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A great book about the birth of Los Angeles based around the intertwining portraits of engineer William Mulholland, director DW Griffith, and evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson. It presents the city as founded upon myth, greed, and manâs desire to conquer nature- which I think fits into the narrative of just about any metropolis in the USA. In New York City, we have a tendency to write off LA as some kind of self-indulgent city of cars and convenience, but thereâs a part of me that thinks that LAâs image is far more honest than NYCâs: it more nakedly illustrates our innate desire as humans to exploit the Earth and each other to claim what we think we deserve as individuals. Itâs a true illustration of the âevery man for himselfâ brand of American ambition, and, in my opinion, New York is exactly the same, but weâre just a bit better at hiding it.
Mar 15, 2022
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The earliest bits of hollywood gossip! I'm fascinated by Kenneth Anger. I love his films, his books, everything. I recently watched a documentary about him on youtube and it made be a bit obsessed. He's a true Hollywood icon.
Jun 13, 2023
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itâs a biographical essay collection about her life in los angeles in the 60s and early 70s. eve is super witty and her writing has a kind of addictive quality, it feels like youâre catching up with a friend that has been through the craziest experiences. i also adore the ambience of l.a. around this period and the descriptions of the city are so atmospheric that it makes you feel nostalgic for a time you werenât even born. all around itâs a really fun book!
Feb 13, 2025
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You know how there are some people you meet, and after meeting them, you begin to see them everywhere? They were always there, but once you know their name or their face, you realize just how present they already were in your life? This book is a bit like that for me. Itâs not super niche, but for a book published in â62, its predictions couldnât have been more spot-on. Once you read it, everything it outlines and describes just emerges in your everyday life. Boorstin coined the term âPseudo-Eventsâ â [ an event arranged or brought about merely for the sake of the publicity it generates] and itâs endlessly relevant in an era of constant openings, launch parties, etc. Maybe youâre reading this on your way to a Pseudo-Event, maybe you are a human pseudo-event.
Aug 5, 2021
Top Recs from @chris-maggio
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Itâs very important for you to know that I have no taste when it comes to clothing, but a generic, black, pullover hoodie should be in every photographerâs toolkit. It has a ton of utility: it can be a napkin, a drop cloth, a pillow for when you need to take a break. I canât be worried about what I look like when Iâm out taking pictures, and a black hoodie rarely looks stained. Long story short: I need to be wearing clothes that, if I fell into a huge puddle, I wouldnât care. Iâd just throw it in the trash and keep on moving.
Mar 15, 2022
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My girlfriend Elena made me join this App and now Iâm hooked. Every day, youâre given a random 2 minute window to snap a photo with both the front and back camera on your phone simultaneously, and youâre only allowed to see your feed if you do so.You have to think on your feet, and the results are often amazingly banal. Itâs a lot of photos of blurry countertops, boring landscapes, and your friends working at their computers. The imagery feels straight out of boomer Facebook posts.
Mar 15, 2022
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The ultimate fuel for people who like to walk around New York City all day. Lunch that costs more than $12 is a crime, and your dollar takes you very far at Pret. I recommend their Calabrese sandwich with a small orange juice. Something I previously didnât know is that every day, the staff at Pret hides a star sticker on the back of one of the sandwiches in the refrigerator, and, if you select it, you get that sandwich for free. Unbeknownst to me, I selected one at their 50th street location a while back and when I brought it to the counter, the entire staff cheered for me. It was one of the best days of my life.
Mar 15, 2022