I think an interesting thought that, perhaps not directly referenced here but hoves near enough to your exploration of the influencer-influenced relationship and how its presented in 2000's animation which is worth discussing; late stage capitalism, as an economic framework, is designed to prey upon the very human craving for novelty (in this case, it's hategagement. It's a term I'm coining and I think much of why we even acknowledge irritating people and silly trends is because angrily engaging with it, to me, is just repurposed novelty) and it has most recently taken that in the form of nostalgia; the old becomes new again and late state capitalism will, without hesitation, target and uplift those who know how to farm those desires.
It plays out in big corporate ads where they've carefully co-opted popular memes or old, familiar faces via retired athletes, actors, or even proto-influencers like Paris Hilton, to further prime an audience to consume their product or service. Late stage capitalism dangles shiny, repackaged objects in front of us while a familiar hand holds it.
Ahh thank you!!! And “hategagement” is SUCH a good term. You’re so right that novelty doesn’t have to mean new, it just has to mean emotionally clickable, and hate is one of the most efficient emotions to exploit. I lowkey actually wrote a whole section on how companies weaponize nostalgia, but ended up cutting it because I’m working on a separate piece about the Disney parks (and Disney is like… the final boss of nostalgia capitalism). And, I think you can see this tactic everywhere now. Every brand deal, every collab, every limited-edition drop feels like it’s engineered to hit some emotional memory center—Labubus, McDonald’s adult Happy Meals, Snoopy collabs. It’s psychological time travel.
Brilliant, brilliant piece that should have 10x engagement and visibility than it currently does (depressingly proving your point).
Sometimes I sit here like, "What shocking things about me and my life can I use as online content?" because I understanding shock content is what the algorithm rewards which isn't bad in and of itself but when shock and lust is the ONLY piece that the algorithm rewards, it's like a race to the bottom with degeneracy. Someone like Bonnie Blue is the end result of this.
This week, I read a piece about how this has functioned within a capitalistic music industry that subsumes all genres by monetizing their initial shock value and selling that rebellion back as an aesthetic, thus rendering these genres originally based in resistance powerless. I have been meditating on it all week, and this essay complements it deliciously.
AHH i loved this so much. first of all im glAD the search bar worked hell ya. also that piece was so good i think the music field is such a good example of this ty for sharing that !!
Another great piece from you, Brooklyn.
I think an interesting thought that, perhaps not directly referenced here but hoves near enough to your exploration of the influencer-influenced relationship and how its presented in 2000's animation which is worth discussing; late stage capitalism, as an economic framework, is designed to prey upon the very human craving for novelty (in this case, it's hategagement. It's a term I'm coining and I think much of why we even acknowledge irritating people and silly trends is because angrily engaging with it, to me, is just repurposed novelty) and it has most recently taken that in the form of nostalgia; the old becomes new again and late state capitalism will, without hesitation, target and uplift those who know how to farm those desires.
It plays out in big corporate ads where they've carefully co-opted popular memes or old, familiar faces via retired athletes, actors, or even proto-influencers like Paris Hilton, to further prime an audience to consume their product or service. Late stage capitalism dangles shiny, repackaged objects in front of us while a familiar hand holds it.
Ahh thank you!!! And “hategagement” is SUCH a good term. You’re so right that novelty doesn’t have to mean new, it just has to mean emotionally clickable, and hate is one of the most efficient emotions to exploit. I lowkey actually wrote a whole section on how companies weaponize nostalgia, but ended up cutting it because I’m working on a separate piece about the Disney parks (and Disney is like… the final boss of nostalgia capitalism). And, I think you can see this tactic everywhere now. Every brand deal, every collab, every limited-edition drop feels like it’s engineered to hit some emotional memory center—Labubus, McDonald’s adult Happy Meals, Snoopy collabs. It’s psychological time travel.
Brilliant, brilliant piece that should have 10x engagement and visibility than it currently does (depressingly proving your point).
Sometimes I sit here like, "What shocking things about me and my life can I use as online content?" because I understanding shock content is what the algorithm rewards which isn't bad in and of itself but when shock and lust is the ONLY piece that the algorithm rewards, it's like a race to the bottom with degeneracy. Someone like Bonnie Blue is the end result of this.
This week, I read a piece about how this has functioned within a capitalistic music industry that subsumes all genres by monetizing their initial shock value and selling that rebellion back as an aesthetic, thus rendering these genres originally based in resistance powerless. I have been meditating on it all week, and this essay complements it deliciously.
https://presterjohnsrevenge.substack.com/p/by-any-other-name-the-devil-hitler
Also want to positively add that I found this piece by using my search bar ;)
AHH i loved this so much. first of all im glAD the search bar worked hell ya. also that piece was so good i think the music field is such a good example of this ty for sharing that !!
i never knew one of my favourite childhood movies could spur such a brilliant essay.. amazing as always.
haha thank you!!!!
Truly a hit, loved every second of it!
hell ya ty!!!!
another phenomenal piece (: the way you write and blend these movies into the modern day is equal parts fun and insightful. thank u for sharing!!!
thank you!!!