Red Scare Canon — Cultural References from the Subreddit

Kid Cudi (person) 2 — Rapper and fashion designer who unknowingly included his niece's controversial 4chan-inspired lolicon art in his clothin...

David Blaine (person) 2 — Illusionist and endurance artist mentioned as comparison for stunts that require actual skill and mental toughness.

Sabaton (album) 2 — A metal band characterized as the most Reddit band due to their history-focused lyrics about Middle Ages, WWII, and the ...

Hardcore (film) 2 — Documentary series by Magic Lantern about pornographer Max Hardcore and his influence on violent porn

Terminator (film) 2 — James Cameron's 1984 sci-fi action film, mentioned as being superior to its sequel T2 in a controversial opinion.

Limewire (place) 2 — A peer-to-peer file sharing platform mentioned as part of the millennial generation's cultural touchstones.

Cheyenne (place) 2 — City listed as off the table by a drifter seeking recommendations for their next destination.

Pierrot Le Fou (film) 2 — Film watched on a date before things went wrong over a Castro sticker

Fidel Castro (person) 2 — Cuban revolutionary whose image on a guitar sticker ruined a date when the woman's grandfather was executed by Castro's ...

Second Life (concept) 2 — A virtual world platform discussed in the context of infidelity and internet addiction in the mid-2000s

Trazodone (concept) 2 — Sleep medication preferred by the poster over Ambien because it allows awareness when waking

Leonid Brezhnev (person) 2 — Soviet leader referenced as comparison for Joe Biden's aged, declining leadership style

Kolkata (place) 2 — Capital city of West Bengal, India, where a female doctor was raped and murdered, sparking widespread protests

West Bengal (place) 2 — Indian state identified as likely destination for climate migrants from Bangladesh due to shared ethnicity and historica...

R.F. Kuang (person) 2 — Bestselling author of Babel and The Poppy War trilogy, criticized for heavy-handed writing, modern political jargon in h...

Ring cameras (concept) 2 — Home security cameras discussed in context of surveillance culture and package theft monitoring

No Contact (concept) 2 — Millennial practice of completely severing ties with family members, often leading to social isolation and codependency ...

Found Family (concept) 2 — Cultural concept of chosen relationships over blood relations, criticized as troubling extension of societal atomization...

Orange is the New Black (film) 2 — Early Netflix show that received acclaim but has been completely forgotten and memory-holed from cultural consciousness.

Urdu (concept) 2 — Language being learned by poster as part of connecting with Pakistani heritage, while noting parents' increased consumpt...

Deep State (concept) 2 — Conspiracy theory about hidden government power structures, discussed as disproven by the Biden-Trump debate

A Quiet Place (film) 2 — Horror film in which someone's chip-eating during silent scenes led to the poster impulsively throwing their snack bag

Fela Kuti (person) 2 — Nigerian musician described as more punk than most punk artists, compared to James Brown in his craziness and confidence...

Mexican Revolution (concept) 2 — Historical conflict in which Adelitas/soldaderas participated as women soldiers in various military roles.

Scary of Sixty First (film) 2 — A divisive film mentioned as being fun but understandably criticized by some viewers

Flow state (concept) 2 — A meditative state of focused awareness that the author argues can be achieved through sports

Maintenance Phase (album) 2 — A podcast criticized for promoting the idea that weight control is scientifically impossible, hosted by people without s...

RING camera (concept) 2 — A home security device criticized for enabling neurotic surveillance of neighbors in safe apartment buildings

Life (album) 2 — Magazine whose images are criticized as a source for clichéd representations of the American past in films.

Steve Albini (person) 2 — Musician and recording engineer whose death prompted discussions of music history, particularly associated with the band...

Athens, Georgia (place) 2 — City criticized as an example where locals are unaware of the numerous activities, events, and cultural opportunities av...

Helen of Troy (person) 2 — Mythological figure of ideal beauty used as a comparison to modern pornography performers who are described as exception...

Ketamine therapy (concept) 2 — Psychedelic-assisted therapy practice used by couples that is criticized for enabling toxic behavior under the guise of ...

Jimmy Carr (person) 2 — British comedian known for dark humor who performed jokes about Armed Forces veterans and Paralympics.

Charlotte Brontë (person) 2 — Classic novelist mentioned as someone young BookTok readers have never read despite their supposed love of books.

The Crown (film) 2 — TV series mentioned as slightly more sophisticated but still not particularly deep compared to dark romance novels.

Naltrexone (concept) 2 — A targeted opioid blocker medication used in the Sinclair Method to treat alcoholism by blocking the endorphin high that...

Hank Hill (person) 2 — Fictional character from King of the Hill who serves as a stand-in for redditors' own normal fathers in discussions abou...

r/foreveralone (place) 2 — A subreddit where people who classify themselves as lonely and friendless congregate.

Chris Benoit (person) 2 — Professional wrestler who murdered his wife and son, referenced as an extreme expression of domestic violence the author...

Valorant (film) 2 — A multiplayer match-based video game criticized as a time-wasting activity that prevents productive engagement

Kojima (person) 2 — Video game designer whose presence in subreddit discussion contrasts with lack of reality TV posting

Filthy Frank (person) 2 — Internet personality turned into an aspirational sex symbol by Zoomers, contrasted with older millennial masculine ideal...

Dr. Katz (person) 2 — Psychiatrist who diagnosed the poster with autism, sharing a name with an animated series character.

Joseph Conrad (person) 2 — Author referenced via the 'Conrad pill' in the context of someone considering becoming a sea captain and deck officer.

Miguel de Cervantes (person) 2 — Author of Don Quixote, invoked as a model for someone who could save American culture from superhero movies.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (person) 2 — The author of The Little Prince whose mysterious death when his plane disappeared in 1944 adds a layer of mystery to his...

Unidan (person) 2 — Famous Reddit user known for the phrase 'here's the thing...' who was part of Reddit's character era

Glenn Beck (person) 2 — Conservative media figure whose circa 2010 program is referenced as comparison point for founding fathers rhetoric.

Norse mythology (concept) 2 — Ancient Scandinavian religious beliefs appropriated by some contemporary fascists as part of their aesthetic identity