Barbara Meyerhoff's "Number Our Days" offers a poignant ethnographic study of aging within a Jewish community in Venice Beach. The book delves into the lives of elderly residents, exploring themes of continuity, culture, and the challenges of urban life. Meyerhoff's immersive approach captures the richness of their experiences, highlighting their resilience and the enduring bonds within their community. The work challenges preconceived notions about aging and offers a nuanced perspective on the complexities of human experience. It's a powerful testament to the human spirit and the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
Tao Lin's "Taipei" is a novel that reflects the anxieties and alienation of contemporary life, particularly within the context of internet culture. The narrative unfolds through fragmented scenes and stream-of-consciousness passages, mirroring the disjointed nature of online experiences. The characters grapple with issues of identity, relationships, and the search for meaning in a technologically saturated world. Lin's experimental style challenges traditional narrative structures, creating a reading experience that is both engaging and unsettling. The novel's exploration of internet culture and its impact on human connection remains relevant in today's digital age. It's a work that invites readers to reflect on their own experiences with technology and its influence on their lives.
My First Book by Honor Levy is a unique collection of short stories that blend elements of essay, story, diatribe, and diary. The book explores the lives of characters deeply embedded in the digital world, grappling with formative political, existential, and romantic experiences. Levy's writing is characterized by its inventive, surreal, and culturally rich prose, reflecting the hyper-real and hyper-performative nature of the internet generation. The stories touch on themes such as digital identity, internet culture, and the challenges of forming a self in a world on the brink of collapse[1][3][4].
This week Francis and Daisy welcome writer and researcher Greta Rainbow. They discuss the evolving landscape of food journalism, the impact of digital art through the Glance Back browser extension, and the relationship between technology and personal identity.
Glance Back piece: https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/my-machine-and-me/
Greta: https://x.com/gertsofficial
00:00 Introducing Greta
01:15 The changing landscape of food journalism
06:09 The internet is for making friends
08:21 Glance Back: Your relationship with your computer
14:43 Balancing privacy and risk of contemporary storage
17:47 The evolution of our relationship with tech
27:19 The future of alt-lit in a changing internet
34:34 Scenes are shortcuts for attention
39:52 How we spend our days is how we spend our life
43:33 The role of visibility in the digital age
46:59 Nobody is cool on the internet
Tasteland 