media consumption: articles, video essays, podcasts to make you smarter (vol. 41)
what i’ve been reading, playing, romanticizing, and treating myself to
hello.
if you’re craving physical media, you’ll enjoy today’s letter.
also thinking about writing an entire letter dedicated to physical media recommendations: print magazines, cd’s and vinyls, dvds and cassette players, photography and scrapbooks, video games, posters and zines, etc etc.
let me know if that’s of interest! there is nothing i love more than spending an evening with a spread**** of magazine and tactile things to entertain myself. (or a trip to casa magazine?! or iconic mag! a dream..) i think we’re all craving more of that these days.
speaking of, today’s letter is filled with articles and video essays and podcasts that have kept me company over the last couple of weeks, plus a little weekly report for you.
enjoy!
weekly report
reading
a modernist novel about obsessive love and emotional devastation among expatriates living in paris. the story centers on the relationship between robin vote and nora flood, whose attachment becomes increasingly painful and destructive. the novel is known for its dense, poetic language and its exploration of identity, sexuality, and longing.
the hunger of women by marosia castaldi
a fragmented and surreal novel about women’s lives, desire, violence, and motherhood. the story moves through different voices and time periods, creating a dreamlike portrait of female experience and historical memory. castaldi’s writing is intense and philosophical, often blurring the line between narrative and reflection
tears and saints by emil cioran
a feverish, almost obsessive meditation on saints, suffering, and the strange allure of religious ecstasy. cioran writes about mysticism with this mix of fascination and disbelief, like he wants to believe but can’t quite surrender to it. fragmented, intense, and a little unhinged in the best way.
bad taste: or the politics of ugliness by sianne ngai
a smart subversive look at what we call “bad taste” and why. ngai moves between theory, art, and pop culture to show how ugliness and cringe aesthetics are tied to class, power, and cultural judgment. makes you rethink what you instinctively dismiss and why. this is a recommendation from whatzaraloves6 (on tiktok. love her!!!!! go follow her).
eating
sourdough bread with salted butter and honey. warm bread, melting butter, a little sweetness. simple and perfect.
muesli. oats, dried fruit, and nuts with cold milk and fresh berries. easy, filling, and feels like something you come back to every morning.
spring soups. lighter, vegetable forward soups that feel like a shift out of winter. clean, simple, and a little restorative. something like this from Alison Roman
playing
spring playlists: ambient, tender jazz, oldies
late night jazz bar, a slow sax, cigarette smoke, and you
films:
bubble bath (1979) a surreal animated film about a young man drifting through work, relationships, and city life while everything around him feels slightly off. it moves between reality and imagination, with shifting animation styles and a kind of existential, dreamlike mood.
six in paris (1965) a collection of short films, each set in a different arrondissement, following small, everyday moments, chance encounters, conversations, romantic tension. less plot, more vibes about observing people moving through the city.
la matriarca (1968) follows a woman who, after her husband’s death, begins uncovering his secret life and is pulled into exploring her own desire and independence. it becomes this mix of grief, curiosity, and sexual awakening, all set in a very stylized, late 60s italian world.
audiobooks:
all consuming by ruby tandoh writing about food, appetite, and the ways we moralize eating in a way that feels human.
the new age of sexism by laura bates on how misogyny has evolved online and in digital spaces. unsettling but feels important to actually sit with.
obsessing
nightgown season again: pulling out my favorites from salter house, heirloom co, and if only if. soft cotton, slightly romantic, the kind of pieces to wear at home or to the grocery store.
spring fragrances….
hazy blue by elorea: soft and slightly distant, like that hazy blue hour right before sunset. airy citrus and white florals with a warm, musky dry down.
swim by gabar: green, fresh, a little fruity. fig, tea, and something almost watery that makes it feel like being outside all day.
parisian musc by matiere premiere: clean skin but better. soft, musky, understated in a way that feels very effortless and put together. the most perfect fig adjacent scent,
recommending
strawberry picking at a u pick farm: peak spring activity. being outside, filling a basket full of berries, eating more than you take home. berry stained fingers, seasonally living at it’s prime.
death to stock photo. are you feeling creatively depleted? dive into the world of death to stock photo and you’ll be back diving deep into rabbit holes once again.
listening to jazz while reading the new yorker. i’m in a jazzy sentimental mood these days. wake up, sip on hot black coffee, snack on a pastry, flip through the pages of the new yorker, and listen to this playlist. .
perfume discovery sets! this one from the maker is the perfect set to play with. this set is so dreamy, like stepping into four distinct moods, each one is unique and immersive. dream is a soft, creamy vanilla that lingers like warm skin and something slightly sweet, and nostalgic. lover is deeper and more grounded. a warm, woody scent that feels like being held, steady and intimate. revel shifts everything into light, a bright, juicy floral that feels like sunlight, laughter, and a day you wish you could stay inside forever. libertine finishes it off with something freer and more undone. fresh citrus and airy aromatics that feel effortless, like leaving the window open and going wherever the day takes you.
treating
new print media! picking up magazines and zines like popeye, cake zine, hot girls cooking club, tiny zine. physical things to flip through again, collecting them, letting them pile up forever and ever.
long, slightly extravagant trips to specialty grocery stores: wandering, picking out fancy cheeses, artisanal breads, little jars of jam, things you don’t really need but want anyway for elaborate mid-day snack plates.
the rest of this newsletter is for paid subscribers.
i’m sharing articles, video essays, and podcasts that i’ve consumed recently. some of the topics include: is your boyfriend a spiritual lesbian? the rise of yearning, digital appetites, how men ruined motherhood, the death of the party girl, what’s in my bag as still life, the beauty of physical media, relationship recessions, and so much more.
if you’re curious about sampling you can use my link at scent split for a discount on all samples and full size bottles
truly, your support means the world to me and it’s what gives me the capacity to write to you.
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