Thank you for mentioning the sandy hook families. I sure wish they get the peace they deserve (if we can ever break free from this dystopian parody of a parody hellscape, a hall of mirrors endlessly repeating the Simpsons.) You’re a good one by writing. Seriously I think books and writing offer people some sort of glimpse of hope that we are not doomed. If artists and writers can keep going in spite of everything, then I don’t have to worry too badly. Here’s to hoping? Yes to Dylan Highway 61. I love the artwork, as always. Holy shit I don’t like to admit this, but Tyson may be accurate: why fret over legacy when it all turns to dust? In the meantime while I’m here, I’ll try to make the most of what I can say and do. I miss Baldwin too. On the brighter side, I think you’ve got the Ginsberg and Bob Dylan creativity shining through in your stories, back from the before times when people still cared. I still care. Irony got us in this mess. I’ll keep wishing that this nonsense will turn out okay, otherwise it’s too dark. Your writing helps to make the world a less scary, more funny, more thoughtful, and less batshit insane place to exist. Thank you for sharing beautiful writing with readers.
I feel as though we ourselves don’t see enough good because of the media that is most popular is either dramatic or negative. Bring back good news and local news pls. I was really hoping Tyson would win, but I knew it was a long shot
The Onion thing is the only bit of genuinely good news I have heard lately. And I’m totally with Mike on the legacy thing, I always thought this. How bizarre to want to be aggrandized after you’re gone. Like I don’t think it’s weird people want to leave something good behind them, but I do think it’s weird they want to be visibly connected to that thing… like if I managed to plant a massive forest all by myself, I’d just want the people who come after to enjoy and protect that forest, not to call it Lidija’s Forest or some junk like that. We should look at improving the world for the future as a question of good manners and not some bizarre proof of our imagined exceptionality
"Parody is winning, across the board. It has infiltrated almost everything by this point; and expect it to expand its empire of irreverence going forward." This is one smooth line. Enjoyed this read!
Love loved this. The last point about looking beyond mass media feels important - a lot of these legacy media platforms don’t really seem to know (or care) whether what they’re platforming exists in the real or hyperreal realm (hence Netflix live streaming the Paul v. Tyson fight).
i think the hyperreal is muchhh easier to fit into business plans than the real because it’s easier to bet on/make quarter earnings reliably, so i guess it would be silly to expect any reality to come out of these streaming platforms. idk i think it just means legacy media’s continuing to dig its grave lol
Brilliant through and through. Did want to say that I’m almost 100% positive that Prime energy is owned by Logan Paul and that Jake has nothing to do with the company
I think a little fun sized nibble out of Jake Paul’s ear would’ve been the crème de Le crème of parody performativity. Missed opportunity for both of those maniacs imo
i know you're joking but like it's honestly not a bad strategy, the first ten seasons of the simpsons is some of the most astute observational comedy about america ever made. i always think it's funny how much thomas pynchon apparently loved the simpsons, but it makes complete sense in a way
"So a self-aware parody brand ate a parody brand without any self awareness, and the parody-style of the Onion is turning Infowars’s brand of paranoid conservative self-parody back into the realm of knowing and directed parody"
I love this post because it's so relevant to something I've been thinking about, which is the cultural impact of satire. because in a society that's begun to embody parody in this way, making it indistinguishable from the its former self–in politics, with presidents, in sports like boxing–what utility does satire, the criticism of power through irony and humour, have anymore?
Tyson even agreeing to fight Jake Paul made me sigh a little bit, but I can’t ever say I was particularly shocked. He parodies himself all the time! Look at Mike Tyson Mysteries. Mike Tyson just wants to have name recognition with a younger generation and Paul wants to prove he can beat a great. The whole thing was a hollow and vapid affair.
I wish the people making a parody of these things were at least creative about it. Or funny about it. Do something that doesn’t insult the intelligence of people watching it. Not only has everything become parody, it’s become bad parody.
Thank you for mentioning the sandy hook families. I sure wish they get the peace they deserve (if we can ever break free from this dystopian parody of a parody hellscape, a hall of mirrors endlessly repeating the Simpsons.) You’re a good one by writing. Seriously I think books and writing offer people some sort of glimpse of hope that we are not doomed. If artists and writers can keep going in spite of everything, then I don’t have to worry too badly. Here’s to hoping? Yes to Dylan Highway 61. I love the artwork, as always. Holy shit I don’t like to admit this, but Tyson may be accurate: why fret over legacy when it all turns to dust? In the meantime while I’m here, I’ll try to make the most of what I can say and do. I miss Baldwin too. On the brighter side, I think you’ve got the Ginsberg and Bob Dylan creativity shining through in your stories, back from the before times when people still cared. I still care. Irony got us in this mess. I’ll keep wishing that this nonsense will turn out okay, otherwise it’s too dark. Your writing helps to make the world a less scary, more funny, more thoughtful, and less batshit insane place to exist. Thank you for sharing beautiful writing with readers.
I feel as though we ourselves don’t see enough good because of the media that is most popular is either dramatic or negative. Bring back good news and local news pls. I was really hoping Tyson would win, but I knew it was a long shot
The Onion thing is the only bit of genuinely good news I have heard lately. And I’m totally with Mike on the legacy thing, I always thought this. How bizarre to want to be aggrandized after you’re gone. Like I don’t think it’s weird people want to leave something good behind them, but I do think it’s weird they want to be visibly connected to that thing… like if I managed to plant a massive forest all by myself, I’d just want the people who come after to enjoy and protect that forest, not to call it Lidija’s Forest or some junk like that. We should look at improving the world for the future as a question of good manners and not some bizarre proof of our imagined exceptionality
"Parody is winning, across the board. It has infiltrated almost everything by this point; and expect it to expand its empire of irreverence going forward." This is one smooth line. Enjoyed this read!
love the lil illustrations as always!!
yo thanks leah!
Love loved this. The last point about looking beyond mass media feels important - a lot of these legacy media platforms don’t really seem to know (or care) whether what they’re platforming exists in the real or hyperreal realm (hence Netflix live streaming the Paul v. Tyson fight).
i think the hyperreal is muchhh easier to fit into business plans than the real because it’s easier to bet on/make quarter earnings reliably, so i guess it would be silly to expect any reality to come out of these streaming platforms. idk i think it just means legacy media’s continuing to dig its grave lol
Brilliant through and through. Did want to say that I’m almost 100% positive that Prime energy is owned by Logan Paul and that Jake has nothing to do with the company
hey thanks for reading! and nice catch, i’ll update it
very baudrillard
I think a little fun sized nibble out of Jake Paul’s ear would’ve been the crème de Le crème of parody performativity. Missed opportunity for both of those maniacs imo
Got it, will be using The Simpson’s as my only source from now on.
i know you're joking but like it's honestly not a bad strategy, the first ten seasons of the simpsons is some of the most astute observational comedy about america ever made. i always think it's funny how much thomas pynchon apparently loved the simpsons, but it makes complete sense in a way
you cooked with this one
yo thank ya
"So a self-aware parody brand ate a parody brand without any self awareness, and the parody-style of the Onion is turning Infowars’s brand of paranoid conservative self-parody back into the realm of knowing and directed parody"
I love this post because it's so relevant to something I've been thinking about, which is the cultural impact of satire. because in a society that's begun to embody parody in this way, making it indistinguishable from the its former self–in politics, with presidents, in sports like boxing–what utility does satire, the criticism of power through irony and humour, have anymore?
This resonates. The observations on society at large as much as the need to find ourselves within our close circles.
agreed on all counts
Tyson even agreeing to fight Jake Paul made me sigh a little bit, but I can’t ever say I was particularly shocked. He parodies himself all the time! Look at Mike Tyson Mysteries. Mike Tyson just wants to have name recognition with a younger generation and Paul wants to prove he can beat a great. The whole thing was a hollow and vapid affair.
I wish the people making a parody of these things were at least creative about it. Or funny about it. Do something that doesn’t insult the intelligence of people watching it. Not only has everything become parody, it’s become bad parody.