's "punch" line. with elon musk looking to take over the platform, and ye (fka kanye west) moving to buy PARLER, i have mixed emotions about my experience.
with TIK TOK becoming the primary educational platform du jour, it's fascinating to track how its influence reaches into every corner of the internet, including sleep training. coupled with the fact that parents can now monitor every minute of their babies' lives, now younger moms and dads are leaning into child-led strategies called GENTLE PARENTING.
for linda’s full debrief, head here