Just a wonderful piece, and I think a timeless aspiration. Doesn't everyone want to be described as witty, deep, courageous, creatively non-conformist, sometimes-obsessively deranged about something, AND have an ability to inject the ordinary with awe and wonder? Maybe just me? I think you've nailed something delicious about what people want - it's why we've always looked up to people who were good with ideas, not good with algorithms.
Interesting that we’re celebrating eccentrics (extreme individuality) at the height of the “I" era, where individualism isn’t about selfhood but about polarization, tribalism, and market-driven differentiation. What we call non-conformity may be less about creativity and courage, and more about capitalism rewarding extremity.
“Rewarding extremity” is a bullseye here. We need to differentiate bw the real eccentric and the performative eccentric rewarded by the algorithm trying to capture our limited attention spans.
i love this concept of extreme individuality!! one of my favorite words that feels somewhat synonymous is arthouse (like to me euphoria, spring breakers, saltburn with barry keoghan’s performance of “10 personalities” within one character), because i like to think of it as the concept of something where describing it almost ruins it: it’s not exactly plot-driven but has this kind of non-algorithm success or high concept quality.
I love your essays
I co-sign this (which makes me anti-eccentric to agree?!) either way.
You guys 🥰 (Kelly you are so funny)
Just a wonderful piece, and I think a timeless aspiration. Doesn't everyone want to be described as witty, deep, courageous, creatively non-conformist, sometimes-obsessively deranged about something, AND have an ability to inject the ordinary with awe and wonder? Maybe just me? I think you've nailed something delicious about what people want - it's why we've always looked up to people who were good with ideas, not good with algorithms.
I just wish I’d said it as elegantly as this Nadia ❤️
Interesting that we’re celebrating eccentrics (extreme individuality) at the height of the “I" era, where individualism isn’t about selfhood but about polarization, tribalism, and market-driven differentiation. What we call non-conformity may be less about creativity and courage, and more about capitalism rewarding extremity.
“Rewarding extremity” is a bullseye here. We need to differentiate bw the real eccentric and the performative eccentric rewarded by the algorithm trying to capture our limited attention spans.
100%…and you know it’s coming (already happening!)
i love this concept of extreme individuality!! one of my favorite words that feels somewhat synonymous is arthouse (like to me euphoria, spring breakers, saltburn with barry keoghan’s performance of “10 personalities” within one character), because i like to think of it as the concept of something where describing it almost ruins it: it’s not exactly plot-driven but has this kind of non-algorithm success or high concept quality.
Agreed. That word does not get the airtime it deserves. ❤️