culture porn 7/28
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
oppenheimer (universal)
as my fiancé has a physics background, we were excited to see physicist get the christopher nolan treatment. cillian murphy does an excellent job portraying oppenheimer's unique persona and seeing this on the big screen was worth it. the atomic bomb raises a plethora of ethical questions that the film didn't shy away from. it could have shaved about an hour off, though!
***
justified: city primeval (fx/hulu)
chatting with JUSTIFIED star tim olyphant at a recent screening, he was patient as i fan-girled on his low-key but complex performance as U.S. marshall raylan givens in the new sequel. but he grew animated when the talk turned to his co-star, his 20-year old daughter vivian, who often steals the show with her authentic, gen z affect. she's got a big career ahead of her!
***
full circle (max)
it's great seeing tim olyphant take a different turn – this time as a manhattan husband caught in a web of secrets, ensnaring his wife (claire danes) and famous father-in-law (dennis quaid). this twisty, dark steven soderbergh tale features a botched kidnapping and my fave, zazie beetz (ATLANTA). so much to love!
***
part 2: the king who never was (netflix)
like VATICAN GIRL, another italian true cime doc, i ate up this 3-part series that NETLFIX's algo served up. i'm a sucker for this VANITY FAIR-like story of an aristocratic enclave rocked by a sensational murder committed by one of its own: prince vittorio emanuele di savoia, who maintains his innocence today. as my recent travels left me with a longing for the italian coast, watching this was like an extended vacation.
***
nothing compares 2 u (sinead o’connor)
after hearing the sad news of sinead's passing this week, i've been listening to this iconic song on repeat. it was written by prince but made famous by sinead's iconic 1990 music video featuring a close up of her face and all the feels. our team got to do a deep dive on her story and cultural impact when we worked on SHOWTIME's documentary NOTHING COMPARES. rest in peace.
***
labour (paris paloma)
100% credit goes to my friend jason for introducing me to this UK artist's alt-folk ballad whose lilting chants have gorgeous enya overtones but defiant lyrics. the track - which some have called "witch-pop" - projects a not-subtle POV on gender dynamics and has a perfectly medieval, world-building music video. alas, where's Gen Z Lilith Fair when you need it?
insights & inspo
is gen z down to clown? the circus is counting on it.
we’re excited to see emma goldberg’s latest piece in the NEW YORK TIMES business section, featuring our partners CIRQUE DE SOLEIL, as we help pivot their brand for the next 40 years. we’re also so proud of our partnership with AMEX GBT - as well as the many other brands that CULTIQUE has been fortunate to work with throughout the years.
more insights here
resources ‘pouring into’ women’s sports ahead of 2023 world cup, USWNT players say
the US women’s soccer team tied in their game against the netherlands- their second game in this year’s FIFA world cup championship. this year’s FIFA women’s world cup has hit record-breaking viewership numbers globally and has more than doubled viewership numbers from 2019 in the US. these numbers are validating after the US women’s soccer team’s long fight for equal pay, which they finally achieved just last year under a new deal with the US soccer federation. sadly, however, the FIFA World cup is still only paying women players 25 cents on the dollar in comparison to the players of the men’s world cup. ⚽️
- @varshayerasi, CULTIQUE project manager
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
i did my part, taking in the first half of the record-setting BARBENHEIMER weekend. with over 150 brand partnerships, BARBIE's inescapable marketing blitz was a triumph for MATTEL – its cultural tentacles are infiltrating everything from fast food to fan cosplay to even the statehouse. interestingly, men helped drive attendance – hoping the film's feminist manifesto got to them too.
pink is primary in miami, where lionel messi made his much-anticipated debut with his new team, INTER MIAMI CF. ever since we helped inform the creation of the david beckham-owned brand, we've been waiting for a moment like this.
more insights here