culture porn 12/16
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
the white lotus (hbo)
yeah, yeah -- i know i already put it on this list earlier, but having just binged most of the season, sh*t is REALLY hitting the fan and i needed to let you all know. you must (i implore must!) make it through the first few slower episodes to start to see the brilliance unfold. vacations can turn so, so south, and the cinematography turns the gorgeous setting into something sinister and grotesque. and it's so very delightful to watch.
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yellowstone (paramount/paramount+)
living with an ardent fan, i got sucked into season 5 of this family drama. now i'm hooked on john dutton's power trip as governor of montana, his dutiful daughter beth acting as badass-in-chief, amid all the ugly dealings set against a beautiful backdrop, catfights and cattle rustling included.
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fleishman is in trouble (hulu)
i’m a sucker for a good storyline hook and the mix of mystery, divorce, and adam brody humor (his character is even named seth, just like THE OC!) has me eagerly waiting for the next episode. the plot goes a bit all over the place, but it’s a clever watch with fun editing.
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she said
i was excited for this film, as i'm a huge carey mulligan fan and followed the harvey weinstein scandal as it unfolded. i liked how this journalism-based procedural showed the unglamorous lives behind the 2 female reporters who broke the story, which had the-clock-is-ticking suspense of ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN and SPOTLIGHT.
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we’re here (hbo max)
season 3 recently dropped of this brilliantly heartwarming show which follows a trio of former RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE stars as they visit small towns in America and uplift through the art of drag. while the show evoked similar lovely feels to QUEER EYE, the fact that the show centers around drag pushes the format in a really important way - delving directly into issues of representation amidst a really intense cultural climate.
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love actually 20th reunion
every holiday season, it's a tradition in my house to rewatch LOVE ACTUALLY, and as a warm-up, i snuggled into this diane sawyer-hosted show like sinking into a steaming mug of hot chocolate. it feels cozy and yummy to hear from the stars and creator richard curtis after all this time, and recognize the impact the beloved film has had on culture. love actually... is all around!
insights & inspo
the rise of emotional spending among young people
treat yourself! the PARKS AND REC catchphrase takes on new meaning in inflationary + recessionary times. i remember being younger and with little extra cash, thinking taking a cab over the subway was quite the indulgence. interestingly enough, for some - the perceived "self-care" of spending is all one can do to stay mentally afloat in these tough times. the article in DAZED focuses on the UK -- do you see it happening in your neck of the woods?
more here
2022 books
enjoy some choice books we deem worthy of checking out before you end the year. head to our 2022 books IG guide for reviews from CULTIQUE's team here.
read our book reviews here
why does Gen Z love BeReal?
now that elon musk has scared a lot of people off TWITTER, which platforms do you think might benefit? our team has been eyeing the stratospheric ascent of BEREAL, the new fave of gen z, who love its spontaneity and informality. even TIKTOK and INSTAGRAM are already hopping in, competing with TIKTOK NOW and IG CANDID CHALLENGES. but are brands ready to cede control to its unpolished, unpredictable vibe?
more insights here
2022 movies
enjoy some choice movies we deem worthy of checking out before you end the year. head to our 2022 movies IG guide for reviews from CULTIQUE's team here.
read our movie reviews here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
hope you're enjoying the countdown to the holidays as i did here at the HAMMER MUSEUM’s annual party, where maja thomas and i bonded over our love of dries van noten. please stay safe, as COVID and flu levels are spiking.
this week, AI platform LENSA was all the buzz thanks to its MAGIC AVATAR, which shows off everyone's "main character energy" with cinematic swagger. unsurprisingly, there's already blowback, as women accuse the tool of overly sexualizing their images, which proves, AI is as biased as the person (usually a man) programming it.
for linda’s full debrief, head here