culture porn 9/29
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
love is blind: season 5 (netflix)
i know -- this has been on the playlist very recently, but blink and a new season is out. apparently there's no shortage of people willing to submit themselves to this "love experiment" despite four previous seasons to watch. and so, i too watch - and yes, i'm already hooked. contestants do seem a bit - dare i say - wiser going into this. but with matters of the heart on camera, drama always ensues.
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american horror story: delicate (hulu / fx)
with nods to DEAD RINGERS, ROSEMARY’S BABY, and THE WIZARD OF OZ, ryan murphy officially cements kim kardashian's status as a camp icon. plus, it’s the first time i’ve seen a show use the term "Bravolebrity" (nb, Andy Cohen is a plot point).
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kelce (prime video)
i surprised myself with enjoying this documentary, more than the recent array of NFL docu-content. jason kelce was forthcoming about the incredible stress that football puts on the body and mind, not sugarcoating it.
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the super models (apple tv+)
seeing linda, christy, naomi, and cindy back together again brought back memories (and a little PTSD) of my early days in fashion media – and i even recognize some of the footage and interviews. even if you weren't there, this glossy hagiography is a trip back into the 90s. i only wish the filmmakers cast a more critical eye on the industry itself.
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cassandro (amazon prime)
my heartthrob gael garcía bernal (NARCOS) is magnetic portraying the "liberace of luchador," saúl armendáriz. the real-life mexican wrestler upended the cultural roles of "exóticos," the queer rodeo clowns of lucha libre. bernal leans into his physical prowess in the ring, and private life outside it.
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waterworld (starz)
in revisiting older films, why focus only on the critically acclaimed? this week i dove into waterworld, to find out what our future might hold with rising ocean tides. i enjoyed the watch, despite finding kevin costner's character generally unlikable. tina majorino and jeanne tripplehorn were my favorites!
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insights & inspo
once trends show up in surveys, it’s too late.
it’s always a pleasure watching our clients reimagine their brand and captivate new audiences. in celebration of CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S new podcast CIRQUE DU SOUND, we’re revisiting our feature in the NEW YORK TIMES highlighting how we guide our clients, including AMEX GBT, in their quest to stay culturally relevant and open to ongoing transformation. from the big top to beyond! 🎪✨
more insights here
the walk of shame has never been chicer
pop stars and fashion designers alike are embracing the hot mess aesthetic. sister to the no-pants trend, a fearless expression of messy, unapologetic, skimpiness, and a cultural response to that constant stream of conservative shaming.
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
having just worked with the STAR TREK team, i've got space on the brain – along with shifting semiotics. now, astronomers have created a new term to describe the "eco-anxiety" felt when they can't see stars in the night sky: NOCSTALGIA. but i think the term SKY GRIEF does a better job of conveying the emotional impact of light pollution.
sooooo much meme-ing this week about the breaking news from the roy family – err, i mean the murdochs – that michael bloomberg's own plans got lost in the internet shuffle.
that trend about men's fascination with roman history? well it's over now. culture moves fast!
more insights here