Living off the mid.
5 ways to fight the algorithm and get closer to your own cool.
(the aptly named) midjourney. This phrase has been pong-ing around my mind since I read this on-point piece ‘unpacking the great middling’ written by my fellow RADAR friend, Alexi Gunner. It connects to so many other conversations I’ve had recently with friends including: the definition of cool, performative partying, and the ‘narc vibe’ of many instagram brands that we’re not sure if they’re made by humans or ‘puters.
Critiques of irl outfits I’ve overheard recently – “too moodboardy” and “a 2D fitpic” – the latter meaning it looked, especially from behind and/or in motion, that it was assembled to post rather than party in. I think in these appraisals they were also processing what Gunner and Günseli are so astutely observing.
It also brings us back to considering, if ‘everything is mid’, what is cool then?
Gunner writes, “How can semi-cool be defined? In a nutshell; things that confer status but aren’t too weird or impractical.”
Personally, my Dad inspires my enduring definition of cool people: People who are so into things, that other people think it’s interesting. This applies to stylish people who geek on design, djs who go deep into deep cuts, and friends who are fun to talk to because they read hard and often.
How do people cultivate being actually cool when it’s so quickly commodified, niched and impersonated? And why might it be important, like, as real people. And not valued as a hierarchy marker for people as personal brands. Blech.
It’s important because we’re more interesting when we’re interested. Life is more interesting when we’re interested.
“All the world’s a stage”... Nahhhh. Let’s try less 2D outfits and more 3D opinions.
In a recent episode of Rap Radar, Tyler the Creator brilliantly gave his take on why unanimous top-10s are trash and why he hates Rap Twitter:
“Bro, who gives a fuck,” Tyler says. (...watch the clip, I’m not a stenographer…) “...stop. It’s performative.'”
"Tell me, what is your favorite shit?" he continued. "Because you learn so much from people, you get context.”
I love this for a bunch of reasons, but especially ‘cause he’s talking about a personal take on things. Conversation is context. Not algorithm curation. It’s about feelings. subjectivity. spontaneity. vulnerability. human connection.
Sometimes when I talk to my kid about the future I say: In the age of machines, the best thing we can be is more human.
Meaning empathetic, weird, curious… whatever you think… honestly all the traits that create the non-mid things that the people quoted above are noting the absence of.
Oopsie, I baited you with a top 5 and then didn’t deliver. I started with a quote about midjourney aesthetics (which perhaps only applies to uninspired prompting) and then just left it there.
I would rather you turn this into a conversation. And, as Tyler suggests, you create your own top 5.
Artwork: Leïth Benkhedda (from Dazed pieced)