Nymphet Alumni – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this week's episode, we discuss the legacy of Losercore, an aesthetic of the late 90s and early 2000s that celebrated the awkwardness of young adulthood and the sartorial idiosyncrasies of social outcasts, from orthodontia and ill-fitting gym uniforms to wire-frame glasses and dishwater-blond hair. We analyze the socioeconomic conditions that led to this period of loser glorification, identify key players (Todd Solondz, Paul Dano), cinematic touchstones (Napoleon Dynamite, Little Miss Sunshine), and generational anthems ("Teenage Dirtbag," "Buddy Holly"), and reflect on how the Internet has transformed today's young losers into threats to themselves and others.

Links:
Image board
"The Birth—and Maybe Death—of Yuppiedom" by Walter Shapiro for Time
"Loser: The Hero of the 1990s" by Grunge Included on Substack
The Trap by Adam Curtis
The Nineties by Chuck Klosterman
@yungkombucha420 on TikTok
"Americans Need to Party More" by Ellen Cushing for The Atlantic
"The Anti-Social Century" by Derek Thompson for The Atlantic
Loser Generated Content: From Participation to Exploitation by Soren Mork Petersen
Billie Eilish on having no friends
Celebrity with no friends blind item ("not Jessica Chastain")
Emma Chamberlain closet video
Bed rot talking stage TikTok / 
"Love in the Time of Bed Rotting" by Isabel Unhinged on Substack
"The Story Behind The Song: Beck and the crowning of the ‘Loser’ generation" – Far Out
Teenage Dirtbag – Wheatus (Offical Music Video)
Buddy Holly – Weezer (Official Music Video)
Losercore TikTok boys: Slushy Noobz, Thomathy, Ben Awad, William Conrad
Marc Jacobs, Circa 2003: Long Hair, Neck Brace & Sweaty (PHOTO)
Prada Spring/Summer 1996
Marc Jacobs Spring 1999
Marc Jacobs Fall 1999
Vetements Fall 2019 Menswear
Balenciaga Pre-Fall 2021 

"Gucci's Beautiful Losers Hit New York" – Business of Fashion
"The Book of Gucci According to Alessandro Michele" – 032c
"Student Teaches Teacher" aka Jeff Bliss aka Friggin Packet Yo (Original YouTube Video)
"Who's Afraid of Hasan Piker?" – Slate
"Still Life (Betamale)" by Jon Rafman
Party in their Blood – Cloudy Heart (Official Music Video)
Bully (formerly @bully.incel.simp.hero) 
Duane Hanson – Saatchi Gallery
Dadsgiving by Chris Maggio

This week, we are joined by special guest Evan Collins — architect, design archivist, and cofounder of Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute — for a conversation about the Institute's pioneering work in coining and defining the most fascinating aesthetics of the past half-century, including Indie Sleaze, Frutiger Aero, McBling, Whimsigothic, Shoe Diva, and many more. We discuss his foundational research into the Y2K aesthetic, the consumer incorporation of subculture, the challenges of community-based digital archiving, the benefit of researching ugly and unfashionable visual culture, and more.

Links:
Consumer Aesthetics Research Institute Official Website
CARI on Are.na
Evan Collins on Are.na
Evan Collins on Patreon (access to 700+ books and magazines!)
Art Deco of the 20s and 30s by Bevis Hillier
Blobjects and Beyond: The New Fluidity in Design by Steven Skov Holt and Mara Holt Skov

In this edition of Study Break, we discuss the double-release of Addison Rae’s “Aquamarine” and Lady Gaga’s “Disease,” Lexee Smith as Hollywood’s body double Rasputin, the “Dirty Cash” effect, the pros and cons of Gay Halloween, the triumph of the Dodgers, Slavic Dolls versus Brazilian Bombshells, and more.

Full episode available here <3

Links: 

Lady Gaga - Disease (Official Music Video)

Addison Rae - Aquamarine (Official Music Video)

Dirty Cash (Money Talks) videos on TikTok 

Shawn Mendes opens up about his sexuality, in a way

Shawn Mendes Interview feature

ian - Sh*t Sad (Feat. Chief Keef) (Official Music Video)

Barack Obama on DeepCut with VicBlends

Slavic Dolls vs. Brazilian Bombshells videos on TikTok

Saturday Night Live TikTok skit

Young Posse (영파씨) - Ate That (Official Music Video)

Following the Great Nymphet Alumni Hiatus of July 2021, we consider the vampire gf, examining why everyone’s dressing like characters from Twilight and The Vampire Diaries. We discuss how this trend signals a new era of modesty and the end of the eternally exposed midriff, classify the symptoms of Unremarkable Brunette Protagonist Syndrome, and wax poetic about the power of Converse, camisoles and sweater paws. We also break down the forces behind the revival of late aughts fashion and reveal ourselves to be long torso fetishists in the lineage of Ingres and Alexander McQueen. 

Thanks so much Sarah Y for the episode request <3

Links:

Twilight / Bella Swan outfits: 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKq3rb4/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKqoyvJ/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKbdYGq/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKqTr3G/

The Vampire Diaries / Elena Gilbert outfits: 

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKbj2Tv/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKbFs1v/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKq3tw2/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKbSAXs/

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMdKqEHq6/

Despite being debilitated by their recent BBL surgeries, Alexi, Biz, and Sam apply their expert analysis to the phenomenon known as The BBL Effect. They discuss the characteristics of e-thottie fashion, parse through the BBL's alarming medical risks, and dread their upcoming recovery process.

Brands discussed:
Inamorata: https://www.instagram.com/inamoratawoman/?hl=en
I AM GIA: https://www.instagram.com/iamgia/?hl=en
Di Petsa: https://www.instagram.com/dipetsa/?hl=en
Kim K in Mugler: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/fashion/fashion-news/a27387049/kim-kardashian-mugler-met-gala-2019/

On this week’s episode, we discuss the new age of Internet girl physiognomy as exemplified by TikTok star/US Navy veteran Bella Poarch. We break down the success of TikTok’s most beautiful and babyfaced, examine cuteness as the next source of geopolitical power, and speculate on Bella’s past (and potential future) as a global military asset. We also discuss... jiggle physics..

Special thanks to bestie of the pod @default_friend for requesting this episode! Check out her writing below.

Links:

Bella Poarch: https://www.tiktok.com/@bellapoarch

Build A B*tch - Bella Poarch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLGCGc7sAUw

Bad Blood - Taylor Swift: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcIy9NiNbmo

Hannah Owo: https://www.instagram.com/aestheticallyhannah/
Neekolul: https://www.instagram.com/neekolul/?hl=en

Readings:

Default Friend on the coming wave of sex negativity: https://defaultfriend.substack.com/p/72-the-coming-wave-of-sex-negativity/comments

Cute Studies: https://www.cutestudies.org/

The Cuteness of the Avant-Garde: https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/444516

On today's episode, 3 Harvard sociologists discuss state-mandated pop album "Sour" and Olivia Rodrigo's diplomatic reign as wasian princess of the universe

On this week's episode, we discuss Hot Girl Summer culture and its new reactionary counterpart: Blob Girl Summer... We consider the pros and cons of pandemic-era glow-up culture, call for a revived veneration of homely women in STEM, and give the listeners a look into the fascinating world of Reddit looksmaxxing!

Blob Girl Summer essay: https://www.businessinsider.com/get-ready-for-blob-girl-summer-2021-4 

This week, we host an emergency summit discussing the shocking milf-ification of alt-queen Billie Eilish. We discuss her British Vogue cover as the nail in the coffin for the corset trend, express concerns over the accelerated schoolgirl-to-milf pipeline, and reflect on the sterility of pop-cultural fertility icons.

Links:
https://www.vogue.co.uk/news/article/billie-eilish-vogue-interview
https://www.amazon.com/Seeing-Through-Clothes-Anne-Hollander/dp/0520082311

On this week's episode, we analyze the rise of preppy fashion in alternative culture. We track the history of prep from its origin on Ivy League campuses, discuss its varying cultural significance throughout the decades (The Kennedys! Vivienne Westwood! Vampire Weekend! Brandy Melville!), and unpack why a sweater vest and tennis skirt has become the go-to look for Gen Z baddies ...

Links:
The Official Preppy Handbook: https://issuu.com/fiyero109/docs/toph
Vivienne Westwood Fall 1988 (not Harris Tweed collection but similar): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UPiJOtyxho 
NYT Lo Lifes feature: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/30/fashion/lo-lifes-fashion-hip-hop.html
Additional reading on Ivy Style: http://sites.fitnyc.edu/depts/museum/Ivy_Style/