culture porn 3/24
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
swarm (amazon prime)
i pay attention to anything donald glover does, and SWARM just puts him that much higher on my list. deliberately blurring the lines between truth and fiction, it's a juicy genre blend of horror, serial killings, and social satire, mixing the most delicious vibes from BONES AND ALL (AMAZON PRIME) and RAP SHIT (HBO MAX), wrapped up in tale of obsessive, BEYHIVE-like fandom.
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marie antoinette (pbs)
BEST SHOW YOU’RE NOT WATCHING: a friskier romp than sofia coppola’s 2006 film version, this latest princess-in-peril drama with a feminist twist builds on my fondness for THE EMPRESS (NETFLIX) and CORSAGE (AMAZON PRIME). this sexy, soapy version leans into the hardships of the 14-year old queen, whose greatest value was her ability to bear an heir – thereby keeping political alliances tight. with high-end production values and a charming star (emilia schüle), i'm excited to see that a second season is already in the works.
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endless summer vacation: miley cyrus (columbia records)
i have been familiar with miley cyrus' music from her start as a DISNEY pop star prodigy. i am, without guilt, enjoying her new album, especially her post-breakup empowerment song and massive hit single, "flowers," a fusion of vintage soft rock, disco, and 2020s pop. it's fun to see how she continues to evolve as a candid songwriter, able to capture emotions with her rich and raspy voice. this is a mature album with a distinct voice that is worth a listen.
- anabel, CULTIQUE creative head
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over the moon far away (instagram)
erin miller is my queen of highly specific millennial nostalgia. i giggle throughout her reels and YouTube shorts featuring accurate portrayals of "getting ready for homecoming" in the early 2000s. (jessica mcclintock dress, anyone?) the absolute dedication she puts into acquiring nostalgic products is impressive, and somehow i feel like each video speaks to my high school experience. she also pointed out that american eagle is currently promoting double popped collars, which i had to see to believe. well, millennial power to ya!
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one thing at a time (morgan wallen)
whether or not you're a fan of morgan wallen, you may have seen his name in the headlines for not-so-great reasons (in fact, i referenced him in a 2021 op-ed on how to make an apology). either way, his music performs super well on the charts and i expect his new 36-song album to be the same. so far, i find the tunes catchy and laid back - they make me a bit nostalgic for college in virginia. and yes, you read that right: the album is 36 songs long. long albums help BILLBOARD rankings in the streaming era, apparently.
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M83: fantasy (spotify)
i'm psyched that M83, one of my fave french electronic groups, has a brand new album that delivers. it's got the same soaring, yet moody, vibes that got millions dancing by mixing contemporary pop and 80s "dream pop."
insights & inspo
jeremy strong will never break
we’re sad that SUCCESSION's new season will be its last, but culture will always keep an eye on the method-acting gift that is jeremy strong.✨ will you be tuning in for the season premiere this sunday?
enjoy more of his charm in GQ’s 10 things series.
more insights here
millennials in their 30s are sitting in an economic quagmire that could stick with them through retirement
millennials are feeling the squeeze of inflation for the first time. for lack of a better way to put it: the generation has been screwed. largely graduating into the 2008 great recession and now living through a second one-all before the age of 40.
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
culture is having a lupine moment, with WOLF PACK fans pushing for a season 2, and the upcoming clooney/pitt adventure WOLVES shooting in NYC. but just an hour away from LA, you can meet these stunning creatures at Wolf Connection, a sanctuary for wolves rescued from distress, neglect or abuse. set against the san gabriel mountains, you still yourself to be present like the wolves – some nearly tame, and many still feral. you learn that the alpha males lead by ensuring the wellbeing of their whole pack, who signal their collective emotions through soulful howling that's both chilling and transcendent. but perhaps even more impressive: hear how Teo Alfero, the non-profit's founder, introduces the noble beasts to at-risk children learning to deal with their own traumas.
wolves may be smarter than dogs, but the frenchie was just anointed the top dog in the country! congrats to marcel, his brother-cousin milo, and mochi, who belongs to our analyst ria in dublin.
just as Meta announced it will charge users $11.99 to "verify" official accounts, i naively fell for a phishing attack on my IG @lindaong100, which was immediately hijacked. HMPF! after scrambling to report it to the company (they sure don't make it easy!) multiple ways, i am still waiting for my account to be restored. meantime (or forever) i've now switched to my private account @piklinong – see you there!
for linda’s full debrief, head here