culture porn 3/30
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
succession (hbo/hbo max)
the final season delivers again on its juicy, real-world details. take the design pitch for THE HUNDRED, which was screen-shotted, shared, and endlessly picked apart by fans. have you noticed even the title sequence is updated this season? check out the news tickers nodding to china hacks and other timely threats. brilliant f*cking show.
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yellowjackets (showtime)
i'm starting to get squeamish now that (spoiler alert) the long-awaited cannibalism is officially underway. but the balls-out relationships between the girls (and their older selves) keeps me watching, especially melanie lynskey's performance. i hope i don't need to look away!
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to leslie (momentum pictures)
though the intricacies of the oscar-nomination process for andrea riseborough may have received most of this film's press, her performance is truly masterful as a west texas lotto winner who goes bankrupt amidst alcoholism and dysfunctional family dynamics. i'm a huge allison janney fan as well, and she played an excellent supporting role here - as well as marc maron and owen teague.
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the whale (momentum pictures)
i was excited to see brendan fraser's oscar-winning portrayal on my flight home from sydney. while watching, i could tell this was adapted from a play based on the cadence and dialogue. it's tough to watch but hard to look away: true to form, director darren aronofsky doesn't shy away from grotesque visuals. the film has courted its fair share of controversy, with some calling it "fatphobic."
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M3GAN (peacock)
after reading endlessly about this film, i had to see if it lived up to the hype. it was indeed delightful, though probably would have been more so if i hadn't thoroughly researched it prior. i wasn't scared at any point, but i loved the fashion and the dancing!
insights & inspo
knowing everyone’s salaries can light a fire under workers
in some states, with pay ranges being disclosed even in job ads. the ultimate goal is to level the playing field by narrowing the pay gap between men and women, with hopes that it will lead to more fairness and diversity. but culturally, how much money we make has always been very hush hush - and there are arguments on how it could backfire.
would you be comfortable with your name and salary being published for all to see?
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
it's good to know that even when the world is convulsing in chaos, you can still find moments of pure, unadulterated joy close to home. take anita szentes, who wowed the crowd, bouncing gleefully above their heads at the premiere of CORTEO in downtown los angeles. CULTIQUE is so proud to partner with CIRQUE DU SOLEIL. in this era, when culture valorizes artistry, performance, athleticism, spectacle and surrealism, we look forward to elevating the 40-year old brand to its rightful home as a vibrant, global community of art and artists.
as a huge design nerd, i'm fascinated by the critiques of WE ❤ NYC, the new tourism campaign. haters bemoaned the "update" to milton glaser's 1977 ode to the city. the iconic original, designed during the city's nadir, brought civic pride (and tourists) back to the big apple. i especially love artist ryan mcginnes' design deconstruction and proposed alternatives. haters gonna hate, but love rules the day.
amidst a growing mental health crisis, jason sudeikis and his castmates from TED LASSO showed up at the white house to advocate for awareness of the issue. while the internet debated his credibility, naomi osaka stepped up with her own message.
it's time for an honest conversation about WOKENESS and hollywood. it's good to see liberals laughing at themselves. but cries that it's ruining entertainment (hello, VELMA) are merging with other criticisms like franchise fatigue and endless reboots. do you think the pendulum has gone too far?
for linda’s full debrief, head here