culture porn 4/21
our weekly playlist
screenshot me:
coachella: frank ocean
what happens when we are asked to take a moment for black grief?
during his set, frank paused to say that one of his favorite memories was seeing rae sremmurd at COACHELLA with his late brother, ryan moore. he also expressed his immense struggle to cope with the loss of his baby brother over the last few years and that his performance was meant to be in honor of him.
much of frank ocean’s performance felt reflective of his grief. it flowed between heavy, soft, tender, thoughtful, and, in moments, sharp agony. after his performance, i was surprised to read so many comments about how boring people thought his set was. how could someone give a bright shiny performance when they are grieving one of the most painful things? i couldn’t understand what part of it was boring. i guess the parts in which he was authentically expressing his sadness- because it was not a serotonin-boosting experience for his audience members. people seemed to not be able to, or even reluctant to engage with his mourning.
i can’t help but think about how his identity as a black american entertainer plays into this. sadly the consumption of black entertainment and simultaneous dehumanization of black people and disregard for black grief has been long present in this country. so what happens when we are asked to take a moment for black grief? nothing new. even for frank ocean, a man who has touched so many lives with his art, there seems to still be an intolerance, a lack of empathy, and space for his grief.
***
love is blind (netflix)
oh the livestream that wasn't! why oh why am i so addicted to this show? well, we've actually been discussing it quite a bit internally and decided it reads like a millennial & gen z fantasy of traditional values. it's higher-stakes psychological viewing than, say, THE BACHELOR, but lighter to watch than COUPLES THERAPY. season 4's altar outcomes surprised me, as always -- because love is unpredictable!
***
dave (fx/hulu)
this season, lil' dicky embarks on his LOOKING FOR LOVE tour, and wastes no time unleashing his impressive talent. i've been a day one fan, but i am continually in awe of this show's ability to capture the zeitgeist, flex music industry cred (last season, doja cat. this season, rick ross), and do it all with incredible heart and humanity.
***
wild life (nat geo)
thanks to linda, i was able to attend a screening of jimmy chin + elizabeth chai vasarhelyi's latest film, featuring kris tompkins - former PATAGONIA ceo. kris' late husband doug tompkins (founder of the NORTH FACE) had begun a mission to pioneer land conservation efforts in chile and argentina, and kris is determined to see it through. their impact is record-breaking and their love story is endearing and heartbreaking. i also love learning about the "dirtbag climber" origins of my fave outdoor brands. well worth a watch, for the sweeping cinematography alone!
***
radio rental (apple podcasts)
more episodes are back of my beloved creepy podcast show of true-live bizarre and scary tales, hosted by rainn wilson, in character as eccentric shopkeeper "terry carnation." the stories are short, but perfect to pass the time while driving -- often i keep circling in my car to find out what happens!
***
multitudes: feist
having loved the lightness of leslie feist's hit 1234, i'm fascinated by the more intimate, emotional journey she takes on her latest album. inspired by the adoption of her daughter during the pandemic, it's a highly personal and provocative work that lets her unique voice shine.
insights & inspo
i tried the head spa treatment that’s all over tik tok right now
i love watching relaxing ASMR-inducing videos online. and in the past year or two, i've noticed a larger portion of my videos feature incredible japanese "head spas" focusing on japanese scalp massage techniques and overall scalp health. the concept is more common across asia, and has ayurvedic origins from india. they are extra relaxing to watch online, and - after a recent trip to HEAD SPA EN with @dr.feliciayu and @swong117 - i can attest they're just as relaxing to experience (i fell asleep during mine, which is expected). also, a thank you to @asmr.twix who has excellent head spa content on her YOUTUBE channel, and introduced me to the concept. 💆♀️ 🧖♀️ 💤✨
- @sarahjaneunger
more insights here
#LOokforward🌅 with linda ong
my mom just celebrated her 95th birthday, but she looks and acts like she's 65. gail collins' essay explains this is totally normal, thanks to increased life expectancy and the plethora of vibrant older leaders serving as role models for us kids. as i become a sexagenerian this year, i'm now hoping 60 is the new 40!
*** linda will be speaking about the media's recent embrace of "women of a certain age" on SHE MEDIA’S collective intel event. tune in or RSVP here.
SUCCESSION fans like me are decoding the death of logan roy. and just as the los angeles times published his obituary, the juicy, real life drama inside rupert murdoch's own succession planning was unfolding and quickly ending in an anticlimactic settlement that left many wishing rupert faced the drama of a courtroom trial.
DOVE, long a cultural leader in women's issues, now aims their messaging at the mental health crisis. their "self-esteem project" aims to help make social media safer for young people. do you think it will help?
for linda’s full debrief, head here