Red Scare Canon — Cultural References from the Subreddit

Cameron Winter (person) 3 — Current indie rock musician described as a genius who is approximately 23 years old, cited as example of musicians peaki...

Hermeticism (concept) 3 — Western esoteric tradition that Hegel's Phenomenology of Spirit is argued to be an abstruse rendering of, done better in...

Actual Air (book) 3 — Collection of poems by David Berman, available for around $20, containing beloved poems about suburban life

Atomised (book) 3 — Novel by Michel Houellebecq about social atomization and isolation, discussed by a reader who relates to the character D...

Agatha Christie (person) 3 — Mystery author cited as example of entertaining literature that people no longer read for simple enjoyment

Chinese room (concept) 3 — A philosophical thought experiment referenced to describe how shallow social media connections make users indistinguisha...

Isaac Hayes (person) 3 — Musician whose song By the Time I get to Phoenix was chosen as desert island recording.

The Straight Story (film) 3 — A David Lynch film produced by Disney about an elderly man who rides his lawnmower across Iowa to Wisconsin to reconnect...

Paradise Regained (book) 3 — Epic poem by John Milton being read as part of the Red Scare book club for the Mary Shelley reading list.

Waiting for Godot (film) 3 — Samuel Beckett's play about waiting that ironically reflected the poster's missed opportunity to discuss it with their g...

Brian Jonestown Massacre (album) 3 — Band whose records sound surprisingly good despite chaotic recording conditions captured in the film Dig

Alzheimer's (concept) 3 — Degenerative disease affecting a poster's father while their mother conducts an affair, creating moral anguish about whe...

Robert Redford (person) 3 — Actor and director whose 1980 debut film Ordinary People is praised for its honest portrayal of mental illness.

Wong Kar Wai (person) 3 — Chinese filmmaker praised for making pretty films, discussed in context of increased attention to Chinese Cinema in the ...

Miranda Lambert (person) 3 — Country music artist described as unapologetically fat and alcoholic with BPD-like behavior.

Brian Cox (person) 3 — A physicist and materialist who stated that physics has ruled out the existence of the soul in particles, referenced in ...

Portlandia (film) 3 — Comedy TV show from the late aughts that evokes nostalgic feelings and is defended against backlash

Alan Watts (person) 3 — British philosopher and writer known for popularizing Eastern philosophy, referenced as being sampled in 2011 indie/EDM ...

Charles Mingus (person) 3 — Jazz musician whose recordings evoke nostalgia for the poster, associated with summer nights riding bikes and listening ...

The Idea of You (film) 3 — Film watched by two strangers on a plane who shared headphones during a flight from Singapore to Dubai.

Only Lovers Left Alive (film) 3 — Film with beautiful cinematography and dramatic story praised by user seeking similar recommendations

Matt Lauer (person) 3 — Journalist who conducted famous interview with Tom Cruise about antidepressants

2Pac (person) 3 — Rapper and revolutionary figure discussed as embodying the melancholy of successful but politically frustrated artists, ...

Chopin (person) 3 — Classical composer referenced as an example of irreplaceable musical genius that AI cannot replicate.

Van Gogh (person) 3 — Artist whose work people were pretending to ponder while filming themselves at a museum

Tolkien (person) 3 — Referenced in comparison to the word 'lightskin' being described as Tolkienesque

2000s (concept) 3 — Time period referenced as when Walmart was a prominent corporate villain in pop culture.

New Order (person) 3 — Band whose song Temptation was played by poster's father during road trips to Colorado

Schopenhauer (person) 3 — Philosopher referenced in Tár regarding measuring intelligence against sensitivity to noise and his controversial person...

764 (concept) 2 — Discord groomer groups involving edgelord teenagers that evolved from the Order of 9 Angles aesthetic and FBI honeypot o...

CTC (concept) 2 — Closed Timelike Curves, a physics concept that was the subject of a publication used to manipulate someone into believin...

Staying Alive (album) 2 — Song used as a CPR rhythm guide, famously popularized by The Office, and used during an actual life-saving emergency.

Monopoly (concept) 2 — Board game that a socially awkward woman wanted to play at 2am after an unusual hookup.

Chance the Rapper (person) 2 — Musician whose career trajectory was derailed by a poorly received album, used as comparison for Taylor Swift's potentia...

Mr. Beast (person) 2 — YouTube content creator criticized for having 'dead eyes' and lack of authenticity

Vincent Van Gogh (person) 2 — Dutch painter referenced in comparison to restaurant managers taking their work too seriously

Scooby-Doo (film) 2 — Animated television series and franchise that became subject to obsessive historical study.

Subaru (concept) 2 — Car brand used as comparison for describing a Laser sailboat as 'the sailing version of a ricer Subaru'.

CSA (concept) 2 — Child Sexual Abuse content found on rapists' devices, used as evidence that pedophilia is linked to antisocial personali...

Vietnam War (concept) 2 — Historical conflict that Muhammad Ali refused to participate in, resulting in imprisonment and loss of boxing titles.

Virginia Woolf (person) 2 — A British modernist writer whose work was studied in a bookclub that a poster attended in search of romantic prospects.

SEO (concept) 2 — Search Engine Optimization, implicitly criticized in connection with the degradation of search engine results filled wit...

Rina Sawayama (person) 2 — Pop musician whose working-class backstory is questioned as fabricated given her privileged education and industry conne...

Versace (concept) 2 — Luxury fashion brand that featured Rina Sawayama in 2017 campaign before she had musical success

Vogue (concept) 2 — Fashion magazine where Greta Thunberg appeared serving 'nymphette cunt' instead of performative activism.

January 6th (concept) 2 — The January 6th Capitol attack, referenced as a political focus point that Democrats are criticized for prioritizing ove...

Latinx (concept) 2 — A gender-neutral term for Latino/Latina people that is criticized as an example of Democratic Party detachment from aver...

Lauren Sanchez (person) 2 — Jeff Bezos's partner, described as a Latina with two kids in a committed relationship where Bezos acts as a good stepfat...

Rupert Murdoch (person) 2 — Media mogul whose granddaughter Charlotte Freud is mentioned in critique of wealthy elites.

Justine Kurland (person) 2 — A photographer known for her large format photography series 'Girl Pictures' (1997-2002) capturing landscapes.