Hi Linkers! (is this anything…)
I’ve been a little flaky with the newsletter the last few months!!! I’m in the midst of applying for jobs and to be honest it feels self-indulgent to write something that isn’t a cover letter. But I can’t stay away from you freaks, so here’s a mini-version of my usually big brained, absolutely genius, Pulitzer prize winning, newsletters.
As always, thank you for reading :-)
Greedy: Notes From a Bisexual Who Wants Too Much, Jen Winston
I bought this book when it came out a few years ago, but only picked it up to read recently. I highly recommend to anyone looking for a comprehensive text on the joys and tedium and toils of being biseuxal. I really appreciate Jen Winston’s writing - it’s self-deprecating and silly, and she’s able to articulate profound feelings I’ve had as a bisexual woman for a long time, but never quite known how to verbalize. This book helped me feel more settled in my bisexuality, although I think that’ll grow and change with me for the rest of my life, and how cool is that! I’d also recommend this book to anyone with a bisexual friend or family member (or enemy) to understand more about how bisexuality fits into the broader queer community and society in general.
The Idol, HBO
We! Don’t! Need! Men! Writing! Stories! About! Women!!!!!! So boring! A few months ago, Rolling Stone put out an extremely juicy article about the highly anticipated and somewhat elusive series, The Idol, helmed Sam Levinson of Euphoria, and The Weeknd. The series finally dropped last night on HBO after swirling rumors of a toxic work environment under Levinson, including director Amy Seimetz unexpectedly quitting over “creative differences”, expensive reshoots and rewrites, and major ambiguity around its release date.
Are we surprised? No! There have been numerous instances that echo this behavior on the set of Euphoria, which allegedly contributed to Barbara Ferreira leaving the show despite playing the beloved character, Kat. Both Sydney Sweeney and Minka Kelly have spoken on the record about pushing back on scenes written with gratuitous nudity, and extras and PAs have voiced frustration with disorganized sets and somewhat erratic behavior from Levinson. Sure, The Idol looks beautiful and I’ll go to great lengths to support my girls Hari Nef and Rachel Sennott, but the brazen misogyny both on and off screen and reports of tumultuous production especially in the midst of the writers strike is enough to make me pass, hard. I will however, be consuming every single scathing tweet, article, and meme. Fun!
More to consider:
HAPPY PRIDE! New episodes of MUNA’s podcast, Gayotic with MUNA are out now😎 I love the latest one with Matt Rogers.
According to The Guardian “Fake British Accent videos have over 180,000 views on TikTok, where young people say they use the voice whenever they feel uncomfortable.” From GRWMs on TikTok to IRL, the youth tend to drop into a ‘innit’ or ‘naaauuurrr’ fairly regularly, almost like a tic. Most people credit the popularity of the reality series, Love Island, combined with the urge to add levity to awkward or tough situations. I’ve noticed Gen Z is pretty candid when it comes to calling out their own social discomfort, which is a deep departure from repressed Boomer culture. What does it mean about me that I slip into a southern accent when I feel uncomfortable? Time will tell!
Sanctum Unmaked is a new podcast from Karley Scortinio (Slutever, Vogue) about a sex cult for Hollywood’s elite active in the early 2010’s. The shock value isn’t necessarily in the cult’s sexual endeavors, but rather the rise and fall of the enigmatic (read: horny and bored) man at its center.
James Marsden, please don’t turn out to be bad. Babe? We kind of need a bland, unproblematic hot leading man right now. Leonardo DiCaprio dates teenagers, Chris Pratt Loves The Lord in a way that unsettles me, even sweet prince Timothée Chalamet allegedly gave multiple women at NYU chlamidya when he was a student there (I said ALLEGEDLY! Still love u, Timmy). I’m rooting for you James, but you’re on THIN ICE.
And lastly, a playlist dedicated to being hot and dumb this summer.
See you next time :~)
<3Hannah