culture porn 12/9
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
my policeman (amazon prime)
based on the 2012 novel by bethan roberts, heartthrob harry styles stars with emma corrin as a young english couple in the 1950s whose complex and forbidden relationship with another man comes to fore in the present day. gentle and heartbreaking in all the right ways.
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pepsi, where’s my jet? (netflix)
did this need to be a multi‑part series? probably not. but i was up for a trip to the mid‑90s, when ads used to capture the attention of my adolescent self, including one for the PEPSI STUFF loyalty program in which a harrier jet was promised for 7M PEPSI points. the david v goliath set‑up of the story is an irresistible trope, but i liked that they featured the marketing + ad execs as well, who seemed to be having a fun time walking down memory lane. in the end, legal fees instead of jets were doled out, but hey ‑‑ everyone got a NETFLIX docuseries out of the experience!
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plain english (spotify)
longtime ATLANTIC tech, culture and political writer derek thompson recently deconstructed the FTX implosion, musk/zuckerberg, and contemplates iger's return to DISNEY on this weekly podcast from THE RINGER.
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tár (focus features)
i've been so captivated by this timely, buzzy and thrilling cate blanchett star‑vehicle so much, i've already watched it twice! writer/director todd field (LITTLE CHILDREN) takes us into the high‑stakes world of symphony orchestras, immersed in the singular score by hildur guðnadóttir (JOKER), and touching on cancel culture and #MeToo without being on the nose.
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black panther: wakanda forever soundtrack (def jam)
i love how this unique compilation mashes up african, mexican and indigenous instruments, rhythms, and artists ‑ from rihanna to nigeria’s burna boy to pinkpantheress, future and more ‑ reflecting the polycultural spirit of the film, and pointing to the ascendance of these cultures to the mainstream.
insights & inspo
can tomato soup force climate action?
as an art lover i'm unsettled by the recent rash of activist attacks on celebrated artworks around the world. building on the blueprint of successful campaigns against animal cruelty and opioid addiction, this time weaponizing household items to galvanize attention to climate inaction. while many support the intention, skeptics are challenging the execution, as most of the works were protected by glass. do shallow actions by a "radical flank" reveal just how desperate environmentalists have become? or is faux-vandalism the best way to force change?
more here
#AdventuresWithSarahAndShep
for the nuptials of my cousin, maddie, we met the family in st. louis on a beautiful fall weekend. from seeing the arch up close (gorgeous design) to touring a private collection of incredible rare motorcycles, we were impressed by this mississippi river city. the wedding, at a glass factory, was a cool vibe and much bbq was had. i continued onwards to nashville (aka nashvegas) where i met linda for a whirlwind client trip.
more of sarah’s adventure here
good company with michael kassan
MEDIA LINK founder michael kassan sat down with linda and sarah on his GOOD COMPANY podcast to discuss why culture is a must-have for driving your brand’s strategic goals - especially for getting the most of your budget. listen to their full conversation here.
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
the 20th anniversary of ART BASEL MIAMI might be my last one for a while. the town's vibe shift, fueled by the pandemic-era influx of tech and finance bros, is radically reshaping the city for good (better restaurants) and bad (overwhelming an already challenged infrastructure). that said, my fave part of the event is seeing friends and meeting new ones from all over the world, with one thing in common: the search for art that moves the markets, moves the culture, and moves our souls. here's my recap.
as a platform for marketers seeking art-world cred, META staged a VR "dinner" with james beard-lauded (and friend of our own rajiv menon) chef, chintan pandya. the 10-course metaverse "meal" was both yummy and awkward. net-net: VR can be fun but still has a loooong way to go.