It’s A Weird Time
But at least we’re talking about it
“It’s a weird time. Full stop.”
That was the line stuck at most from the last time I met up with Andrew IRL, at the Ace Hotel lobby in Brooklyn. With the exception of the “Full stop,” (a flourish that I very much appreciate and have started incorporating) I feel like I’ve been having some version of this conversation with some cohort of friends at every interaction over the past year or so.
Oftentimes the discussions lean toward the weird times career-wise. Others focus on the weird times geopolitically, technologically, and whatever the adverb version of climate is. Spurred on by the thought of whether European peasant in medieval times had any conception that they were living in the quote-unquote Dark Ages, New Yorker writer Kyle Chayka set about trying to coin a name for these modern weird times. The Age of Unhingement, the New Dark Age, and Assholocene were bandied about.
Despite none of those names really ringing out to me, the feelings that spark the pursuit persist. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that these weird times seemed to have pierced the bubble of people who read New Yorker stories about naming the weird times (e.g. Me).
I’ve now been a professional through the post-9/11 era, the post-housing crisis of 2008 era, and now the post-Covid era. For a host of reasons—chief among them my enormous privilege, which I’d be naive not to acknowledge—I was largely insulated from the first two and made it through them relatively unscathed.
For the most part, the same is true for this current moment. But it still feels different. There is more of a general acknowledgement of the tight rope we all seem to be walking on, and the gauge on that tight rope seems to be narrowing.
But the other thing that I notice is that people are talking about it, as evidenced by the volume of “This is a weird time” chats I’ve had. Whereas previously it felt like there was more pressure to keep up appearances and keep a stiff upper lip, now I see people more willing to be vulnerable and speak honestly about what they’re going through. And that is most definitely a silver—if not golden—lining.
The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, by James McBride
It’s looking like this is going to be my last book of 2023, and I definitely feel like I’m ending on a high note. Full disclosure: I’m only 90-some pages into a 400-page book, but I could tell from early on, I was going to like this. James McBride might be my favorite author at the moment (it’s neck and neck with Colson Whitehead) and his latest seems like a gem.
—Justin
Most of the movies in theaters
We are currently blessed with the best roster of “Now Playing” films in as long as I can remember. Definitely since 2019-2020. I have seen four or five of the following and I recommend each of them passionately!
(⭐ = me seent, me likey)May December ⭐ Anatomy of a Fall ⭐ The Holdovers ⭐ Poor things ⭐
Maestro, American Fiction, Zone of Interest, Wonka, Boy & Heron, Godzilla, Saltburn, Napoleon, Dream Scenario, Killer, Priscilla, Taylor Swift, Beyonce
—Andrew
Jackson Dahl’s Thoughts + Things ft. me
I had the distinct honor of being invited to record a pilot episode of Jackson’s (WIP) podcast where guests come on to discuss three things that inspire them. For what it’s worth, I’ve shared that I don’t think this is the best format for Jackson to shine — he’s far too thoughtful to let me (or almost any guest) talk that much more than him. Read his accompanying newsletter and you’ll see what I mean. But alas, here I am, talking about some things I love.
—Andrew
Semi-related bonus video:
Romy | Boiler Room
Dance yrself clean.
—Andrew (sorta)