Fresia Magdalena, Nomadland, and A Small Place
Featuring an article by Sudeep Bhargava and an interview with Amani.
Welcome to the forty-first installation of The Q : your one-stop weekly newsletter of culture recommendations.
Featured Article
everymomentexisting by Sudeep Bhargava
AFFIRMATIONS: (1) I know identification to be a construct, and therefore to be a system that I can be liberated from. (2) Gender does not factor into the way I understand myself in any way other than critical and/or performative, and I do not have to justify that or any of my ideas regarding myself. (3) Identity is a defined space I have the ability to move through and between. (4) Queerness is a way to navigate and question otherwise strictly held truths. (5) I reject narratives that do not bend to my ideology: I do not strive for visibility, I do not attempt to create something particular and based on anything other than the present moment.
Album
Fresia Magdalena by Sofia Kourtesis
There is no better way to start a morning than listening to Sofia Kourtesis’ Fresia Magdalena while on a 10 a.m. caffeine high. The Berlin-based, Peruvian artist’s newest EP feels like a bath in the warm sun and a long day spent by the sea. The first time I listened to Fresia Magdalena, it happened to be the only day that week where rain was not incessantly drizzling along my windowpane. I am nothing but convinced that the album’s healing powers opened up the sky once again.
Film
Nomadland directed by Chloe Zhang
More often than not, I’ve dreamt of going off the grid, driving somewhere out West, and cutting all ties. But Nomadland isn’t an escapist fantasy. It’s a cautionary tale on aging, labor, and what we value most. As a viewer, I admire Fern’s strength and resiliency to make the most of life, but I hope to never end up like her. At the same time, I crave the same freedom nomads like Fern have. It’s beautiful to watch them not be confined to a job, a marriage, or a house.
Book
A Small Place by Jamaica Kincaid
I strongly believe that one of the most important purposes of writing is to make readers uncomfortable. To make them feel uneasy with themselves and the status quo. Otherwise, we continue to live oblivious to the world around us, without hesitating to change our behaviors as individuals and collectively. Jamaica Kincaid does exactly that in A Small Place, a non-fiction book that challenges tourism, colonialism, and reflects on Kincaid’s experiences as a native Antiguan.
Playlist
Iris’s “gleeee” features Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and MF DOOM
Iris’s favorite track: “Ego Death (feat. Kanye West, FKA twigs & Skrillex)“ by Ty Dolla $ign
Description: “This playlist is a mix of getting lit and getting in your feels.”
Podcast
Episode #41: Shirley Temple and an Interview with Amani Fela
On this week's episode, Sam and Teresa interview Amani Fela over a Shirley Temple. Amani is a Brooklyn rapper, who previously appeared on the podcast with King Vision Ultra to discuss An Unknown Infinite. Now, Amani is back to talk about his most recent project, A CONSTANT CONDENSATION, which was released on March 15. Amani talks to Teresa and Sam about working solo, the inspiration behind his cover art, as well as finding balance.
