Hey, everyone, I'm thelitcritguy. I co-host the horror movie podcast Horror Vanguard, have been a regular guest on Revolutionary Left Radio, and make Youtube videos on culture and aesthetics. I write on horror, capitalism, and cultural criticism (you can read my last piece here https://readpassage.com/the-horror-of-capitalism-squid-game-and-the-gothic-trap-of-debt/)

Ask Me Anything!

  • Budwig_v_1337hoven [he/him]
    ·
    3 years ago

    Wow, this is a pleasant surprise! I really enjoy your work, glad you're finding time to hang here.

    Because this is an AMA, here's my shoddy attempt at a question:
    If recommendation systems (The Algorithm) were a monster, which one?

    • thelitcritguy [he/him]
      hexagon
      ·
      3 years ago

      Oh man, the closest thing I can think of is perhaps my favorite monster from Gothic writing, which is the Slake Moths from Perdido Street Station by China Mieville.

      • Budwig_v_1337hoven [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        I had to look that up, but:

        a horrifying predator, it unfolds hypnotic wings that transfix a victim in place, allowing the larger-than-man-sized moth to slip forward and feed on the victim's thoughts, draining the psyche through a long slobbering tongue until the victim is a mindless vegetable.

        yea, that sounds... that sounds about accurate :agony-minion:

      • Budwig_v_1337hoven [he/him]
        ·
        3 years ago

        Aight, follow-up question, if you don't mind: I can totally see a Slake Moth being a fitting representation of The Algorithm from a content consumer pov. And while I realize that content creators are also, usually, content consumers, wouldn't you agree that content creators face a different monster in ''The Algorithm''? I know you aren't big on click bait and tactics like that, but on some level you too must try to... infer the gaze of The Algorithm, right? Any other monster(s) come to mind with that perspective?

        • thelitcritguy [he/him]
          hexagon
          ·
          3 years ago

          In which case (and yeah, you are right) perhaps it's best to think of the algorithm as a kind of swarm, a consciousness that is not limited to the singular subject. You can reason with it on some level, but god help you if you catch the swarm in the wrong mood...