

Nostalgia can make you vulnerable to manipulation
20 snips Dec 26, 2024
Richard King, an author and critic exploring memory's economics, teams up with Jason Farrago, a critic-at-large for The New York Times. They dive into the dangers of nostalgia, revealing how it fuels emotional manipulation in marketing and politics. King discusses technology's role in commodifying memories, while Farrago critiques our cultural stasis. They ponder the ethical implications of animated memories and examine the struggle artists face between innovation and nostalgia in today's fleeting digital landscape.
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Paper Towel Nostalgia
- Facebook's "memories" feature suggested Anthony Fennell reminisce over a six-year-old photo of his paper towel dispenser.
- This highlights the limitations of algorithms in understanding true nostalgia.
Commercialization of Nostalgia
- Nostalgia is a powerful marketing tool, but social media's attempts often miss the mark.
- Richard King discusses the commercialization of nostalgia in his essay "Nostalgia On Demand".
Deep Nostalgia App
- Deep Nostalgia, an app on myheritage.com, animates photos of deceased loved ones.
- Richard King finds this unsettling, suggesting it manipulates memory in new ways.