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Unironically one of the most forward-thinking and groundbreaking pieces of cultural criticism of our time. The aesthetic movement he skewered here was still relatively niche then, but itās evolved and has since been fully absorbed into the mainstream, now the defining consumer lifestyle of the 2020s, where algorithmic social media trends dictate life choices. His observations and insights still ring true, and looking back, the trajectory from then to now feels eerily inevitableā¦ I just feel like he touched on something so raw here. his mind!! I miss him so much!
āThe contemporary conformist looks to create a āpermanent instagram filterā in their lives/personal space where #NoFilter is necessary. Instead, there is always a source of ānaturalā light that is meant to properly illuminate every space/photo opportunity.
A picture of a plate.
A picture with your significant other.
This is different than youth culture broadcasting. It is tasteful, deliberate, and shows āa life that you are livingā, not a culture that you are āconforming to.ā
Letās go to a bakery.ā
āDear Lord,
Please free me from my
Contemporary Conformist Leanings/Practices
Set me free.
Dear god, Set Me Free.ā
š
May 2, 2025
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The slow death of print / capitalism / the fit pic have forced brands to make lookbooks that are more reflective of a fit pic than they are of the imagined life we could live. Hey Shadowbeni remember your Tracksmith post? That's a super rare good lookbook amidst a sea of boring, copy & pasted backdropped fit pics.
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The definitive overview through the 80s-90s designer and art director Tibor Kalman thought provoking career
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Recommended to me by a favorite professor in college ā I was able to track down a library copy that I clung to for months at the time. Not easy to purchase, I recently found my own copy at a used book store and was wowed once again by the enthusiasm design can hold. Thank u Adream for the recommendation years ago š«¶š» I share it whenever I can
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Top Recs from @taterhole
My dad teases me about how when I was a little kid, my favorite thing to do when I was on the landline phone with somebodyābe it a relative or one of my best friendsāwas to breathlessly describe the things that were in my bedroom so that they could have a mental picture of everything I loved and chose to surround myself with, and where I sat at that moment in time. Perfectly Imperfect reminds me of that so thanks for always listening and for sharing with me too š
Feb 23, 2025
May 28, 2025
š
Iāve been thinking about how much of social media is centered around curating our self-image. When selfies first became popular, they were dismissed as vain and vapidāa critique often rooted in misogynyābut now, the way we craft our online selves feels more like creating monuments.
We try to signal our individuality, hoping to be seen and understood, but ironically, I think this widens the gap between how others perceive us and who we really are. Instead of fostering connection, it can invite projection and misinterpretationāpreconceived notions, prefab labels, and stereotypes. Worse, individuality has become branded and commodified, reducing our identities to products for others to consume.
On most platforms, validation often comes from how well you can curate and present your imageāselfies, aesthetic branding, and lifestyle content tend to dominate. High engagement is tied to visibility, not necessarily depth or substance. But I think spaces like PI.FYI show that thereās another way: where connection is built on shared ideas, tastes, and interests rather than surface-level content. Itās refreshing to be part of a community that values thoughts over optics.
By sharing so few images of myself, Iāve found that it gives others room to focus on my ideas and voice. When I do share an image, it feels intentionalāsomething that contributes to the story I want to tell rather than defining it. Sharing less allows me to express who I am beyond appearance.
For women, especially, sharing less can be a radical act in a world where the default is to objectify ourselves. It resists the pressure to center appearance, focusing instead on what truly matters: our thoughts, voices, and authenticity. Iāve posted a handful of pictures of myself in 2,500 posts because I care more about showing who I am than how I look.
In trying to be seen, are we making it harder for others to truly know us? Itās a question worth considering.
Dec 27, 2024