Jackson and Taylor share their thoughts on Halsey's new album The Great Impersonator, and criticize some of the album's critics. They then rank the X trilogy (X, Pearl, MaXXXine). Finally, discussing the new releases of Addison Rae and Lady Gaga and their excitement for current music.

Timestamps

00:00 Halsey's The Great Impersonator

21:18 Ranking the X trilogy

48:04 New music releases

For their 25th episode, Jackson and Taylor discuss their recent trips to Nashville, Memphis, and Vermont. Taylor announces a new boyfriend. They then debrief the essay, Notes on "Camp" by Susan Sontag, sharing their thoughts on "Camp" and modern iterations of it. Their song this week is "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" by Leonard Cohen.

Timestamps

00:00 Fall Break Recap

32:37 Notes on "Camp" by Susan Sontag

1:06:27 "One of Us Cannot Be Wrong" by Leonard Cohen

Sontag's essay: ⁠https://monoskop.org/images/5/59/Sontag_Susan_1964_Notes_on_Camp.pdf⁠

Taylor's article: ⁠https://artrkl.com/blogs/news/velvet-paintings

Jackson and Taylor explore the themes of the macabre, discussing their attraction to darkness and horror. They delve into the cultural significance of macabre literature and media, the allure of true crime, and the societal critiques often embedded in horror narratives. The discussion also touches on desensitization to violence, the impact of horror on art and literature, and the duality of life and death in storytelling. Additionally, Jackson tells stories about getting a tattoo in New Orleans and being robbed by a taxi driver in Belize. Their song this week is "Poison Tree" by Grouper.

Timestamps

00:00 Into the Shadows of the Macabre

07:40 The Fascination with Darkness and Death

12:10 True Crime vs. Fictional Horror

22:22 Historical Perspectives on the Macabre

33:05 The Societal Lens of Horror Films

41:16 Exploring the Macabre in Culture

48:30 Jackson's Tattoo and Getting Robbed

58:16 "Poison Tree" by Grouper