Red Scare Canon — Cultural References from the Subreddit

Freud (person) 5 — Sigmund Freud, foundational figure in psychology, referenced as basic knowledge that a Psychology PhD candidate surprisi...

Jesse Plemons (person) 5 — Actor discussed as being typecast in modern Hollywood as a stand-in for the working class, playing disheveled manual lab...

Vultures (album) 5 — Kanye West album that received negative reviews but benefited from critics focusing on his antisemitism rather than the ...

MSSOM (person) 5 — Reddit user known for Dasha posting, running a book club, and whose account drama and deletion was mourned by community ...

The Virgin Suicides (film) 5 — A Sofia Coppola film praised as an exception to typical teen movies, accurately capturing the awkward conservatism of a ...

Tate McRae (person) 5 — A celebrity who hooked up with someone's friend, leading him to become obsessed and spend three hours daily at the gym t...

Christopher Columbus (person) 5 — Historical explorer invoked in a conspiracy theory about white people enslaving black people beginning in the 1400s.

Spotify Wrapped (concept) 5 — Annual Spotify feature summarizing users' listening habits that one user accidentally skewed by playing one song for thr...

The Odyssey (book) 5 — Homer's epic poem referenced as a metaphor for contemporary cultural disorientation and the search for home in a destabi...

Ted Bundy (book) 5 — Serial killer mentioned as an exception to the principle against taking pleasure in others' suffering.

Tony Hinchcliffe (person) 5 — A comedian and host of Kill Tony podcast, criticized as completely unfunny despite his popularity, with his comedy descr...

Bon Iver (person) 5 — Indie folk musician whose influence on contemporary music is characterized as having negative consequences for musical d...

Leon Trotsky (person) 5 — Revolutionary leader who was assassinated with an ice pick, subject of childhood misunderstanding about the weapon.

Princess Diana (person) 5 — Late British royal referenced as a glamorous figure with a tragic life, used as comparison point for Rama Duwaji.

Sarah Jessica Parker (person) 5 — Actress from Sex and the City who was the subject of media criticism about her appearance in the 2000s, but is now being...

Malaysia (place) 5 — Southeast Asian country where a poster's uncle died unexpectedly in his sleep during a family vacation following trips t...

Seth Rogen (person) 5 — Actor and comedian defended as overhated despite having said cringe things, with Superbad and Pineapple Express cited as...

Cottagecore (concept) 5 — Aesthetic and lifestyle trend embraced by zoomers as daydream about fulfillment through self-sustaining work, contrasted...

Jim Carrey (person) 5 — Actor mentioned in comparison to the actress from the movie Smile (2022), suggesting a physical resemblance combined wit...

Pitbull (person) 5 — Musician described as the "perfect himbo" who radiates positivity and gave an impromptu concert in Kodiak, Alaska after ...

Wife Swap (film) 5 — Reality TV show featuring families swapping wives, discussed as revealing extreme American family dysfunction and immora...

r/neoliberal (place) 5 — A subreddit where users present an optimistic view of Biden's policies and economic conditions, contrasting with mainstr...

Jake Gyllenhaal (person) 5 — Actor who starred alongside Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain and was noted for appearing so young in the 2005 film whe...

Vibe Shift (concept) 5 — A cultural and political transformation that began after COVID and was cemented with Trump's 2024 victory, marking a shi...

Benson Boone (person) 5 — Contemporary pop musician whose music is played in grocery stores, contrasted unfavorably with traditional Muzak backgro...

Mahmoud Khalil (person) 5 — Individual whose case involving constitutional rights and due process was discussed on Red Scare podcast regarding depor...

Liam Gallagher (person) 5 — Frontman of Oasis known for provocative quotes about other musicians, including insults about Mumford and Sons, Florence...

NASCAR (concept) 5 — American auto racing series described as peak Americana involving watching cars circle tracks for hours while drinking

David Brooks (person) 5 — Writer whose "lookism" op-ed was discussed on the Red Scare episode "Mumford & Cucks" where Dasha made controversial sta...

Imagine Dragons (album) 5 — Band whose song 'Believer' represents mainstream children's taste in contrast to more refined parental preferences

r/politics (place) 5 — Reddit political discussion forum criticized as a feckless, neutered form of resistance where people engage in useless g...

Billy Eichner (person) 5 — A performer or public figure singled out as representing sanitized, corporate gay representation that is now out of favo...

Maryland (place) 5 — State discussed in context of Governor Wes Moore's address on young men's declining labor participation, suicide rates, ...

São Paulo (place) 5 — Largest city in the Americas and fourth-largest in the world, discussed as notably absent from international cultural di...

Jill Biden (person) 5 — First Lady referenced in a satirical post comparing reverence for her doctorate to lack of respect for Ted Kaczynski's d...

Ibram X. Kendi (person) 5 — Author of 'How to Be an Antiracist,' a book argued to contain anti-woke messages about focusing on policy over people an...

Central Park (place) 5 — New York City park where a group of young women in expensive clothing were overheard complaining about being 'starving a...

Ken Klippenstein (person) 5 — Journalist whose website published leaked messages from Charlie (presumably the Trump assassination attempt suspect).

Pixies (album) 5 — Alternative rock band whose music was rejected by coworkers as being too unfamiliar despite mainstream appeal.

Gollum (person) 5 — A character from Lord of the Rings used as an insult between male coworkers, described as an 'unfuckable, pale, impish f...

Pope Leo XIV (person) 5 — New pope discussed hopefully for his focus on Catholic social teaching and combating consumerism, transhumanism, and usi...

Silent Generation (album) 5 — The generation that came of age during the Great Depression and World War II, characterized as relatively more conservat...

Donna Tartt (person) 5 — Author mentioned as an example of 'highbrow lowbrow' literature that doesn't require intense intellectual engagement but...

Lee Harvey Oswald (person) 5 — Presidential assassin noted as a singular, interesting figure who lived a weird pathetic life, contrasted with more rece...

The Thing (film) 5 — A 1982 John Carpenter horror film praised for possibly the best use of practical effects ever, particularly its alien cr...

Oldboy (film) 5 — Korean film referenced specifically for its flashback bridge scene, watched in the context of a toxic relationship.

Prince Harry (person) 5 — British royal discussed in context of leaked stories that appear designed to make him look cool, including Taliban killi...

Zyn (concept) 5 — Brand of nicotine pouches available in varying strengths, with much stronger versions available in Finland than in the U...

Lyndon B. Johnson (person) 5 — US President whose life is the subject of Robert Caro's biographical series, described as an almost unbelievable figure ...

Delaware (place) 5 — US state that announced the end of its mask mandate in early 2022 as part of coordinated Democratic policy shift