August '24

Privilege, corporatism, and obscurity

18.1.89 by Gerhard Richter

Pretty Privilege

Driving into work this morning, having just taken the 7th Street exit into downtown Minneapolis, I realized I was once again talking to myself. In fact, I oftentimes find myself ideating aloud when considering something for the first time. It’s almost like I have to say it to believe it. Then the opinion can be locked away for future retrieval whenever beget the opportunity.

This morning’s self lecture centered around “pretty privilege”. I can’t quite remember what got the ball rolling, but it was something akin to the opinion that attractive people have it easier in life. And there are all kinds of studies that back this supposition. Corporate employees whom are objectively more attractive tend to get promoted faster, an astounding number of the world’s CEO’s stand over six feet tall, your cute friend always get asked out on more dates, etc etc.

And while all of this may be true, I kept thinking about the adverse side effects. I for one, knew several guys in college whom were extremely handsome from a young age. Tall, broad shouldered, personable, and intelligent. Then they went to college and joined a fraternity. Date parties and drugs. Liquor and sorority girls. And before you know it, these objectively handsome men who came from middle of nowhere sheltered communities found themselves doing coke in the hotel bathroom with some bombshell sorority girl they’d just met.

Now the question becomes, was it their fault? These naïve young men certainly made their own beds (and should likewise sleep in them). But how many of us have truly known what it is like to be the most attractive person in nearly every social setting? We all know these people, they put that workout routine you’ve been grinding for 5 years to shame. And you can’t help but think that they must have it so easy. I get it, we all do, it’s an innately human response.

Yet I want to come back to my primary point. It’s easy to judge supermodels for abusing their pretty privilege. But have you stood in their shoes? And had beautiful women (or men) consistently throw themselves at you? You’re telling me you could say no? Every single time?

I’d like to think I could, but I’ve never been in that situation. That’s the point.

Empathy for others grows with understanding. And you can’t judge that which cannot be fathomed.

Messier 106

Like most galaxies, the Milky Way has a supermassive black hole at it’s center. The gravity of which keeps matter in orbit (such as stars and gas clouds). It’s no different than the Sun at the center of our solar system keeping the planets encircled. That said, the Milky Way is a relatively stable galaxy and the orbits of interstellar mass are fairly consistent. All of which goes to say that the black hole at the center of the Milky Way is pretty inactive:

But last week, the James Webb Space Telescope took some near-infrared images of a nearby galaxy referred to as Messier 106 (discovered by Charles Messier’s assistant, Pierre Méchain, in 1781) and the results are pretty astounding:

What you’ll notice is that Messier 106 is extremely “bright” and this is a direct result of the supermassive black hole at its center actively “swallowing up” matter. As gas, dust, (and even planets) get sucked into the downward spiral of the black hole, it results in the heating of matter and the emission of light.

The image reveals another striking feature of Messier 106: its extra pair of arms. Most spiral galaxies only have one pair of arms, but Messier 106 has an extra set, seen above as red wisps of gas which astronomers believe to be an indirect result of the violent churning around the black hole’s event horizon.

Reference: NASA

Corporatism as a Societal Construct

As I grow into my late 20s, I start to see more commonality amongst my peers. It’s like this cyclical loop of existential crisis we all seem to go through, but to varying degrees and to differing effect.

It typically starts in high school, as you deal with the “crisis” that is your lifelong progression. College or trade school or working for your parents. To move across the country or stay close to home.

Then you begin to doubt yourself. Doubt your decisions. Contemplate 40 years in some career you chose based on a sales pitch in the local college recruitment pamphlet. But most of us figure things out prior to graduation and take that 9-5 job. The rest of us either drop out and recuperate or continue on with our education through grad school (partially as a means to an end, but also as a means to prolong the inevitable). Yet, no matter how long it takes to arrive, we all jump into that “adult job” with enthusiasm and vigor; finally arriving to some a formerly wanton conclusion.

But what I keep seeing more and more of, is everyone my age growing disillusioned with their career. Sometimes to the point of sheer existentialism — “what am I doing with my life” — but more frequently hitting the wall of corporate nepotism. The point where your accomplishments and talent will only take you so far. Where your tenure and “years of experience” trump that promotion you’ve been so eagerly vying for.

So you take a step back. Don’t go out of your way. Stick to 40 hours a week and look for fulfillment elsewhere in life. All of which is more healthy.

Yet I beg the question, is this what life truly entails? 2 million dollars accrued across 40 years dispersed every two weeks? A vapid lifestyle centered around 40 hours in a cubicle staring at a pixelized screen?

Corporatism is an outdated structure for society, fostered by 1950s consumerism. It’s no wonder our youngest generation wants to “influence” and “dropship”. Who’d wanna run the rat race?

Obscure Interests

I think a lot of people have these. Those rabbit holes you go down on the internet late at night. Maybe its sports related or tracking weather patterns or looking up fancy houses on Zillow that none of us can afford. You may only have one of these. I have several.

I’m going to group literature and poetry together as one of these. Not only do I spend a lot of time reading these things, I’m obsessed with the entire field. Authors and who they were in real life. Where romantic poets found their inspiration (a surprising number of which don’t stem from a lover). And probably the most prominent of which is reading other people’s reviews of books on Reddit. I seldom weigh in on these online communities, it’s simply the various perspectives that proves to be so interesting.

Another one of these obscure interests surrounds art, more recently the works of Gerhard Richter. I don’t even remember how I found this guy, it was months ago. But I’ll spend hours on an occasional Sunday just clicking through his catalog. Especially his painted over photographs (one of which is the header for this month’s publication).

When it comes to technology, the only person I follow is Benedict Evans. He has an incredible sense for where the tech industry is and where things are headed.

Lastly, and the one I am going to get the most shit for, is fashion. I don’t know what it is, but ever since I started going into the office post-COVID it’s felt like high school 2.0. Everyone wears their new clothes right after Christmas, balancing “business” with “casual”, seeing someone else pulling off a new fit. I don’t know, it’s interesting. And if I had to give one prediction about men’s fashion, I’d say it has something to do with 1980’s and 90’s streetwear. The high waisted baggy pants. Crop top baggy tees. Vans and New Balance 550s. It’s a combination of casualness and simplicity - but thrown back 30 years to when everyone gave a shit how they looked. Nix the high ankled chinos and microfiber athleisure and step it up this fall boys.

Some Literature

I kissed her tightly and quickly.

Then a long slow clinging kiss. Her lips opened under mine. Her body began to shake in my arms.

"Killer," she said softly.

- Raymond Chandler (The Big Sleep)

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