culture porn 9/2
our weekly playlist:
the princess (hbo max)
although the story of princess diana's life and untimely death has been widely told, i was captivated by how this documentary relied solely on the lens of the media – which elevated and then, ultimately, killed her. a cautionary tale caught on tape, this should be required viewing for anyone who longs to step into the public eye.
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running with the devil: the wild world of john mcafee (netflix)
where to start? this is a doc that feels like you’re in FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS but with even more guns & paranoia. it follows john mcafee, as documented by VICE journalists, amidst fleeing from law enforcement, faking a heart attack... and that’s just the start of it. it’s a true story but at times jumbled and not very pleasant to watch - the sadness of nihilism and narcissism all rolled up into one.
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uncoupled (netflix)
neil patrick harris saves this rom-com from sheer silliness as it tries to be the gay SEX AND THE CITY (not a coincidence, they both share co-creator darren star). while most of the characters around him seem like dated archetypes (even stereotypes), NPH brings heart and humility to his starring role.
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deep survival: who lives, who dies, and why: laurence gonzales (audible)
i absolutely love wilderness survival tales. it's probably my favorite podcast genre. so, at the suggestion of a friend, i dove into this listen about what types of mental tactics (and survival tactics) help people in the face of the unthinkable - plane crashes, shipwrecks, hiking falls. while it was a long listen, and i definitely gravitated towards the true life tales more than the theory, it was worth it. anyone up for a survival course? hey, you never know!
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in the country of others: leila slimani (penguin random house)
lately, i've been reading a lot of novels and memoirs about outsiders, maybe to situate my own otherness today. moroccan author leila slimani unspools a beautiful tale of life on the cusp of post-colonial life, with crisply drawn characters who resonate beyond their borders.
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yawn (bullion)
every song from HBO's INDUSTRY goes on my playlist (hats off to music supervisor ollie white + composer nathan micay) -- the picks are always texturally stunning, to match the show's visuals. this one, from s2 episode 1, is on repeat for its effervescent contemplativeness, bringing me back to city days + nights in NYC.
insights + inspo
it’s time for luxury brands to rethink their relationship with Black consumers
one of the biggest success stories of the pandemic era is that of the luxury business, which has skyrocketed, even amidst inflation and fears of recession. and while luxury brands have long been criticized for racist practices, Black consumers have long been buyers of luxury brands, even while the industry fumbled in its efforts. now, they are demanding more diversity and Black talent in luxury brands to reflect "the wealth of identities and experiences." they long to no longer just consume luxury fashion, but to lead and generate income from it as well. but the industry is still lagging.
more here
business travel is the center of the new company culture
with fewer people in the office, business travel can play a big role in sustaining a healthy work experience and people's connections to each other and the business. for more, check out our white paper with american express global business travel, reframing the challenges of a distributed work world.
more insights here
art and science come together in the james webb space telescope images
i've been fascinated with how space buffs from NASA have been taking data from the far reaches of the universe and interpreting it for the human ear. first, the webb images - breathtaking in their beauty (listen to NASA's podcast GRAVITY ASSIST for an episode on how the images are made from raw data). then the sound of a black hole - like something out of a kubrick film. i love how it's a mix of art and science, working together to help communicate complex concepts -- i see parallels to our discipline of cultural research. also, how inspiring for artists today - i can't wait to see the derivative work inspired by these new space expressions!
read more here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
facing the sunset of summer this week is bittersweet for me. as a "summer baby," i'm sad to see the season end, but at the same time, i'm excited about the crispy new energy fall always brings. and i'm looking forward to a new role: i've just joined the board of SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA PUBLIC RADIO. as los angeles draws the eyes of the world – readying for both the 2026 world cup and the 2028 olympics – LA-centric media is poised to be the voice of those pushing culture forward.
as soon as the term QUIET QUITTING hit the internet, the backlash began. the phrase, aka "coasting" or "phoning it in," reflects the fallout from "the great resignation," employers are more hard-pressed than ever to incentivize workers today.
for linda’s full debrief, head here