This was helpful as I’ve been arguing with my gf about (not) watching this show. She finds it gritty and probative; I find it boring when not repulsive. We can agree it’s well produced, but what am I missing? What could be worse than conniving rich tourists whingeing poolside about how empty they feel. I’d rather sit alone in a dive bar, writing dissident poetry and sipping my DIPA; feeling absolutely fulfilled and morally superior to everyone except the barmaid.
Even if I’m right about the show, which clearly I am, she still makes me watch it with her lol. But at least I can feel morally superior to her as well and maybe that’s the point of the show after all: feeling better than people in it and all the people who like it.
It's weird - I watch White Lotus as a study in souls. I don't feel generally superior to the characters, and I like watching them in their moral struggles. Something is satisfying/edifying to me about seeing the moment in which the soul is lost, and how it happens - or in some cases how the loss is avoided. But other people don't seem to watch it in this way.
The poor wage earner hotel staff are just as awful as the rich people guests. I don’t really see the show as being about just making fun of rich westerners.
Only the elites in Protestant countries seem to have this fetish for self flagellation (and criticizing the economic players but also kinda concealing how the game is played).
Notice how even South Korea has this trend in entertainment.
I don’t know that it does nothing, though, because narrative propaganda has worked to erode trust, trust in policing, institutions, the concept of meritocracy. But other than making people mad, it’s only solutions are purges of individuals, because in narrative framework, problems are a result of individual agency.
I think the genesis of the White Lotus Phenomenon is a vague Cultural Elite sense that something might be “beneath” us, and thus an overwhelming sense to ad hoc rationalize it to those we feel are our peers in a very 4D chess way that’s basically a complete projection / fabrication.
In parallel, I feel the same exact way about all these non-right wing Cultural Elite publications writing these long profiles (again and again) about fringe right wing figures like Peter Theil and Curtis Yarvin. What / Who is this for?
In the grand scheme, these folks hold relatively little power over the folks they are allegedly ideological influences over (Theil notoriously sat out this election cycle and refused to give money…and no one seriously thinks Trump is listening to Yarvin let alone Vance before Leeroy Jenkins-ing to decisions). These think pieces can’t really explain much of anything real in the world, so what are they for?
It seems to me they are basically their to make people less afraid with the rudderless aspect of the Right at the moment. To assure Liberals that there is some evil genius beating us and not just some buffoon winging it off vibes. It projects more appropriately a mental model of the world that flatters Liberal readers instead of one that makes them like Sandra Bullock in Gravity.
I guess I’m one of the few who simply disliked the show. I found myself disliking almost every character and secretly hoping ALL of them would end up dead. And not just the fucked up, snotty, entitled rich guests but the surly, scheming, kiss-ass, phony staff as well. Not a sympathetic character in sight.
I favor Hypothesis One. Mike White created a series that, love it or hate it, once you start watching it, you can’t stop. It’s got all of the ingredients that viewers can’t resist…sex, nudity, adultery, rich people, beauty (women), smarminess, intrigue, murder, drugs, hypocrisy, happy endings (sort of)…along with great settings, castings, and dialogue. Bravo, Mr White, you deserve to be rich and famous.
This was helpful as I’ve been arguing with my gf about (not) watching this show. She finds it gritty and probative; I find it boring when not repulsive. We can agree it’s well produced, but what am I missing? What could be worse than conniving rich tourists whingeing poolside about how empty they feel. I’d rather sit alone in a dive bar, writing dissident poetry and sipping my DIPA; feeling absolutely fulfilled and morally superior to everyone except the barmaid.
Haha I aim to help all readers in arguments with their partners
Even if I’m right about the show, which clearly I am, she still makes me watch it with her lol. But at least I can feel morally superior to her as well and maybe that’s the point of the show after all: feeling better than people in it and all the people who like it.
Yes I will accept the "What is 'What is the White Lotus for' for" take
I’m willing to buy your argument, because it jives with what I already believe.
It's weird - I watch White Lotus as a study in souls. I don't feel generally superior to the characters, and I like watching them in their moral struggles. Something is satisfying/edifying to me about seeing the moment in which the soul is lost, and how it happens - or in some cases how the loss is avoided. But other people don't seem to watch it in this way.
The poor wage earner hotel staff are just as awful as the rich people guests. I don’t really see the show as being about just making fun of rich westerners.
I ain't watching the gaitok show spinoff
Only the elites in Protestant countries seem to have this fetish for self flagellation (and criticizing the economic players but also kinda concealing how the game is played).
Notice how even South Korea has this trend in entertainment.
I don’t know that it does nothing, though, because narrative propaganda has worked to erode trust, trust in policing, institutions, the concept of meritocracy. But other than making people mad, it’s only solutions are purges of individuals, because in narrative framework, problems are a result of individual agency.
Glad I don't watch telly.
Re: the real life Saxons, anyone who’s been to midtown Manhattan knows the finance bro depiction is spot on
10/10 big boobed bucktoothed British brunette bambifawn bikini bimbo ♥️ best character of all time
I think the genesis of the White Lotus Phenomenon is a vague Cultural Elite sense that something might be “beneath” us, and thus an overwhelming sense to ad hoc rationalize it to those we feel are our peers in a very 4D chess way that’s basically a complete projection / fabrication.
In parallel, I feel the same exact way about all these non-right wing Cultural Elite publications writing these long profiles (again and again) about fringe right wing figures like Peter Theil and Curtis Yarvin. What / Who is this for?
In the grand scheme, these folks hold relatively little power over the folks they are allegedly ideological influences over (Theil notoriously sat out this election cycle and refused to give money…and no one seriously thinks Trump is listening to Yarvin let alone Vance before Leeroy Jenkins-ing to decisions). These think pieces can’t really explain much of anything real in the world, so what are they for?
It seems to me they are basically their to make people less afraid with the rudderless aspect of the Right at the moment. To assure Liberals that there is some evil genius beating us and not just some buffoon winging it off vibes. It projects more appropriately a mental model of the world that flatters Liberal readers instead of one that makes them like Sandra Bullock in Gravity.
I guess I’m one of the few who simply disliked the show. I found myself disliking almost every character and secretly hoping ALL of them would end up dead. And not just the fucked up, snotty, entitled rich guests but the surly, scheming, kiss-ass, phony staff as well. Not a sympathetic character in sight.
I favor Hypothesis One. Mike White created a series that, love it or hate it, once you start watching it, you can’t stop. It’s got all of the ingredients that viewers can’t resist…sex, nudity, adultery, rich people, beauty (women), smarminess, intrigue, murder, drugs, hypocrisy, happy endings (sort of)…along with great settings, castings, and dialogue. Bravo, Mr White, you deserve to be rich and famous.
I’m voting for Hypothesis One.
I very rarely watch movies. I guess The Menu is somewhat comparable? That was fun to watch