The concept that our thoughts form who we are and what we attract–rendering the universe a passive object–isn’t new. Florence Scovel Shinn, the Mother of Christian Science, felt that one could control their fate with their thoughts, particularly when it came to money. The groundwork for modern prosperity theology and manifestation can be seen in several of her early publications well before the publication of
I wish I had something half so cogent to say as what you’ve written but yet again you blew me away. How you see patterns and performances—and manage to precisely chart their origins to past cultural phenomena—god, everyone needs to read this.
OK so I don't necessarily agree with everything here but you have inspired me on a new path of thought, which (in)arguably is the true merit of any work. So Dimes Square...yeah, I'm old enough to remember when Williamsburg creative spaces were very white coded. Not as reactionary of course but still, I would be the darkest person there and I was Egyptian. As time went on, there were more black artists in comedy (Eric Andre) and music (TV on the Radio). It came to a point where the hipster (specifically the indie twerp sensibility) and the blerd style combined to create Woke Tumblr Twitter Culture. Now yes, there is a reactionary element to DS but I bet if a black woman read there who was politically incorrect and brash, like a female Patrice O'Neal (or maybe just Samantha Jay) then she would be the belle of the ball.
Side note: I'm not necessarily rooting for or against DS I am just truly SURPRISED that the pro-Pali movement had given us nothing, even in the relatively unrestricted live performance space (side side note: that same live dynamic that protects Dimes Square from black eyes can protect pro-Pali alt left voices from surveillance and repression [or at least make it harder for the bastards]). I must remind everyone though that I am truly rooting for artists that fight for a new politics of consciousness. Either way, you have helped me see that IRL truly is the path of creative revolution.
Read my piece The War Between IRL and URL if you have not please.
Very insightful article. I appreciate the comparison between the ethic that still somehow (thank god for that!) permeates the offline world and the algorithm that rules the online world. In real life, if you are a good person nobody (of value) would care about your looks, whereas online the vast majority would be drawn to canonically beautiful but empty content.
I keep coming back to this. You're doing the best job I've seen of getting at the poison that seems to be seeping into almost every crevice, at least online.
I feel like the progression from Franzen to Dimes Square is a good illustration. Franzen at least believes in something. He strikes me as a painfully earnest guy. But Red Scare etc is just the most debased and meaningless faux transgression for it's own sake. Just pathetic nostalgia for an imagined NYC where this sort of stuff might have felt culturally significant and revolutionary. It doesn't not augur well.
Wow. You articulated this so thoughtfully. Very compelling read!!!! Excited to see more from you.
I wish I had something half so cogent to say as what you’ve written but yet again you blew me away. How you see patterns and performances—and manage to precisely chart their origins to past cultural phenomena—god, everyone needs to read this.
OK so I don't necessarily agree with everything here but you have inspired me on a new path of thought, which (in)arguably is the true merit of any work. So Dimes Square...yeah, I'm old enough to remember when Williamsburg creative spaces were very white coded. Not as reactionary of course but still, I would be the darkest person there and I was Egyptian. As time went on, there were more black artists in comedy (Eric Andre) and music (TV on the Radio). It came to a point where the hipster (specifically the indie twerp sensibility) and the blerd style combined to create Woke Tumblr Twitter Culture. Now yes, there is a reactionary element to DS but I bet if a black woman read there who was politically incorrect and brash, like a female Patrice O'Neal (or maybe just Samantha Jay) then she would be the belle of the ball.
Side note: I'm not necessarily rooting for or against DS I am just truly SURPRISED that the pro-Pali movement had given us nothing, even in the relatively unrestricted live performance space (side side note: that same live dynamic that protects Dimes Square from black eyes can protect pro-Pali alt left voices from surveillance and repression [or at least make it harder for the bastards]). I must remind everyone though that I am truly rooting for artists that fight for a new politics of consciousness. Either way, you have helped me see that IRL truly is the path of creative revolution.
Read my piece The War Between IRL and URL if you have not please.
Very insightful article. I appreciate the comparison between the ethic that still somehow (thank god for that!) permeates the offline world and the algorithm that rules the online world. In real life, if you are a good person nobody (of value) would care about your looks, whereas online the vast majority would be drawn to canonically beautiful but empty content.
love but you already knew that
I keep coming back to this. You're doing the best job I've seen of getting at the poison that seems to be seeping into almost every crevice, at least online.
I feel like the progression from Franzen to Dimes Square is a good illustration. Franzen at least believes in something. He strikes me as a painfully earnest guy. But Red Scare etc is just the most debased and meaningless faux transgression for it's own sake. Just pathetic nostalgia for an imagined NYC where this sort of stuff might have felt culturally significant and revolutionary. It doesn't not augur well.