culture porn 9/15
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
guts (olivia rodrigo)
for millennials like me, olivia's new album will remind them - in some ways - of a gen z gwen stefani. vocals, angst, and creative riffs. for gen z's, it's probably a more close-to-home embodiment of feels set to rock-pop-punk. it's worth a listen, and thx to my brother for the reco.
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love is blind: after the altar (netflix)
since i professed my irrational dedication to documenting this series in the NYT, here we are! i connected less with this season, possibly due to the decreasing time between seasons to grow an appetite. that said, the voyeuristic allure of following participants one year out from marriage (or breaking up) is too strong to not tune in. my main insight: the friendships formed on LIB are the real star of the show.
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you are so not invited to my bat mitzvah (netflix)
i'm not an adam sandler fan, but his daughter sadie is less annoying in this coming-of-age story that is NETFLIX's latest hit.
this movie hooked me from the outset with its well-placed use of DESIRE's 2009 hit "under your spell" which is on one of my all-time favorite soundtracks to the movie DRIVE. adam sandler playing dad to his own daughters is also fun to watch. though i'm not one to shy away from Y.A. themes, the humor felt like it was meant for an audience younger than me. still, it's lovely.
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telemarketers (hbo)
this three part docuseries is an inside-out exposé on telemarketing (which, if you already suspected was predatory...congrats). what's delightful about watching this is the cast of characters, including one of the filmmakers, who present as unlikely investigators.
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finn and the bell (rumble strip)
my brother shared this podcast with our family, having heard it through RADIOLAB. RUMBLE STRIP is an independent podcast from erica heilman and this particular episode is about community, teen suicide, and it's hard to explain without listening. it's won a peabody award, with good reason.
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the postcard (europa editions)
the french resistance was never so irresistible. anne berest's award-winning novel weaves her own family history with the twists and turns of tragedy.
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insights & inspo
liberating? exploitative? a nude scene summer report card.
this summer, tv and film offered no shortage of provocative nudity and sex scenes that sparked many conversations about their impact. some could be described as gratuitous, some ridiculous, some hilarious, and some just downright insulting. what’s your take on this summer’s naked appeal?
more insights here
in alabama, white tide rushes on
to rush or not to rush? TIKTOK may have shed a new viral light on the bama rush phenomenon but it seems it’s really a resurfacing of old alabama debutante customs - a sea of blonde, chock-full of traditional deep south culture. the complex dynamics of these sororities and the absence of diversity within them begs some pretty uncomfortable questions surrounding integration, identity, and privilege, but the people of the internet are still captivated. are you?
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
congrats to coco gauff - the first female teen to win the US OPEN championship this century.
boo to ruining the memory of BARNEYS NEW YORK brand with a post-bankruptcy FOREVER 21 collab.
yay to the new pop star accessory for bey, dave grohl, pink, and more: the mini me.
more insights here