Where are the curious creative corners of the internet these days? In a private Slack group that I’m in this week, someone recalled Scouting NY, the blog run by a location scout that revealed all sorts of hidden gem locations in New York. Maybe you remember that blog? Looks like the last posts were back in 2020. There used to be so many of these kinds of sites. These kinds of oddball creative projects that resulted in blogs and one-off websites have mostly transferred to social media, where the algorithms and homogenous feed culture have resulted in an overall narrowing of creativity and output. The internet used to feel like a big art project and I miss that it doesn’t anymore.
There are still TONS of ways to express oneself creatively online and the ease of bringing creative projects to life has never been easier. Substack is probably the most refreshing, for me at least, place for these kinds of projects. What are your favorite creative corners of the internet? What are the truly non-commerce-focused areas of the internet you go to for creative inspiration?
In my life, I’m seeking out non-digital art more for answers and fulfillment. This is music, books and visual art. It used to be much easier to see art on Instagram - creative photos from everyday people experimenting with the most democratic medium. Today my feed is filled with advertising and influencer content. Scroll down through the main feed and five or seven of the first posts could be ads. Actual posts from friends and people who don’t have giant followings get squashed down. I get it, Instagram wants to push Reels and content that makes money. I don’t blame them. But I have an idea, a call to action of sorts. What if we, those of us who want to see more content from friends and lesser-known accounts, plan to like every single image these accounts post? This is my new strategy. I had stopped liking photos for a long time. Why bother I figured? Today, I’m back to liking everything friends and non-branded accounts post. If I like your photo it’s not a sign that I like it, it’s a sign that I saw it. And being seen is a bit of what it’s all about.
Maybe the Instagram gods might even see this too.
Reading this Week
I’d love to read more oral histories. This one popped on my radar thanks to WITI: ‘Paradise at the end of the world’: An oral history of the Sea Ranch (Part I)
I’m so happy someone else is saying this. Everyone’s a sellout now via Vox.
The Great American Novels according to The Atlantic. Get reading.
I was in Miami last week for Aspen Ideas: Climate. We’re beginning to roll out blog posts and social content. If you want to get a sense of what’s happening in this space, do follow @aspeninstitute and @aspenideasclimate.
Just Looking
I just updated my portfolio website with a whole bunch of photos. Why not kill a few minutes and click over?
Listening
A good song to write, think, and zone out to.
Content Coverage Submissions
Have you worked on an interesting project? Seen a good video? Have a photo project to suggest? Share your favorite pieces of content here and I’ll include the best in this newsletter.