10 things i enjoyed consuming in january!
articles, podcasts, & books. with notes & quotes :~)
Greetings, dear readers! As someone who finds sustenance in in-depth, long-form content, I've been pretty bummed by how prevailing algorithms nowadays appear to prioritize brevity over substance. So here’s my monthly (!!!) curated roundup of some of the articles, podcasts, and books that have excited me during my moments of leisure this past month.
Articles:
What Humans Can Learn From The Language Of Honeybees
This article profoundly challenges our human-centric view of intelligence, unraveling the sophisticated language of bees through Karl von Frisch's revelation of their waggle dance. This discovery not only showcases bees' ability to communicate complex information about food sources with astonishing precision but also positions their cognitive and social capabilities on par with human intelligence. It's a testament to the awe-inspiring intricacies of the natural world, perfectly captured in von Frisch's words: “Miraculous worlds may reveal themselves to a patient observer where the casual passerby sees nothing at all.”
The Class Politics Of Instagram Face. Unlike traditional beauty ideals that were often shrouded in exclusivity and inaccessibility, the advent of “Instagram Face” heralds a shift towards a more democratized but homogenized vision of attractiveness. This trend is marked by its reproducibility, fueled by the affordability of cosmetic procedures and the relentless flow of before-and-after images on social media platforms, propelling us toward a beauty singularity. In this landscape, individuality is overshadowed by a collective rush towards a singular aesthetic ideal, leading to a paradoxical situation where increased accessibility to beauty enhancements results in a narrowing of the diversity of beauty expressions.
Does the pursuit of Instagram Face reflect a deeper desire for social acceptance and class mobility, or does it signify a surrender to a monolithic understanding of beauty? 💋
You'd Be Happier Living Closer To Friends. Why Don't You? This post (from one of my favorite Substacks ever!) brings to light a simple yet profound truth: proximity to our friends can significantly enhance our happiness and quality of life. It challenges the traditional prioritization of the nuclear family and career over the sustenance and support that come from being near our closest friends. The piece also highlights how societal norms and structures, like housing and zoning laws, often discourage forming close-knit community networks outside of family ties. It's an invitation to rethink our living arrangements and to consider the value of proximity to those who play a significant role in our lives, not bound by blood but by choice.
Is There A Life After Influencing? Archive link: here. The stark contrast between the perceived freedom of influencer life and the reality of its constraints is particularly intriguing. Her statement, "When you’re an influencer, then you have chains on," flips the script on the notion of digital nomadism as the ultimate career freedom.
“Blurred Lines,” Harbinger of Doom. The article intriguingly positions "Blurred Lines" as a predictive microcosm for the negative trends in pop culture over the past decade, intertwining issues like consent, cultural appropriation, and the dark side of fame. It provokes thought on how a single song can encapsulate broader societal issues, challenging us to reflect on the evolving nature of pop culture and its impact on societal norms and values.
How Eyeliner Became A Symbol of Political Resistance. I’ve been feeling like we’ve lost the plot with beauty for a minute. This was so reinvigorating! The way Hankir connects personal anecdotes and historical insights to illustrate eyeliner's role in expressing feminist history, resistance against oppressive regimes, and individual and collective identities is brilliant. This examination challenges the reader to reconsider the significance of a seemingly simple beauty product within broader socio-political and cultural contexts, highlighting its use as a form of armor, a statement of heritage, and an act of rebellion. I would love to interview her for my podcast one day. Also posted this Tiktok about it:
Tiktok failed to load.
Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Podcasts:
This explores the intriguing concept of developing personal taste in a world dominated by algorithms, emphasizing the importance of individual experiences and aesthetics over algorithmically determined preferences, and discussing the challenge of maintaining uniqueness in the age of digital homogenization. Something I (obviously) love to think/talk about.
I love when Esther says, “Our fights are not actually about the dishes, they’re about power, control, respect, and foundational questions like: Do I matter? Do you value me?”
Books:
So delightful! So cute! This story follows five people at different crossroads in their lives and how a recommendation from an enigmatic Tokyo librarian clarifies things for them.
I devoured this! Eagerly anticipating diving into more of her work. Crafting a narrative around social media that avoids the trap of cliché is no small feat, yet Patel navigates it with finesse. She adeptly unpacks the complexities surrounding our collective obsession with digital personas, including the relentless drive to present an idyllic existence online, the hunger for digital validation and recognition, and the intricate dance of constructing our identities through the lens of social media. The book doesn't shy away from examining the intricacies of gender relations, the intricate layers of privilege and "whiteness," as well as broader societal issues such as classism, racism, the nuances of the immigrant narrative, the toxicity within relationships, and the overarching shadows of capitalism, consumerism, desire, lust, and love. Do you also feel like you’re performing yourself online?
~~~
Also, here are two podcast episodes I put out this month:
As always, thank you guys for being here! :”) I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on these in the comments!!
I was just romanticizing me living in my Cambridge triple decker with my friends on each level
Also, as someone who has spent a few months working with honeybees in the field to record and analyze their foraging and waggle dance patterns, I 100% agree that they’re super cool and that article is great :)