culture porn 11/4
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
the white lotus (hbo max)
season 2 is back - this time in italy! oh how i missed this comedic, ominous lens on five star privilege. can’t wait to find out what tragedies await!
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all quiet on the western front (netflix)
i’ve long been terrified and fascinated by films that viscerally depict the brutality of war, like 1917, DUNKIRK, and BAND OF BROTHERS. and while it’s hard to empathize with the german POV, this gripping WWI film - based on the classic novel - focuses on a naïve young soldier who learns the human pain of battle at the losing end of the war.
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midnight rain (taylor swift)
i am not a swiftie but i do like the idea of midnight musings, and this is my favorite song on her new track. the mystery voice on the track is taylor at a different pitch, and i want more of it.
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culture: migos (quality control)
the sudden, tragic death of takeoff in houston brought me back to this grammy-nominated 2017 album from hip hop trio MIGOS. featuring hits like BAD AND BOUJEE, and guests like DJ Khaled, Lil Uzi Vert, Gucci Mane, 2 Chainz and Travis Scott, take another listen in honor of another talented young life sadly cut short by gun violence.
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the nightmare before christmas (disney+)
though it's hard to pick, this may be my favorite of Tim Burton's films -- thanks to the macabre cheer it inspires. culturally, it feels like it's made for today -- an era that can seem so dark that we have no choice but to approach it with nihilistic glee. to immerse myself in full NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS glory, i went to the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, where they reskin the ride in jack + sally + oogie boogie + zero + all the greats.
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bully market: jamie fiore higgins (simon & schuster)
as a huge fan of INDUSTRY (HBO), this true story of a young woman’s rise through the pre-#MeToo GOLDMAN SACHS gave me both chills and a better understanding of the ruthless culture of high-stakes finance - drugs, sex and emotional abuse included - just like on TV!
insights & inspo
half the world has a clitoris. why don’t doctors study it?
it's not every day you see big feature articles with the word "clitoris" in it. well, it's about time! apparently, this under-studied part of anatomy is long overdue for its time in the (scientific) spotlight. here's to shedding more light on this intriguing area, and cheers to those leading the charge.
more here
mental health needs to be rebranded
heads up: this is a long read, which we captured from my text exchange with noah barr, CULTIQUE's fave neuroscientist, on the negative impacts of the current conversations on mental health. if you've been following the mental health "crisis," you know that much of it has centered on negative states like anxiety and depression. but noah argues here that focusing on this half-empty view of our collective cognition is actually harmful to society, which should elevate individual "mental fitness" and emphasize introspection and exploration over despair. this echoes a conversation i'm hearing a lot lately, which is "there's a lot of good news out there right now. how come we don't talk about it?" i'd love to hear your thoughts on the topic.
more insights here
#AdventuresWithSarahAndShep
eric and i did some urban adventuring, exploring the epic STAHL HOUSE in the hills of urban los angeles. the view - which we saw in daylight and after dark - is truly stunning. you’ve likely seen it in films (or as the backdrop of DESIGN WITHIN REACH catalogs). but the history of the house - previously a family home that was part of the famous “case study” architecture program - was what i loved most. tours are available for the public at the stahl house website. they are often sold out well in advance for a reason!
more of sarah’s adventure here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
sarah and i were the lucky guests of BOOM SUPERSONIC president kathy savitt, who invited me for an off-the-record fireside chat at the forward-looking company's NET GOOD SUMMIT in san diego. along with experts in sustainable aviation, green hospitality & tourism, nuclear scientists, carbon entrepreneurs and an amazing wildlife filmmaker, we explored the future of regenerative travel that's already far more a reality than you might think.
THE MOLDY PEACHES reunited for a post-screening set, after the debut of my pal lizzy goodman’s epic oral history. MEET ME IN THE BATHROOM is now an immersive documentary, coming to SHOWTIME. chronicling the birth of the early aughts NY music scene, it's got amazing home videos of karen o (YEAH YEAH YEAHS), julian casablancas & co. (THE STROKES), and james murphy (LCD SOUNDSYSTEM).
for linda’s full debrief, head here