culture porn w/o 5/30
our weekly content reviews
screenshot me:
our father (netflix)
not sure if it was purely the COVID, but watching this documentary about the infertility doctor who non-consensually used his sperm for many of his patients made me feel achy and gross all over. It was a compelling viewing that incensed me, especially given the lack of autonomy of women's reproductive rights that's growing increasingly worrisome by the day. - su
***
love on the spectrum: us (netflix)
the new season of this show moves from australia to the US, featuring a wonderful new cast of all ages, looking to find companionship. though the show courts valid critiques from the autism community, it does wonders to normalize the trials + triumphs of romantic courtship for all of humanity, through the eyes of a special few. - su
***
the mystery of marilyn monroe (netflix)
though the title may seem a little clickbait, the documentary itself is engrossing, providing additional circumstance and perspective regarding the icon's passing. makes one realize how much they don't know about national treasures. - su
***
midwives (chris bohjalian)
not a new book, but a good one, this read engrossed me over memorial day weekend. i was transported to vermont and enraptured in the ethics outlined. - su
***
that damn michael che (hbo max)
SNL's WEEKEND UPDATE co-host shows us his chops in sketch comedy, with some familiar faces along for the ride. the results are uneven, but there are bright spots that show off che's talents skewering culture at its woke-est. - lo
***
ricky gervais: supernatural (netflix)
mining the dave chappelle controversy with the LGBTQ+ community for laughs, gervais tests the waters of cancel culture by gamely pushing ideas over the line, in order to find out where the line is. - lo
***
top gun and top gun: maverick (paramount)
riffing on themes of american decline and generational conflict, tom cruise makes MAVERICK is a reboot actually worth making – and is super-fun to watch. especially in IMAX, where you can really appreciate the non-CGI practical stunts, feel the roar of the engines, and marvel at how good cruise (and jennifer connelly) look - despite their age. - lo
‘i just want something that’s gay and happy’
as society excavates and debates every aspect of culture in which to drive equity, it's good to see that even residual categories - like romance novels – are making space for underrepresented and previously marginalized voices. i'm glad to see the 2022 lens even put on the trusty bodice ripper, making queer fantasy and guilty pleasures more accessible on every bookshelf – even for straight audiences.
- linda ong, @lindaong100
more here
the emergence of psychedelics as a treatment for PTSD is not new, but its progress is worth tracking
i was moved reading how MDMA is being used in trials for military-specific PTSD experiences, especially reflecting on how much soldiers sacrifice mentally this memorial day weekend.
- sarah unger, @sarahjaneunger
for more, head here
the new secret to online dating success? your voice
audio's rise in popularity is no longer limited to podcasts and platforms like CLUBHOUSE and TWITTER SPACES. it turns out that dating apps are the new frontier for tickling the ears of a prospective love interest. which makes sense, as many of my single friends tell me, because visual and verbal cues seem to still leave too much room for error – as well as misaligning expectations. do you think this new use of tech will help accelerate love connections?
- linda ong, @lindaong100
full post here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
in great news for the theatrical business, TOP GUN: MAVERICK broke box-office records with a $150m+ US/$300m+ WW debut (we called that!). over $32.5m of the take flew with tom cruise in IMAX alone, and that's why i'm suiting up in full gear: aviators, bomber jacket and K9N5.
with politicians and gun lobbies unwilling to bring about change, parents are left having to make sense out of senseless killings and violence when speaking to small children. now culture must evolve to fill in the voids of conversation about these tragic events, so i appreciate this NYT piece which seeks to normalize an abnormal, uncomfortable, and sadly necessary topic for families.
for linda’s full debrief, head here