Dazed and Discoursed

• Are we in a relationship recession?

  Dating is in the pits – everyone says so. In England and Wales, fertility rates are at an all-time low, with the US similarly reaching its lowest rate in 2023. Last week, our deputy editor, Serena Smith, wrote about how “the dating crisis is going global.” From the US to Finland, South Korea, Turkey, Tunisia, and Thailand, birth rates are falling, and it’s likely that part of this decline can be attributed to a corresponding drop in the number of couples. When relationships do form, they’re more fragile than they were in the past – but how did we get here?Has the internet made us more antisocial and more prone to discarding people? Are the apps really ruining dating, or are they a scapegoat for a larger and more deeply entrenched set of problems?In our second episode of the year, hosts Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste are joined by Smith to explore the ‘relationship recession’, the crisis in heterosexual dating and how conservative modern dating shows have become. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Is the age of hedonistic hyper-consumption over?

  In July 2024, writer and artist August Lamm shared her prediction for the future on X: “I’m calling it right now: abstention is the next big thing. Sobriety, celibacy, digital minimalism, dumb phones, religion. The age of hedonistic hyper-consumption is over. We’re moving into a new peaceful age marked by moderation and self-discipline. I can’t wait.”Lamm, who has been without an iPhone for two and a half years, wasn’t basing her prediction on trends she’d seen online (she doesn’t have a phone, remember?). Instead, she expressed her desire for a shift in culture, grounded in the belief that we have reached peak hyper-consumption. From Brat being synonymous with hedonistic indulgence, to Stanley cup fads and excessive skincare hauls, to Oxford’s Word of the Year, “brain rot”, a term describing the negative effects of consuming low-quality or trivial online content, 2024 was undeniably a year of excess.As we enter the new year, however, a cultural shift seems to be emerging. People are challenging their consumption habits by participating in low-buy or no-buy years, where they refrain from shopping for an entire year. Others are turning to digital detoxes in an effort to rebuild their attention spans, productivity and overall well-being.In this episode, hosts Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste are joined by Lamm to unpack our addiction to consumption, our scarcity mentality, and whether we’re simply swinging from one extreme to another – from hedonistic hyper-consumption to complete restriction. Is this the beginning of a world without pleasure, or could moderation finally offer the balance we’ve been craving?Featured articles: No-buy 2025: So you want to try a year without shopping?How to avoid ‘lifestyle creep’You Don't Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading & Reclaiming Your Life by August Lamm Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The best and worst of 2024's pop culture

  As the year draws to a close, we couldn’t let it pass without reflecting on what has been an extraordinary year in pop culture.In this episode, hosts Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste dive into the highs and lows of 2024, spanning film, music, fashion and politics. From blockbuster films like Poor Things, Challengers, Dune: Part Two and Queer, they explore whether this has truly been the year of yearning – and, if so, why? They also discuss the fresh, exciting music releases of the year from artists like Mk.gee, Charli xcx, Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan, while examining the shifting dynamics of our relationships with celebrities and their evolving attitudes towards fame. Finally, Halima and Elliot turn their attention to the political landscape, sharing their thoughts on what to expect as Donald Trump takes office again and what the left needs to do differently moving forward.This episode is hosted by Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste, with research by Solomon Pace McCarrick. It was edited by Oliver Gale and the executive producer is Harry Slater.Featured articles:PSA: Poor Things is not a true storyIn 2024, everyone is yearning – but what for?Kim Kardashian and the end of historyBubble butts, bag charms and brats: The 2024 Trend Report is hereThe 20 best albums of 2024In My Old Ass, Maisy Stella takes mushrooms and meets her future self2024 was the year of the pop femininomenon Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Great X-odus: why are so many people leaving Twitter?

  Since Elon Musk acquired Twitter (and renamed it X) the platform has become inundated with right-wing rhetoric, sparking questions about whether X played a direct role in putting Donald Trump back in the White House. Recently, celebrities such as Lizzo and publishers like The Guardian have posted impassioned statements explaining their decision to leave X. And many people are flocking to Bluesky, a Twitter lookalike which gained more than one million new users in a week. In this episode, we delve into the turmoil on X and consider whether the solution lies in abandoning one social media platform for another or staying to challenge right-wing ideology and combat radicalisation.This episode is hosted by Halima Jibril and Elliot Hoste, with research by Solomon Pace McCarrick. It was edited by Oliver Gale, and the executive producer is Harry Slater. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• ‘Cool America’ is back but will it survive Trump?

  When Donald Trump won the 2016 election the New York Times declared he’d made the US a laughingstock. Lately, however, there has been a shift in how America is spoken about and portrayed in popular culture. Video essayist and podcaster Mina Le explored this change in her recent video, “Why is ‘America’ Cool Again?” She observed that while America has long been culturally dominant, patriotic sentiment has resurfaced in pop culture, which is reflected in country music’s growing popularity and a renewed focus on the midwest.But what has fuelled this shift from deep embarrassment over the US to a renewed sense of pride? And is it possible, or even right, to love America under Trump while it continues to commit so much injustice both domestically and globally?”This episode is hosted by Halima Jibril and Laura Pitcher, with research by Solomon Pace McCarrick. It was edited by Oliver Gale, and the executive producer is Harry Slater.Find your creative community with Dazed Club+. Unlock a quarterly subscription to the magazine, invitations to talks and events at our space, and a world of money-off benefits at galleries and festivals. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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