John's private podcast feed ~ betaworks events & things I'm listening to.. enjoy π The Age of the Dense network and Averaging ... π€
Mar 22, 2025
Dive into the unsettling trend of sameness in today's culture, driven by social media and entertainment. Discover how a 'culture of averages' is leading to a homogenization across art and design, impacting everything from urban aesthetics to car designs. The podcast critiques Hollywood's formulaic nature, spotlighting the rise of remakes and sequels. Additionally, explore the concept of 'blanding' in tech, revealing how dense networks create visual monocultures and cultural islands that challenge creativity in our hyperconnected world.
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People's Choice Project
- The People's Choice art project surveyed global artistic preferences.
- Surprisingly, most people envisioned a similar blue landscape painting.
Age of Average
- This uniformity suggests a preference for safe, universally appealing choices.
- Alex Morell calls this the 'age of average'.
Bland Cars
- Car designs and colors are becoming increasingly homogenous globally.
- This is driven by aerodynamic efficiency, shared platforms, and global market targeting.