Red Scare Canon — Cultural References from the Subreddit

Caitlyn Jenner (person) 1 — Transgender woman and former Olympic athlete compared to Rachel Dolezal in discussions of identity transition

Beatrice Portinari (person) 1 — Dante's muse whose real personhood was erased by his idealized infatuation, used as symbol for women objectified by roma...

Stendhal (person) 1 — French writer whose 1822 book on love observes that people under strong emotions rarely notice the emotions of those cau...

De l'amour (book) 1 — Stendhal's 1822 book about love that comments on how infatuation prevents understanding of the beloved's actual feelings

Anne Boyer (person) 1 — Author of 'The One and Only' who writes about the experience of being idealized and objectified through infatuation

The One and Only (book) 1 — Anne Boyer's essay exploring the dynamics of infatuation, idealization, and how the beloved becomes objectified through ...

America (person) 1 — Folk rock band played during a bonding drinking session with father

r/hermancainaward (place) 1 — Reddit subreddit criticized for celebrating deaths of unvaccinated people

Wake in Fright (film) 1 — Film mentioned in context of Australian cultural mediocrity and conservatism

Robin Wright (person) 1 — Actress used as physical comparison by post author describing their appearance

Gold's Gym (place) 1 — Gym referenced in humorous description of extremely muscular men

Post-truth (concept) 1 — Philosophical concept about the collapse of objective truth, exemplified by the phrase 'speaking your truth'

Maus (book) 1 — Pulitzer Prize-winning Holocaust graphic novel banned by Tennessee school board over swear words and nudity

Helen Lovejoy (person) 1 — Simpsons character referenced sarcastically in context of school board's prudish censorship

Anthony Perkins (person) 1 — Actor who lived openly gay until his late 30s, underwent conversion therapy including electroshock treatment, married a ...

Berry Berenson (person) 1 — Woman who married Anthony Perkins after his conversion therapy and had two children with him.

Conversion Therapy (concept) 1 — Practice of attempting to change sexual orientation, discussed as arrogant and cruel in the context of Anthony Perkins' ...

Electroshock Therapy (concept) 1 — Medical treatment administered to Anthony Perkins during conversion therapy by a frustrated psychoanalyst.

Three Colors (film) 1 — Film trilogy by Krzysztof Kieślowski, mentioned in discussion of a girl being called basic by a European for naming it a...

13th Amendment (concept) 1 — The U.S. Constitutional amendment that abolished slavery, mentioned in the context of racist online discourse calling fo...

Berenstain Bears (concept) 1 — A children's book series frequently cited as an example of the Mandela Effect, with people misremembering the spelling a...

Joey Swoll (person) 1 — A fitness influencer associated with a new trend of accepting and positive gym culture that is viewed with suspicion as ...

Andrew Jackson Jihad (person) 1 — A band (later renamed to AJJ) known for having what was considered one of the hardest band names of all time

Nicholas Sparks (person) 1 — Author of romantic novels whose movies Ryan Gosling appeared in at the start of his career

India Love (person) 1 — Celebrity who underwent BBL surgery despite being naturally physically gifted, influenced by hip hop culture

BBL (concept) 1 — Brazilian Butt Lift surgery that has become mainstream in hip hop culture, criticized for creating obvious and cartoonis...

White guilt (concept) 1 — Liberal sentiment that has driven retroactive condemnation of colonialism but paradoxically coexists with support for on...

Schizoaffective disorder (concept) 1 — Psychiatric diagnosis received by someone who attributes their condition to heavy cannabis use that caused psychotic sym...

Trans Europa Express (album) 1 — Kraftwerk album described as perfect companion music for train rides that doesn't distract from scenery viewing.

The Man Machine (album) 1 — Kraftwerk album mentioned as potentially anxiety-inducing if listened to on an airplane.

Aimee Mann (person) 1 — Musician and bassist for 'Til Tuesday and The Both listed among famous female bassists.

D'arcy Wretzky (person) 1 — Bassist for Smashing Pumpkins included in list of famous female bassists.

Esperanza Spalding (person) 1 — Solo jazz bassist and artist mentioned in list of famous female bassists in music.

White Zombie (person) 1 — Band featuring Sean Yseult as bassist mentioned in list of famous female bassists.

The Wrecking Crew (person) 1 — Studio musician collective that Carol Kaye was part of, mentioned in list of famous female bassists.

Toyota Hilux (concept) 1 — Affordable pickup truck available worldwide except the US, discussed as example of vehicles excluded from American marke...

Les Misérables (film) 1 — Musical film referenced as something Anne Hathaway's persona would cry during as part of performative upper-middle-class...

Africological analysis (concept) 1 — An academic framework being applied to analyze Kendrick Lamar's life and work in a new university course.

Las Vegas shooter (person) 1 — Mass shooter referenced in a post where the author claims to have encountered a suspected federal agent on Reddit.

Social Security (concept) 1 — U.S. government program criticized as unsustainable and likened to a Ponzi scheme for subsidizing retired people at the ...

Cooper Flagg (person) 1 — NBA draft prospect mentioned as being given to the Dallas Mavericks in alleged league rigging.

Dallas Mavericks (concept) 1 — NBA team referenced as beneficiary of alleged league rigging in draft lottery.

Crumbl cookie (concept) 1 — A food trend mentioned as emblematic of toxic food culture that complicates eating disorder recovery

College GameDay (film) 1 — A television show celebrating American college football culture across different regions and communities

Lee Corso (person) 1 — A former host of College GameDay mentioned in discussion of the show's continuing appeal

Pat Macafee (person) 1 — A current host of College GameDay described as annoying but part of the show's appeal

Kirk Herbstreit (person) 1 — A College GameDay host jokingly proposed as a presidential candidate

Independence Hall (place) 1 — A historic venue in Philadelphia where College GameDay was hosted by Temple University

Ian McDiarmid (person) 1 — An actor known for playing the villain in Star Wars, used as an example of pop culture's depiction of evil as seduction

General Soleimani (person) 1 — An Iranian military leader assassinated by Trump, mentioned in context of US-Iran tensions