Red Scare Canon — Cultural References from the Subreddit

Bob Dole (person) 2 — Historical figure referenced as selling erectile dysfunction pills in the past, contrasted with younger men needing them...

Meet the Parents (film) 2 — A comedy film criticized by some for featuring problematic relationship dynamics, used as an example of retroactive puri...

Walter White (person) 2 — Fictional character from Breaking Bad used as an absurd example of applying the term 'problematic' to obviously flawed f...

Naoise Dolan (person) 2 — An Irish writer who came up through the indie writing scene and now produces first-rate work for global audiences.

Paul Mescal (person) 2 — A celebrity frequently posted about by women in relationships as someone they want to fuck, used as an example of potent...

Benny Gantz (person) 2 — An Israeli politician mentioned as someone who would do heinous things but without Netanyahu's personal incentive to kee...

dril (person) 2 — Internet personality whose "Candles $3600" tweet is used as an example of how online references are now explained by att...

Don Hughes (person) 2 — Catholic figure suggested as a potential podcast guest as an alternative to a previous Catholic guest

Independence Day (film) 2 — 1990s science fiction disaster film discussed as a major cultural event that hasn't maintained its relevance.

Gawker (place) 2 — A blog-era media outlet mentioned as part of a now-dead ecosystem of pop culture criticism from the early 2000s.

Woody Guthrie (person) 2 — Folk musician that LA TV and film writers are accused of cosplaying on picket lines for Instagram

Garry Kasparov (person) 2 — Chess grandmaster mentioned as having been beaten by Kramnik in the 1990s in discussion of chess community drama.

Aspen (place) 2 — Luxury ski resort destination where an extremely wealthy sober man takes women on lavish trips without having sex with t...

Kohl's (place) 2 — An American department store chain referenced in complaints about current women's clothing trends being either cropped o...

The Blue Lagoon (film) 2 — Film about kids stranded on an island coming of age together, discussed as representing natural sexuality without shame.

Gatwick (place) 2 — London airport where security personnel were noted for being particularly harsh, including calling a passenger an idiot.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (concept) 2 — Martial art recommended to female virgins as a way to meet men who can pick them up effortlessly while rolling together.

MCAS (concept) 2 — Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, cited as one of several vague diagnoses without definitive testing that illness fakers co...

Suboxone (concept) 2 — Opioid substitute medication criticized as part of pharmaceutical industry profiteering in drug addiction treatment.

The Left Hand of Darkness (book) 2 — A science fiction novel mentioned as commonly available cheaply in used bookstores.

Charisma on Command (concept) 2 — YouTube channel representing attempts to learn charisma artificially, contrasted with people who naturally possess it.

Comfrey (person) 2 — Character from Succession who Greg was romantically involved with in a satirical ending scenario

Vipassana (concept) 2 — Buddhist meditation practice mentioned as technique for achieving clear mind state before attempting consciousness mergi...

Transnistria (place) 2 — Unrecognized breakaway state between Moldova and Ukraine, frozen in Soviet aesthetics but functioning as an archly capit...

Chișinău (place) 2 — Capital city of Moldova described as a strange experience with hostel full of old men, wine, parrots, cats, and hot meat

The Little Prince (book) 2 — A philosophical children's book by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry that puzzles and fascinates with its strange, charming prose...

Lola (film) 2 — 1981 film by Rainer Werner Fassbinder, available on Criterion and HBO Max, selected for a gay-themed movie club

William Friedkin (person) 2 — Gay film director whose 1980 film Cruising was selected as an option for a gay-themed movie club discussion

Great Plains (place) 2 — Region of vast open areas where one desires to wander aimlessly but fears getting shot by ranchers

Harvey Pekar (person) 2 — Underground comics writer identified as exemplifying the Dark Soy archetype of cynical adult nerd culture from the 1990s...

r/purplepilldebate (place) 2 — Reddit subreddit described as more red pill than purple where manosphere members express hatred toward single mothers.

Trumpism (concept) 2 — Political movement associated with Donald Trump that the post argues was preceded by similar neoliberal political tactic...

Tom Hardy (person) 2 — Actor praised by Christopher Nolan as exemplifying the best of contemporary acting by combining multiple eras of perform...

Caligula (person) 2 — Controversial 1979 film starring Helen Mirren, considered by many to be one of the worst movies ever made despite compel...

Emma Chamberlain (person) 2 — YouTuber and entrepreneur whose coffee line is mentioned as subject of political critique videos about white supremacy.

Catfish (film) 2 — MTV show representing one of the few remaining programs keeping the network relevant.

Crusades (concept) 2 — Medieval Christian military campaigns to the Holy Land discussed as potentially the ultimate spiritually fulfilling expe...

Cascades (place) 2 — Mountain range in the Pacific Northwest described as among the most beautiful land on the planet

Adam Ragusea (person) 2 — Food YouTuber whose recipe for simplified demi-glace is discussed in the context of using cooking to cope with existenti...

Snow White (film) 2 — A children's fairy tale where people debate whether the Evil Queen is more attractive than the protagonist

Caravaggio (person) 2 — Italian Baroque painter known for works depicting mortality including Saint Jerome

Paul Cezanne (person) 2 — Post-Impressionist painter who created Still Life With Skull as part of vanitas tradition

Biopower (concept) 2 — A Foucauldian concept applied to office management where open layouts manipulate workers through insecurity and spatial ...

Bipolar II (concept) 2 — A mental health diagnosis referenced as part of the trend of young people medicalizing their mental instability.

Teen Vogue (place) 2 — Magazine referenced in connection with publishing an article about ecofascism that influenced the poster's behavior rega...

Run the Jewels (album) 2 — Hip-hop group mentioned as something the poster likes despite it being unpopular on the subreddit

Regina Spektor (person) 2 — Musician whose song 'Samson' is mentioned as something the subreddit unironically swoons over despite roasting earnestne...

Samson (album) 2 — Biblical figure referenced ironically as potentially being depicted saying 'Trans rights' on r/dankchristianmemes

Dr. Bronner's (place) 2 — A soap brand known for its bottles covered in dense, paranoid-conspiracy-style text, referenced as an aspirational speak...

Techno-optimism (concept) 2 — Ideology embraced by tech industry believing that perpetual growth through technology and free markets will solve all pr...