Didion says herself in the introduction to Slouching Towards Bethlehem that even those who praised her work consistently "missed the point." That trend seems to be continuing for her posthumously, with most turning to her primarily as an aesthetic icon. Sure, she was chic, but she was also an incredibly brilliant cultural critic who, from what I've read of her, would loathe the infatuation that e girls have with her today. The commodification of her persona as an aesthetic or lifestyle icon feels ironic, given her body of work was often about peeling back the layers of shallow or performative culture. She dissected the emptiness behind glamour and coolness, so it’s interesting (and a little tragic) that this is how she's remembered by some now. This was a fresh take on her. Thanks for posting!
all very well said! I am interested in what you’re saying about how she’s become this icon or totem for femmes online in particular. It’s interesting bc in order to promote my work on other platforms, I often feel like I have to present this image people will buy and that image involves being perceived as literary by adopting a certain aesthetic. idk lots to think about! thank you for reading and for your comment ✨✍🏻
It is possible that this year, as my life felll apart at the seams, I chose to exclusively read Didion. On one particularly bad night in June, I wrote in my journal about the anxiety I was feeling having only 100 pgs left in "The Year of Magical Thinking"... how Didion felt like the only company I could stand on nights like these. I then spent $42 of the remaining $43 of my credit card balance to buy "Blue Nights" and "Where I was from." Perhaps we are more like Didion than we think, also just doing what we can to grasp for control of these lives we didn't expect.
This was such a compelling read and gave me so much to think about!!!
“It was my English teacher who gave me this essay, my first from Didion. She assigned it and then read aloud “Goodbye to All That,” which is Didion’s farewell to New York City the next day in class and my life was changed forever. This is what I tell people now when they wonder why they should keep writing. You don’t know what can happen, I say. You don’t have any control over how your work will move and change people. You’re selfish to think you do. “
It’s amazing to think about this in the context of criticism of people posting “lists” too. Not only has your life been influenced by that essay: as your whole post demonstrates, someone simply writing down a list of objects can influence another person decades later!!! I mean: that is fucking powerful. I loved this! Thank you for writing!!
It’s true! Didion’s writing has grown with me throughout my entire life, and for that I am very grateful. thank you so much for reading, andrew! you’re the best!
Didion says herself in the introduction to Slouching Towards Bethlehem that even those who praised her work consistently "missed the point." That trend seems to be continuing for her posthumously, with most turning to her primarily as an aesthetic icon. Sure, she was chic, but she was also an incredibly brilliant cultural critic who, from what I've read of her, would loathe the infatuation that e girls have with her today. The commodification of her persona as an aesthetic or lifestyle icon feels ironic, given her body of work was often about peeling back the layers of shallow or performative culture. She dissected the emptiness behind glamour and coolness, so it’s interesting (and a little tragic) that this is how she's remembered by some now. This was a fresh take on her. Thanks for posting!
all very well said! I am interested in what you’re saying about how she’s become this icon or totem for femmes online in particular. It’s interesting bc in order to promote my work on other platforms, I often feel like I have to present this image people will buy and that image involves being perceived as literary by adopting a certain aesthetic. idk lots to think about! thank you for reading and for your comment ✨✍🏻
Rachel this was incredible. Internet Bedroom makes me want to start writing again
Vero you should!!! I would read whatever you write 🖤✨
absolutely loved this read!! especially the part about your friend and the list lol everything’s so beautifully said!
ahhh I’m so honored!! thank you for reading & sharing 🫶🏻 my friend and I send that list to each other all the time to this day 🤭
Wow wow wow, incredibly written piece!
aw thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read <3
Loved this article and will probably be revisiting it frequently 🤍 Joan Didion forever 🕊️
i loved reading this!! thank you so much for featuring my essay 💌
of course of course! thank you for reading, sarah 🥹🖤
It is possible that this year, as my life felll apart at the seams, I chose to exclusively read Didion. On one particularly bad night in June, I wrote in my journal about the anxiety I was feeling having only 100 pgs left in "The Year of Magical Thinking"... how Didion felt like the only company I could stand on nights like these. I then spent $42 of the remaining $43 of my credit card balance to buy "Blue Nights" and "Where I was from." Perhaps we are more like Didion than we think, also just doing what we can to grasp for control of these lives we didn't expect.
this was beautiful 🫂 we are just trying to wrest some small amount of control from a world that keeps spinning!! Joan knew 🖤✨
This is a pretty Didion-esque piece, so, I think you did your job :)
aw I’m honored! thank you so much for reading 🎀🖤✨
Thanks for writing it!
This was such a compelling read and gave me so much to think about!!!
“It was my English teacher who gave me this essay, my first from Didion. She assigned it and then read aloud “Goodbye to All That,” which is Didion’s farewell to New York City the next day in class and my life was changed forever. This is what I tell people now when they wonder why they should keep writing. You don’t know what can happen, I say. You don’t have any control over how your work will move and change people. You’re selfish to think you do. “
It’s amazing to think about this in the context of criticism of people posting “lists” too. Not only has your life been influenced by that essay: as your whole post demonstrates, someone simply writing down a list of objects can influence another person decades later!!! I mean: that is fucking powerful. I loved this! Thank you for writing!!
It’s true! Didion’s writing has grown with me throughout my entire life, and for that I am very grateful. thank you so much for reading, andrew! you’re the best!
Damn Rach. You did it again. 🫡
🥹✨🖤 we gotta go hard while we’re still here!!
Racheeeelll!!!! This was such a great read!!! I’m obsessed with this format! And thank you for the mention!!! 🥹💌🫶🏻
awwee thank you for reading Amanda 🫶🏻🖤✨ always gotta shout out one of my faves to read on here!!
love you!!! 🥹🫶🏻💌✨
Whoa. This was pretty, pretty, pretty good.
thank you so much! I appreciate you taking the time to read ✨🖤🎀
this was such a thoughtful and beautiful piece to read 🤍 thank you for featuring club reticent!
aw thank you for reading! I think about your essay I cited at least once a week - appreciate you 🖤✨🎀