Ep 181: Feelings Check In on creating a monocultural event with Ņ̨͈̯̻̪̥̥ͅick S̘͓͙usi
Nov 19, 2024
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Nick Susi, Executive Director of Strategy at dotdotdash, dives into the complexities of monocultural events. He analyzes the Drake and Kendrick rivalry, exploring how such conflicts captivate audiences and reflect our fragmented media landscape. The conversation shifts to the importance of cultivating joy in digital interactions, juxtaposed against social media's conflict-driven nature. Susi also cracks jokes about election-themed tweets, leaving listeners with a humorous take on serious topics and the bizarre world of home decor trends propelled by social media.
Monocultural events can create unifying experiences that foster deeper connections despite the fragmentation caused by tailored media feeds.
The dynamics of online conflict, exemplified by artist rivalries, drive engagement but can overshadow the importance of joy and community.
Deep dives
Monocultural Events and Their Role
Monocultural events are significant unifying experiences that can bring large groups of people together. These shared moments, like election day, create a sense of connection among individuals as they engage in a common cultural experience. The discussion highlights the challenges facing the concept of monoculture today due to increased content choice and tailored media feeds that fragment the collective experience. Identifying and understanding these moments can foster deeper connections in a world that often feels disconnected.
The Nature of Conflict in Monoculture
The dynamics of online conflict often overshadow valuable discussions about culture and community, fueling a pattern that equates engagement with conflict. Key examples, such as the public feuds between artists like Drake and Kendrick, showcase how these conflicts can create collective attention and spark discussions across diverse audiences. By asking why we are drawn to such conflicts, the conversation explores whether this is a fundamental human trait or a byproduct of cultural conditioning and algorithmic influence. The continuous engagement with conflict can shape social identity and connection, making it a relevant aspect of modern interactions.
Rage as a Driver of Engagement
Rage is a potent tool in the realm of social media, feeding into the cycle of conflict and driving engagement. The exploration reveals that emotional narratives rooted in good versus evil appeal deeply to human psychology, creating compelling stories that capture attention. This phenomenon ties into concepts like rage bait, which seeks to manipulate emotions for engagement but also highlights that conflict-driven content can sometimes obscure more profound narratives of joy and community. The contrasting dynamics of conflict and joy tap into human nature but require careful navigation to balance between the two.
Joy as an Alternative Cultural Anchor
Joyful experiences can serve as powerful counterpoints to conflict-driven narratives, fostering inspiration and collective positivity in social interactions. Events like the New York City Marathon exemplify shared joy, bringing people together in a spirit of celebration without the inherent conflict seen in other contexts. Recognizing the power of joy offers an avenue to reshape how cultural moments are shared and perceived, encouraging connections that don't rely on conflict. Such narratives could redefine participation in cultural events, showcasing unity and inspiration over division and dissent.
In this episode of The Feelings Check-In, Deana and Natasha are joined by Nick Susi, Executive Director of Strategy at dotdotdash, to discuss his recent piece, "If You Want to Create a Monocultural Event, Start a War." They dive into the Drake and Kendrick war, sports rivalries, monocultural media, and joy online. They close out the episodes with draft tweets.