culture porn 7/14
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
joy ride (lionsgate)
adele lim's directorial debut is chaotic, raunchy and just what we need for summer 2023. about four twenty-something women who travel through china (all of whom are excellently cast), i've re-watched the trailer scene where they impersonate K-pop stars and sing "WAP" multiple times. it's a thrill to see Asian American females get the comedic spotlight they deserve.
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hijack (apple tv+)
i couldn't take my eyes off idris elba as a passenger faced with navigating a hijacked flight from dubai to london. the "stealth hit of the summer" combines ticking-clock drama in the air, and on the ground, in an edge-of-your-window-seat thriller – and weekly drops only heighten the suspense. will this internationally-produced, english-language show with a global cast serve as a future model for other streamers?
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wham!
i was super curious to see what director chris smith (FYRE) had to say about the 80s pop supergroup. he stays tight to the band's meteoric four-year run, which the doc reveals as a confounding time for a still-closeted george michael. off-camera, andrew ridgeley adds his perspective to a ton of fun vintage clips and interviews, neatly weaving a more upbeat and loving narrative into the tragic later life – and death – of his bandmate.
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muscles & mayhem: an unauthorized story of american gladiators (netflix)
hot off the tales of watching ARNOLD, i was ready for more muscles + nostalgia. interestingly this five-part docuseries comes close to ESPN's "30 for 30" doc on AMERICAN GLADIATORS (a hollywood phenomenon known as "twin films"). either way, the show's physical intensity was a lot more barbaric than i realized while watching as a kid in the 90s!
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the retrievals (serial/NYT)
this new podcast from the SERIAL team and the NYT documents the stories of women who went through egg retrieval at a Yale fertility clinic and experienced horrid pain. between this, DEAD RINGERS and CLOCK, horror stories about fertility are having a moment. unfortunately, THE RETRIEVALS is completely true but incredibly captivating.
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the bear: soundtrack (spotify)
season 2 is already seared into my heart as one of my fave shows of the year. and i'm jamming to the amazing soundtrack, filled with gen x bangers, which feels authentic to the vibe of chefs i've met – channeling the crushing heart that goes into creating amazing dishes – ephemeral works of art that are literally torn apart every night.
insights & inspo
the rise of “europecore” is peak american escapism
does it seem like everyone on your instagram feed is at lake como or provence right now? well that’s because even if they’re not there IRL, they’re channeling the “europecore” aesthetic. TIKTOK influencers are creating fit content that captures the essence of a european summer, embracing hyper-feminine elements for your real or imagined vacation. 🌍🍹
more insights here
beatrix potter, the unlikely hero on the anti-hustle culture movement
escapism is trending. #critterposting sits outside of the mainstream and offers a whimsical world to get lost in, a safe space for expression, and a break from the grind. 🐇🌸✨
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
i spent most of the week trying to get over jet lag and putting off hopping on the THREADS bandwagon. i knew it was inevitable, but i wanted to wait to join the rush of millions to the new platform. and while people like it, i was more taken by their graphic identity, which reminded me of the type-on-a-ribbon design we posted last december, which seems to be a thing now. what's your take on THREADS?
MATTEL’S IP-expansion story got shared like a hot potato in anticipation of the BARBIE premiere this month. but i especially loved all the chatter generated by jeremy barber, greta gerwig's culture-savvy agent (and fan of our CULTURE PORN newsletter!).
the BARBIEpalooza is evidence of a growing theme we're tracking: how commercialism is driving culture. with content companies increasingly making creative decisions based on the bottom line, will culture suffer? or is this a moment for an arts-based counterculture to flourish? thanks to FUTURE COMMERCE founder phillip jackson for sharing his thoughts.
more insights here