Guest Sean Monahan, artist-as-analyst and trend forecaster, discusses the impact of normcore, the obsession with ugliness in American culture, the demise of HBO and Twitter, and the fashion style of Gen Z. They also critique a brand video, explore the influence of smartphones and social media on popular culture, and reflect on their upbringing and career experiences.
The podcast discusses the changing dynamics of office culture and the dissatisfaction of employees due to long hours, overworking, and lack of work-life balance.
It explores the challenges faced by individuals in finding meaningful work and creative outlets that align with their values and aspirations.
The podcast highlights the challenges traditional advertising agencies face in meeting client demands and the shift towards tailored and niche approaches in marketing.
It emphasizes the impact of high housing costs in major cities on workforce dynamics and talent retention, calling for affordable housing solutions as part of talent acquisition and retention strategies.
Deep dives
Growing up in Upstate New York
Sean Monahan was born in Alaska but grew up in Upstate New York. He described his upbringing as eccentric and recalls being a stubborn and independent child. The town he grew up in had a mix of local residents and international people due to the nearby college and research institutions. He attended Catholic school and later the public high school, where he was part of a competitive and academically driven class. Despite the high expectations, he recalls the town as having a partying and tolerant atmosphere, with parents often behaving as if it was still the 1970s.
Attending RISD and the Pressure Cooker Environment
Sean Monahan attended the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), a prestigious art school known for its demanding workload. He described the atmosphere as a pressure cooker, where students were told they could only choose two of three options: sleep, socialize, or work. Winter session was introduced as a response to high suicide rates and allowed for a more relaxed period with minimal work. Overall, RISD was a transformative and intense experience that challenged students to push themselves creatively.
Working Experience and the K-Hole Project
After graduating into the Great Recession, Sean Monahan had difficulty finding traditional employment, leading him to take on unique jobs like writing college essays for wealthy clients. Eventually, he moved to New York and worked for affluent foreigners. In regards to the K-Hole project, Sean explained that it started as an interest in futurism and science fiction, with the goal of creating fake documents that could trick people. The project gained traction and became a significant part of his work, leading him to explore opportunities in advertising and agencies.
Transition to Working with Agencies
When Sean Monahan moved to Los Angeles in 2017, he began working with agencies for the first time. He found it easier to get hired in LA, where his artistic background was not a hindrance. He worked with agencies for a couple of years, noting that his intention was to make more money and gain a better understanding of the industry. However, he did not view it as a long-term career option and saw himself as somewhat of a spy, observing and learning about the industry without intending to stay permanently.
The decline of office culture and the dissatisfaction of employees
The podcast discussion highlights the changing dynamics of office culture and the dissatisfaction of employees. It explores how the traditional office environment, once seen as aspirational, has lost its appeal due to long hours, overworking, and lack of work-life balance. The episode suggests that the constant demand for productivity and the decline of workplace relationships have contributed to this dissatisfaction. Furthermore, it emphasizes the disconnect between the upper management and employees, where many top executives lack the understanding of what motivates and inspires their workforce.
The struggle to find meaningful work and creative outlets
The podcast episode delves into the challenges faced by individuals in finding meaningful work and creative outlets. It discusses how many millennials and Gen Z individuals are struggling to navigate the job market and find roles that align with their values and aspirations. Additionally, it highlights the declining interest in traditional corporate jobs due to the lack of fulfillment and the desire for more autonomy. The episode also touches upon the importance of finding creative outlets outside of work to maintain a sense of personal fulfillment and self-expression.
The evolving landscape of marketing and advertising
The podcast episode explores the changing dynamics of marketing and advertising. It highlights how traditional advertising agencies are facing challenges in meeting the demands of clients and creating successful campaigns. The episode points out the shift from overcrowded, mainstream advertising to more tailored and niche approaches. Additionally, it discusses the decline of certain advertising strategies and the need for agencies to adapt to the evolving landscape of social media and digital platforms to reach their target audiences.
The impact of housing costs on workforce and talent retention
The podcast episode touches upon the impact of high housing costs in major cities on workforce dynamics and talent retention. It emphasizes the struggle many employees face in affording housing that matches the salaries provided in certain industries. The episode suggests that the lack of affordable housing leads to increased stress, longer commutes, and overall dissatisfaction among employees, which can ultimately affect talent retention. It highlights the need for companies to consider affordable housing solutions as part of their talent acquisition and retention strategies.
NOTE: Due human error, this episode was not properly uploaded to Spotify and Apple. I am re-uploading it now, along with episode 61 with Sean Josh Lekach.
People call him trend forecaster but this is wrong. Sean Monahan, like Brad Troemel, is artist-as-analyst. He thinks like an agency strategist, but he’s rejected the longhouse. This has led him to a strange sort of celebrity among culturenauts. He keeps naming zeitgeists—Vibe Shift, Normcore—and making gorgeous PDFs, but PDFs do not an artist make. What makes Sean an artist is his absolute refusal to play ball; the extreme stubbornness that original thinkers must insist on in order to batter away the stem cell AI people who want to turn us into more common organs.
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