Hotel Bar Sessions How The Manosphere Killed Cool (with Robin James)
Sep 19, 2025
Robin James, a philosopher and cultural critic, discusses her insightful essay about the decline of 'cool' in relation to tech bros and the manosphere. She explains how masculinity has shifted from an effortless defiance to overt mastery, linking this to ancient ideals. The conversation dives into the effects of AI on perceptions of masculinity, the performance of victimhood within these circles, and how cool's origins in Black culture have been appropriated. James also reflects on the emotional ramifications of these changes and the rise of new, feminine forms of 'cool' in pop culture.
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No Full Beatles Or Stones Albums
- Robin confessed she has never listened to a whole Beatles or Rolling Stones album because her parents didn't play pop music.
- She learned about music from the indie radio station she later wrote about in her book.
Home Goods Post Sparked The Essay
- Robin found manosphere posts where men brag about being uninterested in home decor as a signal of masculinity.
- That example sparked her essay connecting modern right-wing masculinity to ancient Greek active/passive roles.
Masculinity Recast As Mastery
- Right-wing influencers reject 'cool' to perform mastery and anti-feminine dominance rather than embodied style or receptivity.
- They reframe creativity by making AI the subordinate creative agent so they remain the masters.
