first Derivative [72] newsletter
first Derivative [72]
August 5, 2019
There's some thematic unity in this week's issue. We've got cultural/demographic trends in the Tablet and Atlantic pieces that tie into the more abstract philosophical essay from Aeon which, I think also ties into the piece from n+1. Marking the recent release of Tarantino's 9th movie, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood, Arthur dug up a good profile of the auteur from 2003. Interesting to see what feels dated and what doesn't since I feel Tarantino didn't really become the commercial force he is now until 2009 with Inglorious Basterds (Once Upon a Time had the largest opening weekend box office number of his career). I'd recommend it (definitely over The Lion King). I'd also recommend Three Days of the Condor and The Nice Guys, The latter I saw with Arthur and I think we both liked it.
I also want to highlight this review written by my friend and fD reader, Isaac. It's a very cogent review of John Gray's book about atheism. I don't find Isaac's suggestion offered at the end any less uncomfortable, maybe terrifying, than the metaphysical landscape Gray lays out but that I think that wouldn't be a criticism of the point.—tk
Go see Once Upon a Time... Whether you like it or not, it's the type of movie (medium budget, star-driven, auteur filmmaker) that we as consumers should affirm. Speaking of affirmation, how about a round of applause for Ted who, after much bullying from me, finished his first novel in almost two years! On that front, I just read Sally Rooney's Normal People, and I'm starting to get the hype around her. I've heard Conversations with Friends is better, so that might be next. I've been binging The Thick of It (streaming on Hulu), a must see for fans of Veep and British humor.—ai
If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe.
America's White Saviors
by Zach Goldberg (Tablet)
An in depth analysis of the phenomenon dubbed The Great Awokening, arguing that white liberals, more than the minorities they seek to empower, are dictating the agenda of the Democratic party. According to Goldberg, their sudden and significant leftward shift on issues of race has created an "illusion of conservative extremism."—ai
Quite long, but some interesting trends and great data. Read the beginning, skim the middle, and read the end.—tk
The Spirit of History
by Terry Pinkard (Aeon)
If, like me, you like the idea of having read Hegel without having to read Hegel, this article is for you. It's particularly interesting in the context of The Great Awokening, which has exposed the contradiction of America's stated ideals and its systemic racism. Hegel's philosophy of history anticipated our current sociopolitical crisis with an uncanny prescience. Let's hope we can find a way forward.—ai
In the Maze
by Dayna Tortorici (n+1)
A look at male backlash to the recent wave of feminism that asks: is the redistribution of patriarchal power a zero sum game? must history have losers? Questions that make me wonder if societies reach a point of "Cultural Pareto Efficiency" (Ted's coinage, I thought, but he doesn't remember and since I'm kicking myself for not coming up with "The Great Awokening," I'm happy to take credit for it).—ai
This one kind of lost the thread for me. Interesting observations and insights but the whole is less than the sum of its parts. I do think it's trying to define something quite hard to grasp though, an inflection point. More second derivative, than first derivative really. Dayna is writing about an undercurrent growing beneath the waning movement in the opposite direction.—tk
The Future of the City is Childless
by Derek Thompson (Atlantic)
"The modern American city is not a microcosm of life but a microslice of it. It’s becoming an Epcot theme park for childless affluence, where the rich can act like kids without having to actually see any."
An interesting trend piece that codified and clarified my inchoate dislike for boozy brunch. This rings true for me and what I see from my friends. I hadn't really thought of the generational cohort segregation of modern ubanism, more so the rising intra-city economic inequality. But I think the point raised about the cities monopolizing more of economic activity among an age cohort and that effect on family formation and also perhaps the gendered impact of this is worth considering.—tk
New bill would ban autoplay videos and endless scrolling
by Makena Kelly (Verge)
Noteworthy on several counts. Republican-sponsored, practical legislation from a young senator tackling what I think is incredibly important issue. This should be an area of bipartisan concern but it's been interesting to see the right flanking on this.
We live in an era of Big Data but attention is the true scarce, valuable resource. I recommend reading Tim Wu's The Attention Merchant for more on the topic. Or check out my interview with venture capitalist Albert Wenger from a few years back that touches on this.—tk
Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, Who Led Liberal Wing, Dies at 99
by Linda Greenhouse (NYT)
In memoriam... they truly don't seem to make them like this anymore. Justice Stevens is someone I've looked up to as an intellectual role model since high school and his unpopular dissent in Texas v. Johnson (flag burning) had a big impact on me and continues to be a heterodox position I hold. Arthur disagrees. Less controversial, at least in our circles, was his dissent in Citizens United which also imparted in me a deep concern about economic equality and its effect on American democracy.—tk
"Heterodox position" is a great euphemism for a bad opinion you can freely voice because we have protections for speech acts. But I digress. RIP JPS, a great American indeed. Fun fact, he didn't think Shakespeare wrote the plays attributed to him.—ai
The Movie Lover
by Larissa MacFarquhar (New Yorker)
Do I love anyone or anything as much as Tarantino loves the movies? My mom gets this newsletter and I'm still not willing to go on the record and say yes.—ai
Was the Automotive Era a Terrible Mistake?
by Nathan Heller (NYer)
I think this piece could have done without the personal angle interwoven but nonetheless an interesting read on the path-dependent history of gasoline-powered cars and the impending future of autonomous vehicles. The personal angle isn't a wholly a negative, some quirky, funny lines in here.—tk
We Need a New Science of Progress
by Tyler Cowen, Patrick Collison (Atlantic)
A bit bland, I can't shake the feeling this was written by Tyler Cowen's research assistant or some other hired hand. But it is an interesting call to arms, call to attention. I feel less confident leaving it to Cowen and SV types to come up with a comprehensive and holistic view of what "progress" and "well-being" than I do trusting them to tackle the material and social network substrates of it all. Also check out this Economist essay from now a decade ago. One of the earliest pieces I remember influencing the way I think.—tk
Europeans Don't Necessarily Share American Values
by Shadi Hamid (Atlantic)
Good stuff per usual from Shadi Hamid. Nothing groundbreaking but an original point, taking sincerely the cultural nationalism espoused by some right now on its own terms and pointing out the internal contradictions.—tk
If you were forwarded this email, click here to subscribe.
ABOUT fD
fD is a newsletter on what we think matters. We highlight signals, insights, and deep trends in ideas, technology, politics, economics, foreign affairs, culture, philosophy, and more. Our goal is to give you content that will still matter beyond the present moment.
We hope you enjoy. Ask us anything here or just respond to this email—tk&ai