The Times piece confirmed what many people suspect, at least in this moment, when it comes to apparatuses of power: that they’re controlled by a nefarious army of people working in the shadows to manipulate the public. Or, when it comes to celebrity: that the public only has access to an outer layer of self and truth. Below, there’s “true” self — w... See more

Invoke the brat as your muse, it seems, and she’ll dilute the politics of your book down to a mix of provocativeness and uncertainty. Something like “The system is gross, but the people who want to resist or improve it are cringe. And some aspects of the system, like online shopping and racism and fatphobia, might actually be OK? Just kidding! Unle... See more

Obviously ideas have always gained and lost popularity throughout history. But I think it’s fair to say the conditions that disrupt the so-called arc of progress have intensified beyond comprehension. Mass media’s emphasis on images and appearances has shifted the political discourse to a facile imitation of its former self.

To understand how we got here, it’s important to know Roan’s perilous journey, encompassing all big three major labels. Born in Missouri and raised in a conservative Christian household, she was signed to Warner’s Atlantic Records and positioned as the next Lorde after a video of her 2017 single “Die Young” went viral, and moved to L.A. to pursue h... See more