Great wrap-up post, Katherine. I'd like to send my newsletter readers over to you, and will mention this post as a teaser. Thanks for the insightful work from you this year on digital culture.
The new culture war will be low agency vs high agency. Un/underemployed NEET vs. Type A yuppie gymbro.
Body and mind modification with a neo puritan bent. Lot's of gen z not taking to drugs , getting wrapped up in tracking/ optimizing every facet of their lives, albiet with shortcuts like ozempic. There's probably going to be some type of hedonistic overadjustment to this, think gambling, sportsbetting, jumping off cliffs.
Gender's been neutralized enough to move into the next phase of the trend cycle - you already see some mainstream-ish writers moving into a "TERFier" stance. A lot of my thinking is predicated on how these topics exist in particular spaces (which, as I'm typing this, I think I could be more clear about). You can't come up as a controversial new voice focusing on "Gender Ideology," whereas race is still hot enough to push the boundaries.
I'm curious about what it'll do to youth culture. I also wonder what happens when the heterodox become more powerful in media - you already see some hints here.
I don't think I have ever gone to an in person internet meet up before. But given its Chicago where I lived for quite a while, and my itch to better understand or at least witness how the sausage from the internet gets made, I am very tempted.
My only impression of a "reading" is the kind you see in a movies opening sequences where they are laying groundwork for the protagonist, kind of presenting their bona fides or what not. I have to assume it is not like this in reality. I always find the "audience Q & A" portion of talks / discussions to be uncomfortable. Something about getting a room of people together who are there for a certain subject or person, and then ask for volunteers to perform seems like a recipe for disaster.
I suppose as long as there is booze, or it is booze adjacent it would be interesting people watching. Would I be correct in guessing that it will be in a place like Wicker/Pilsen/Lincoln or Logan Square? There are a few bars in those areas I have been very much missing since I moved. The idea of getting hammered and ending up at Hollywood Grill at 3am appeals to me. I miss my Chicago service folks, they were the only thing that kept me sane for the first couple of years I was there. I guess the coin will be tossed when the time comes. Also, thank you for the list and links. If I do end up doing the thing those types of things will help me be less unschooled when it comes to listening to some new content without the benefit of having glossary next to me. :) OOoh! Maybe a human glossary! Ruin someone else's experience by constantly pestering them to subtitle for me.
Fucking criminal. But then again, prolly best for everyone that works there. The number of times folks almost caught a case of high velocity lead poisoning when I was bleary eyed at the counter was too high even for drunk me. On that score is Tempo still open? Now THAT place always seemed on the verge of getting kinetic around 3am. But I guess that is the thing with after close food places. Same with what was it, White Palace? I went there a few times when I lived in the loop and got flashbacks of the shit-hole truckstop late-night joint my mom worked in growing up. Given there was markedly less flannel involved, but the shark-eyed customers had the same vibe.
Seems reasonable, tho hearing you have NEVER been out drinking in Chicago is a bit of a shock to me. I was always a fairly infrequent drinker before moving there. Preferring instead to chill at coffee places and draw. But it felt like alcoholism was the city sport to the folks I worked with, and since the job kept me in office during the prime cafe times the only place to doodle was at bars after work. Once the starbucks drama kicked off in what 2019? I basically had to re-align my habits at cafes. They kind of became defacto shelters and I could not leave my stuff unattended without worry it would run out the door.
Part of it is I just don't hang out with people very often, except my SO (by choice). I've become more antisocial. I also haven't had any alcohol in maybe 6 months.
That's an odd thing I have been running into a lot lately. Many of my friends have settled down dramatically, and they say things like they are being more "anti-social". Like you they have SOs and in some cases kids. As far as I can tell as a person that spends a lot of time out at bars, that kind of thing is far more socializing than any evening out, at least at depth. I feel like we need a better terms for people who opt out of doing the dance out there in the public. It should feel more like a default as opposed to a resignation or what not I think. Maybe I am just putting spin on the ball that isn't there, but anti-social sounds like a pejorative to me.
Regarding CW predictions: I def agree with predictions 1 & 6. I sense white identitarianism, along with the JQ, will become more mainstream, splitting the anti-woke tribes into two (similar to how the COVID moment did). Also, post-human versus stay human will become a salient CW battlefront, with the former aligning with woke and the latter with anti-woke. I'd also say Gen Z further takes over the internet, inspiring millennials to create more post-internet-esque IRL scenes.
I also just kind of think about the ongoing intra-elite tension between the East Coast media and political establishment and the San Francisco tech upstarts. Some of that psychodrama will unfold in the transhumanism stuff.
Like is AI enthusiasm woke v. anti-woke? Seems like accel v decel is negatively correlated with woke v. anti-woke.
Yes the “local scene” continues apace — totally agree.
also agree re re-organization. There’s a LW JQ & RW. Latter becomes more racially open, maybe focuses on gender content instead. White identitarianism, somehow, becomes “soft edgy.”
Hm. This is inspiring me to write up a 2024 CW prediction post. A few I may explore: "The Bipartisan Mainstreaming of the JQ" (white identitarianism right + pro-Palestine left), "Everyone Becomes a Conspiracy Theorist" (psyops realism), "Culture War Quietism Becomes a Viable Option for Many" (personally projecting on this one). Something about the fusion of transgenderism and transhumanism as well. I wonder what happens next with the class-based left, e/acc, and Katherine Dee.
I think the TX/Ethiopian food crossover tweet is the first hint that odd fusion dishes will trend in 2024. Looking for a jump in popularity for things such as Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, viet-cajun fried catfish ban mi, etc
I wonder about food trends — tinned fish and depression meals (girl dinner) was an odd one and reminded me of when Taco Bell was hipster for some reason. Year before this one was candy and pickles.
Grimace thing was a lot more popular than people thought it was gonna be. Also girls in 2023 be like: let’s get dominos. Nah you just been watching Stranger Things
“Whatever happens, tradwives and pro-natalism have left the station.”
Market oversaturation is a bitch.
It sure is. Once TNR etc. started writing about it, it was over IMO
My Christmas was surrounded by Family but still felt like shit as all Holidays
and here is too another year of digital discourse that may or may not "do it" finally for Me cheers
Hey, did you used to comment on my blog under another username?
yeah but i changed now i am better now.
Great wrap-up post, Katherine. I'd like to send my newsletter readers over to you, and will mention this post as a teaser. Thanks for the insightful work from you this year on digital culture.
where do i email for the book club?
You can respond to the newsletter, I’m gonna do a follow up post soon
The new culture war will be low agency vs high agency. Un/underemployed NEET vs. Type A yuppie gymbro.
Body and mind modification with a neo puritan bent. Lot's of gen z not taking to drugs , getting wrapped up in tracking/ optimizing every facet of their lives, albiet with shortcuts like ozempic. There's probably going to be some type of hedonistic overadjustment to this, think gambling, sportsbetting, jumping off cliffs.
It's weird you combine "not taking drugs" and "optimising every facet of their lives". What do you think microdosing is?
There’s xannies and there is microdosing shrooms
Lots of people saying no to alcohol I’ve noticed
I think the high agency vs low agency point is really interesting
Great post! I especially enjoyed the intro, on internet time, escalation, and the need for narratives.
"Constantly, I have to remind myself, we’re not owed the cycle of rising action-climax-falling action. Life simply is." - Indeed.
Thank you! And yes I think this is underexplored
Will you be announcing the location of the reading in Chicago? Or is that by invitation only? I would most likely attend.
Yes, early January
Great post, Katherine. Sharing with other terminally online friends.
Thank you, Arjit! Love your Substack name btw
Very interesting. What’s your thinking behind the first prediction re: gender->race?
Gender's been neutralized enough to move into the next phase of the trend cycle - you already see some mainstream-ish writers moving into a "TERFier" stance. A lot of my thinking is predicated on how these topics exist in particular spaces (which, as I'm typing this, I think I could be more clear about). You can't come up as a controversial new voice focusing on "Gender Ideology," whereas race is still hot enough to push the boundaries.
If your prediction is correct, we're in for some interesting times.
I'm curious about what it'll do to youth culture. I also wonder what happens when the heterodox become more powerful in media - you already see some hints here.
I don't think I have ever gone to an in person internet meet up before. But given its Chicago where I lived for quite a while, and my itch to better understand or at least witness how the sausage from the internet gets made, I am very tempted.
My only impression of a "reading" is the kind you see in a movies opening sequences where they are laying groundwork for the protagonist, kind of presenting their bona fides or what not. I have to assume it is not like this in reality. I always find the "audience Q & A" portion of talks / discussions to be uncomfortable. Something about getting a room of people together who are there for a certain subject or person, and then ask for volunteers to perform seems like a recipe for disaster.
I suppose as long as there is booze, or it is booze adjacent it would be interesting people watching. Would I be correct in guessing that it will be in a place like Wicker/Pilsen/Lincoln or Logan Square? There are a few bars in those areas I have been very much missing since I moved. The idea of getting hammered and ending up at Hollywood Grill at 3am appeals to me. I miss my Chicago service folks, they were the only thing that kept me sane for the first couple of years I was there. I guess the coin will be tossed when the time comes. Also, thank you for the list and links. If I do end up doing the thing those types of things will help me be less unschooled when it comes to listening to some new content without the benefit of having glossary next to me. :) OOoh! Maybe a human glossary! Ruin someone else's experience by constantly pestering them to subtitle for me.
Hollywood Grill, sadly, closes at 4pm now.
Fucking criminal. But then again, prolly best for everyone that works there. The number of times folks almost caught a case of high velocity lead poisoning when I was bleary eyed at the counter was too high even for drunk me. On that score is Tempo still open? Now THAT place always seemed on the verge of getting kinetic around 3am. But I guess that is the thing with after close food places. Same with what was it, White Palace? I went there a few times when I lived in the loop and got flashbacks of the shit-hole truckstop late-night joint my mom worked in growing up. Given there was markedly less flannel involved, but the shark-eyed customers had the same vibe.
I'm not sure -- I almost never go out, and definitely am never out late. I've never been drinking in Chicago.
Seems reasonable, tho hearing you have NEVER been out drinking in Chicago is a bit of a shock to me. I was always a fairly infrequent drinker before moving there. Preferring instead to chill at coffee places and draw. But it felt like alcoholism was the city sport to the folks I worked with, and since the job kept me in office during the prime cafe times the only place to doodle was at bars after work. Once the starbucks drama kicked off in what 2019? I basically had to re-align my habits at cafes. They kind of became defacto shelters and I could not leave my stuff unattended without worry it would run out the door.
Part of it is I just don't hang out with people very often, except my SO (by choice). I've become more antisocial. I also haven't had any alcohol in maybe 6 months.
That's an odd thing I have been running into a lot lately. Many of my friends have settled down dramatically, and they say things like they are being more "anti-social". Like you they have SOs and in some cases kids. As far as I can tell as a person that spends a lot of time out at bars, that kind of thing is far more socializing than any evening out, at least at depth. I feel like we need a better terms for people who opt out of doing the dance out there in the public. It should feel more like a default as opposed to a resignation or what not I think. Maybe I am just putting spin on the ball that isn't there, but anti-social sounds like a pejorative to me.
Regarding CW predictions: I def agree with predictions 1 & 6. I sense white identitarianism, along with the JQ, will become more mainstream, splitting the anti-woke tribes into two (similar to how the COVID moment did). Also, post-human versus stay human will become a salient CW battlefront, with the former aligning with woke and the latter with anti-woke. I'd also say Gen Z further takes over the internet, inspiring millennials to create more post-internet-esque IRL scenes.
I don’t think transhumanism debates will have much correlation with woke/anti-woke.
I think they already have! They’re closely connected to the gender debates
I suspect it’ll be closer to vax/anti-vax among elites/opinion-makers/etc. The ongoing GLP-1 stuff is probably an even closer fit.
For instance: Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Richard Hanania, Sam Harris, etc will all probably sort into the transhumanist camp.
It’ll have a scrambling effect at the elite level.
At the lower rungs it might be closer to woke v. anti-woke in the sense there will be divides by class and religious belief.
I also just kind of think about the ongoing intra-elite tension between the East Coast media and political establishment and the San Francisco tech upstarts. Some of that psychodrama will unfold in the transhumanism stuff.
Like is AI enthusiasm woke v. anti-woke? Seems like accel v decel is negatively correlated with woke v. anti-woke.
Yes the “local scene” continues apace — totally agree.
also agree re re-organization. There’s a LW JQ & RW. Latter becomes more racially open, maybe focuses on gender content instead. White identitarianism, somehow, becomes “soft edgy.”
Hm. This is inspiring me to write up a 2024 CW prediction post. A few I may explore: "The Bipartisan Mainstreaming of the JQ" (white identitarianism right + pro-Palestine left), "Everyone Becomes a Conspiracy Theorist" (psyops realism), "Culture War Quietism Becomes a Viable Option for Many" (personally projecting on this one). Something about the fusion of transgenderism and transhumanism as well. I wonder what happens next with the class-based left, e/acc, and Katherine Dee.
Not to be the most self serving person in the world, but you should come on the pod and discuss these topics!
Let's make it happen. :)
Shoot me an email!
KD access > internet access
Thank you!
I think the TX/Ethiopian food crossover tweet is the first hint that odd fusion dishes will trend in 2024. Looking for a jump in popularity for things such as Philly cheesesteak egg rolls, viet-cajun fried catfish ban mi, etc
I wonder about food trends — tinned fish and depression meals (girl dinner) was an odd one and reminded me of when Taco Bell was hipster for some reason. Year before this one was candy and pickles.
Grimace thing was a lot more popular than people thought it was gonna be. Also girls in 2023 be like: let’s get dominos. Nah you just been watching Stranger Things
Maybe the tinned fish thing wasn’t so much recessioncore but nostalgiacore? You’re onto something.