media consumption: articles, video essays, podcasts to make you smarter (vol. 5)

hello.

i’m moving into a new apartment in the city next week so i’m trying to organize all of my belongings and i have a abnormal level of anxiety about my books being damaged or misplaced or a combination of the two mid-transit. i’m also a bit uneasy because this is a move into a temporary apartment until i can really take my time to look and explore places in the city that i will really fall in love with- searching for my (almost) forever home.

apart from the stress mentioned above, i’ve been doing a lot of thinking about the guilt i feel anytime i write or consume comforting content, especially when the world around me is falling apart. i know there’s nuance. i know there’s a level of balance that we should all maintain when it comes to dividing our time between comfort and something educational or enlightening or informative about the happenings in the world.

for some reason, this also feels very related to over consumption, the strange world of the trad-wife-mom-blogger adjacent creators who capitalized off of exploiting their children on the internet, over spending during the holidays, etc, etc, etc. (i want to write a separate newsletter on this topic very soon)

honestly, i’ve been giving myself the ick whenever i write about my excitement for the holidays (and this year feels especially icky, given the circumstances). i love traditions and the activities that surround the holiday season, but it feels very detached from the reality we live in- an ignorant escape.

i want to spend some time gathering my thoughts on all of this because i have a feeling i’m not the only one who’s been thinking about these things lately…

as per usual, it’s sunday, so today’s letter will be filled with this week’s report plus interesting articles and media consumption for you to enjoy this afternoon over french toast and black coffee.

weekly report:

reading:

the concept of anxiety by soren kierkegaard (reread for me)
this is kierkegaard at his existential best, exploring anxiety not as a negative force, but as a fundamental part of human freedom. he delves into how the feeling of dread comes from our boundless potential to make choices, framing it as a key to self-discovery and spiritual growth. it’s not an easy read, but it’s deeply rewarding for anyone interested in the complexities of the human condition.

the lonely city by olivia laing
laing blends memoir, art criticism, and cultural commentary to examine loneliness through the lens of famous artists like edward hopper and andy warhol. as she navigates her own isolation in new york, she explores how loneliness can inspire creativity and connect us to others in unexpected ways. it’s tender, insightful, and unexpectedly hopeful.

art objects by jeanette winterson
this collection of essays is a love letter to art in all its forms. winterson argues passionately for the transformative power of art, whether it’s a painting, a book, or a piece of music. her writing is sharp, emotional, and unapologetically intellectual, challenging readers to look deeper and engage more fully with the art around them.

the hour of the star by clarice lispector
a slim but devastating novel about macabéa, a poor, unremarkable woman from brazil’s countryside who tries to make sense of her life in the city. lispector uses macabéa’s story to explore themes of poverty, identity, and existence itself, blending brutal honesty with strange, almost surreal beauty. it’s haunting and unforgettable.

eating:

sweet: pie (pumpkin or apple) with freshly whipped cream for breakfast, buttermilk spice muffins with cinnamon streusel, french toast with black coffee

savory: rosemary spiced nuts, lasagna, chicken pot pie, more soup (specifically grilled cheese with tomato soup)

playing:

jazzy autumn and jazzy christmas

carol (2015)

unsolicited advice on youtube

Alison Roman

thanksgiving on youtube

obsessing:

this neck cream my dermatologist recommended (but she’s pricey, okay)

this little sticker book for journaling

this hand cream to save my skin from the brittle winter weather

recommending:

getting tickets to the nutcracker ballet this season

savoring the last days of autumn, admiring the foliage, taking long walks through the park, perhaps an autumnal picnic?

treating:

print magazines because i got a gift card to barnes and noble and omg i can’t wait this is the best time of year to indulge in print :))

let’s move into this week’s media consumption. today, we’re discussing the new didion and babitz book, the beauty of being alone, the evolution of greek muses and goddesses, how the internet ruins community, the problem with modern love, why ratatouille is the best pixar film, and more.

media consumption:

articles:

literary assassins

the article dissects the absurdity of blurbs—those coerced, insecure endorsements writers beg from loftier peers. the author reluctantly gives in but subverts the norm by imagining a blurb from eve babitz, a writer central to their new book, didion & babitz. this act of rebellion transforms an industry expectation into a witty, irreverent critique of the literary world’s self-seriousness. 

new york mag