culture porn 8/11
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
emotional resilience and vitality with dr. samantha boardman: kelly corrigan wonders (apple podcasts)
CIVIC's own nate schreiber turned me onto kelly corrigan's podcast, where i learned about "emo-diversity" and the power of "positive psychology." i like how dr. boardman encourages focus on what's going well, as opposed to culture's fixation on negativity. this echoes what noah barr, neuroscientist and friend of CULTIQUE, says: that instead of chasing happiness, we should value a spectrum of emotions in our convos about mental health.
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the deepest breath (netflix)
this A24 documentary on freediving is a fascinating watch in my favorite genre: sports adventure films. a stunning watch filled with incredible underwater footage, it once again reminds me just how otherworldly the ocean is...and how intense it is for people (like alessia zecchini, the subject of the film) to push their limits within its boundaries.
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how to become a cult leader (netflix)
docuseries on cults have definitely had a moment. so i had to laugh at the title of this new series, which does not spare any subtleties. while the 30 min episodes offered insight into some cults that were newer to me (such as "buddhafield"), i felt like the short episode length lacked the depth and emotional build-up needed to keep me engaged.
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chaise longue: wet leg (youtube)
thanks to lizzy goodman for turning me onto this british indie-rock girl band's video, calling it "insouciance incarnate." it gave me throwback vibes to LUSCIOUS JACKSON, who i enlisted to track my spot in the 2000 super bowl for OXYGEN MEDIA – the first advertiser to use the big TV event to target women.
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daughter of the sea (patagonia films)
this short film is mesmerizing, following jaeyoun kim in her journey away from a corporate job in seoul and back to her hometown island in search of reprieve from struggles with mental health. she finds purpose in diving for seafood, following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. i found it grounding and peaceful to watch, inspiring me in ways i hadn't expected.
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studio 54 (netflix)
i was too young to get into STUDIO 54 during its heydey, so i've always been fascinated by the mythologically libidinous home of disco. directed matt tyrnauer (VALENTINO: THE LAST EMPEROR and a VANITY FAIR contributor), it's got all the sexual hijinks, sweaty bodies, and substance abuses you'd expect, plus the sketchyy finances that took down founders ian schrager and his late partner steve rubell as the AIDS crisis ruined everything.
insights & inspo
as ‘bougie broke’ videos trend on social media, experts say that’s not necessarily a bad thing
the paradoxical trend of 'bougie broke' is challenging surface perceptions of affluence - while sparking much-needed conversations about money taboos. will redefining notions of wealth change the narrative on financial vulnerability?
more insights here
leave sex workers out of your NPC TIKTOK discourse
NPC’s or “non-player characters” have gone viral on TIKTOK but their creators are feeling misunderstood. livestreams featuring mostly young women stuck on a loop have caused controversy-mistakenly being labeled as fetish content. NPC’s say their content isn't about fetishism and are calling out those that criticize them for profiting off of non-explicit material.
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
when i was born in 1963, LINDA and DAVID were the top baby names (today, it's OLIVIA and LIAM, according to THE BUMP). i didn't realize until i read this piece that LINDA was favored by asian immigrants looking for a name that would signal assimilation – including my parents. my birth name, PIK LIN ONG, pays homage to my mother's mother LIEN, and my family and friends always called me LIN, which you are welcome to do!
as a child i was always fascinated by the loch ness "monster", which seems to be attracting renewed interest as new tech promises we'll finally get some answers. at the end of the month, the largest underwater hunt since 1972 will seek to unmask the murky existence of "nessie." using hydrophones and drones, organizers hope to attract a new generation of fans, in an era when uncertainty is the norm.
as a person who's picky about good lighting, i'm sad to say goodbye to the soft glow of energy-hogging old-fashioned lightbulbs. as someone concerned about the environment, i get the ban. maybe it's time to bring back candlelight?
more insights here