Mar
18
The Age of the Double Sell-Out
In the last three decades, youth culture has moved from a deep suspicion of commerce to a passionate defense of
6 min read
Latest
Mar
04
On Writing a History of the 21st Century
My new book, Blank Space, is a cultural history of the last 25 years, scheduled for publication in November 2025.
6 min read
Dec
10
On Sale: Shōwa Guide Tokyo
A tour through Japan’s mid-century restaurants, kissaten, bars, and hotels that managed to survive earthquakes, firebombs, and urban redevelopment
3 min read
Oct
17
Why It's Hard to Argue about “Cultural Stasis”
Without agreeing on what "culture" is, it's really difficult to understand whether we're at
4 min read
Oct
03
Forget Gladwell
Society should withhold all esteem and attention to a nonfiction author whose entire oeuvre spitballs explanatory social theory under the
6 min read
Jul
29
Cultural Stasis Produces Fewer Cheesy Relics like Rocky IV
The much-maligned 1985 boxing film provides a few hints about the causes of 21st century artistic stagnation: namely, popular artists
7 min read
Jun
11
Culture is an Ecosystem: A Manifesto Towards a New Cultural Criticism (3)
Finally, here is a proposed revision to the ideology of inclusive cultural criticism that builds upon the poptimist critique while
5 min read
Jun
03
Culture is an Ecosystem: A Manifesto Towards a New Cultural Criticism (2)
A healthy cultural ecosystem provides the maximum number of artistic works that are useful and stimulating to the widest range
6 min read
May
28
Culture is an Ecosystem: A Manifesto Towards a New Cultural Criticism (1)
The "culture" of a society isn't a blob of random human activity, but an orderly ecosystem
5 min read
Apr
02
Paris Hilton: Grace through Monetization
In her ghostwritten memoir, Paris Hilton further emblematizes 21st personhood by gushing about fame and business success while blaming her
5 min read