The cultural logic of late capitalism

Re: boys not eating fruit

Like Peli, Zak does not eat fruit. He went grocery shopping last week, and - along with all the other food - brought home a single pear. This same pear is still uneaten, though it is well-traveled. It has gone to and from work with him twice, and it’s in a different room each time I come home. It’s often positioned near a relic of productivity: his laptop, his book, his taxes. I can see the effort, but it’s only a matter of days now until it rots.

Sushi Thoughts, Wasabi Dreams

Susanna Vagt delivers a word-and-text sermon on the mystical charm of segmented rolls filled with things. Love!

Reader Submission: Cindy’s Freezer

At first, we thought Cindy was yanking our chain. Seven cartons of Cherry Garcia?! We suspected a deli-shot. But no! Upon further inspection, this was clearly a domestic freezer packed right.

“What’s up, Alice?”

“Oh hey Molly. Whatcha up to on this Saturday night?”

“Oh, just making instant pudding in a Pyrex because I’m too lazy to wash a bowl.”

“Cool. What’s all that crap on top?”

“Walnut shards that I tried to arrange in a peace sign.”

“Cool! So, I guess you’re busy tonight?”

“You could say that.”

“Awesome. Call me tomorrow and give me a *full report*!”

“Such a sad case with his little wrap and a few gherkins in a ketchup cup. I know. Cornichons. I was going to say cornichons but I bailed. I got nervous.”

He wanted to break into television. He watched a lot of reality shows, he informed me, especially the ones about breaking into television. He believed he had a handle on the business, the lingo. All he needed was leg up. He already had the idea: his extravaganza would revolve around the last meals of condemned prisoners. - Sam Lipsyte, The Ask

Buy and read this book when it comes out on March 2nd. If you can’t wait four days, allow us to direct you towards our new favorite Wikipedia page, as recommended by reader Gabby.

Appetite For Deconstruction

What should literary critics eat? It is an important question. Please refer to this comprehensive guide, and dine according to your loyalties.

•American pragmatism: Burgers, medium-rare

•Cultural studies: Eat whatever you want, but think about it a lot

•Deconstruction: Fusion cuisine

•Gender studies: Sausage and a smoothie

•Marxism: Boiled cabbage

•New Criticism: Don’t think, just eat

•New Historicism: Quinoa hardtack with pork belly gravy

•Post-colonialism: McDonald’s

•Psychoanalysis: Oysters, raw

•Phenomenology and Hermeneutics: Several cigarettes and one áperitif

•Queer Theory: Vegan muffin

•Reader Response: Shabu-shabu

•Semiotics: Elaborate salad of many constituent vegetables

•Russian Formalism: Slice of black bread with the crusts cut off

•Postmodernism: Dippin’ Dots

•Eco-criticism: WHO CARES!

Peli:

“I haven’t had a fruit in, what, 2 years probably. I have a fridge full of carrots and whenever I feel unhealthy I eat a carrot.”