culture porn 12/8
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
may december (netflix)
it's a holiday treat watching these A-listers (julianne moore and natalie portman) go head-to-head creating unique and memorable characters. here, todd haynes crafts his another impeccable story of how performance infiltrates three lives meshed in scandal, love, lies, and longing. i can already tell i'm going to rewatch this, and often.
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special forces: world’s toughest test (fox)
i got sucked into this reality show while doing research on a recent project. mostly because participating in physically brutal challenges in freezing cold weather is my exact idea of hell. i also liked the wacky mix of casting, from scandal-tarred tom sandoval to train-wrecky tara reid and child star jojo siwa.
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mls cup (apple tv+)
last week i was lucky enough to see LAFC - possibly the most vibrant sports fandom i've witnessed - become the 2023 western conference champions. tune in tomorrow to see them play ohio's COLUMBUS CREW for a chance to repeat their 2022 victory. i'll be rooting for black and gold, baby!
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noah kahan on snl (nbc / peacock)
i've read a lot about noah kahan in light of the recent "stomp clamp hey" music revival. i didn't know how i'd like his music. well, noah, your SNL performances totally wowed. i tuned in for emma stone hosting, but stayed for noah's vermont-inspired tunes. even if you're not from vermont (or didn't get burlington on your spotify wrapped) - there's so much to love in his soulful performances.
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the daily: elon musk
when it comes to elon musk, it's hard to separate the signal from the noise. but i found his hourlong chat with aaron ross sorkin at the DEALBOOK conference to be enlightening and disturbing. with musk controlling so many critical infrastructures (electricity, space travel, satellite internet, manufacturing) and poised to rule over others (urban transportation, our brains), getting inside his head is a necessary evil.
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victoria and albert museum: “asmr at the museum” (youtube)
enjoy museums? enjoy relaxing? well the VICTORIA AND ALBERT MUSEUM's ASMR playlist is officially winning at social content. drift into a sleepy trance while seeing expert hands restore beading to a dress, flip through an ancient text, and so much more. museums and libraries, take note -- there may be ASMR playlists in your future!
insights & inspo
exploring scheduled sex: a modern relationship study
do you schedule your sex life? out of 1,022 couples surveyed a shocking 36% of couples admit they schedule sex and what's more - they report a 45% higher satisfaction rate in intimacy. gen z is driving the trend and most note busy schedules as their reasoning. so get out your google cal and send an invite, your relationship might be better for it.
more insights here
america is getting lonelier and more indoorsy. that’s not a coincidence.
behold another paradox of modern existence: collective loneliness. as society withdraws more and more from nature, people have also become withdrawn from one another. the remedy seems so simple - go outside. but reconnecting with the great outdoors and with human beings has become so anxiety ridden that we’re finding ourselves caught in a vicious cycle of biphobia and isolation. perhaps the simplest path to enlightenment lies in a long walk in the park and a meaningful tête-à-tête. give it a try?
more insights here
make sure to check out MIDWEEK with CULTIQUE every wednesday
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
turns out dancing is not only good for your soul, it's a strong move for society. CULTIQUE's neuroscientist noah barr tells us that this can even synch our heart and brain activity in a physiological process know known as "spontaneous synchronization" – creating a sense of empathy, which helps us feel unified.
according to SPOTIFY WRAPPED, FLEETWOOD MAC provided much of the soundtrack to my year. and it seems everyone i know also was profiled as a VAMPIRE - what does that say about us?
i loved this SNL parody on brand collabs, and must admit that the foaming cleanser looks pretty effective!
more insights here