That was a good article. Not a great article, but good nonetheless. The squeamish thing is that there is barely more interest in an article about lists than in a list itself. It made me feel weird, almost like it was an unintended self-parody. But the history was very interesting, and somewhat enlightening. I suppose in some way you could sum up the article by saying "Lists are to music magazines what sequels are to Hollywood."
I would also like to posit that lists indicate how insecure the culture is, as the collective need seems to be quasi-voyeuristic or vicarious, indicative of a need for self-assurance.
My favorite aspect of lists comes when they are used as a form of camaraderie, a la "Top 5 Songs About Death: A Laura's Dad Tribute" from High Fidelity. Then they serve a purpose beyond aggrandizement or club-password.
That was a good article. Not a great article, but good nonetheless. The squeamish thing is that there is barely more interest in an article about lists than in a list itself. It made me feel weird, almost like it was an unintended self-parody. But the history was very interesting, and somewhat enlightening. I suppose in some way you could sum up the article by saying "Lists are to music magazines what sequels are to Hollywood."
ReplyDeleteI would also like to posit that lists indicate how insecure the culture is, as the collective need seems to be quasi-voyeuristic or vicarious, indicative of a need for self-assurance.
My favorite aspect of lists comes when they are used as a form of camaraderie, a la "Top 5 Songs About Death: A Laura's Dad Tribute" from High Fidelity. Then they serve a purpose beyond aggrandizement or club-password.
le sigh. my new favorite word is listicles.
ReplyDelete