Exploring the rise of 'slowness culture' and its potential for better living. Discussing Jenny Odell's work, reclaiming time, and the implications of an individual's commitment to leisure on the collective level. Exploring the paradox of slowness in a fast-paced world and the concept of public napping. Delving into the historical perspective of attention and critique of modernity. Connecting slowness to the labor movement and the importance of reclaiming humanness.
Slowness culture advocates for a deliberate and leisurely approach to life, resisting the pressures of hustle and productivity.
Slowness culture challenges the dominant paradigm of constant growth and prioritizes a more sustainable and balanced way of living.
Deep dives
The Rise of Slowness Culture
Slowness culture has gained popularity in recent years as a response to the fast-paced and hectic nature of modern life. This movement advocates for taking things slow, being more deliberate, and not packing schedules with endless tasks and activities. It encourages individuals to resist the pressures of hustle and productivity and instead embrace a more intentional and leisurely approach to life. This idea of slowness culture has been seen in various aspects of society, including self-improvement, travel, and work, as people seek to find balance and prioritize their well-being. While some critics argue that slowness culture is a privileged position, inaccessible to everyone, others believe that it can lead to collective change and a reevaluation of societal values.
The Paradox of Slowness and Self-Improvement
One intriguing aspect of slowness culture is its paradoxical relationship with self-improvement. On one hand, self-improvement encourages hard work, productivity, and constant striving for improvement. On the other hand, slowness culture calls for individuals to slow down, relax, and resist the pressures of productivity. This tension between hustle and slowness reflects the complexities of modern life and the need for balance. The idea of self-improvement through slowness challenges the notion that constant busyness and work-driven mindsets are the key to a better life, suggesting that taking breaks, embracing leisure, and finding time for rest can be just as important for personal growth and well-being.
Slowness Culture and the Crisis of Time
Slowness culture emerges against the backdrop of a wider crisis around time in our contemporary society. The rapid pace of globalization, the influence of social media, and the pressure to constantly be productive have created a sense of time scarcity and heightened competition. People are questioning the value of their time and seeking ways to slow down and find more meaningful experiences. However, the crisis of time extends beyond individual experiences to larger issues like climate change and the impact of capitalism. Slowness culture raises questions about the way we use and prioritize time, and whether taking a slower, more deliberate approach to life can offer a solution to this crisis.
The Revolutionary Potential of Slowness Culture
Slowness culture is seen by some as a potential catalyst for collective change and societal transformation. It challenges the dominant paradigm of constant growth and productivity, advocating for a more sustainable and balanced way of living. By reevaluating our relationship with time and prioritizing slowness, individuals and communities can resist the harmful effects of capitalism and consumerism. This may involve reimagining work structures, investing in public spaces, and embracing a more communal way of life. While the path to widespread change is complex and requires collective action, slowness culture offers a powerful framework for reimagining our relationship with time and striving for a more equitable and fulfilling society.
In recent years, in the realms of self-improvement literature, Instagram influencers, and wellness gurus, an idea has taken hold: that in a non-stop world, the act of slowing down offers a path to better living. In this episode of Critics at Large, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz trace the rise of “slowness culture”—from Carl Honoré’s 2004 manifesto to pandemic-era trends of mass resignations and so-called quiet quitting. The hosts discuss the work of Jenny Odell, whose books “How to Do Nothing” and “Saving Time” frame reclaiming one’s time as a life-style choice with radical roots and revolutionary political potential. But how much does an individual’s commitment to leisure pay off on the level of the collective? Is too much being laid at the feet of slowness? “For me, it’s about reclaiming an aspect of humanness, just the experience of not having to make the most with everything we have all the time,” Schwartz says. “There can be a degree of self-defeating critique where you say, ‘Oh, well, this is only accessible to the privileged few.’ And I think the better framing is, how can more people access that kind of sitting with humanness?”
