EP 460: In Defense of Gimmicks

The proliferation of derivative nonsense on various social media platforms begs the question: Is it possible to make a TikTok video, Instagram post, or LinkedIn update that's remarkable? Is it possible for repetition to be an asset? For repetition to even be remarkable?

In this episode, I take a deep dive into gimmicks—the formulaic and repetitive media that can help us think in new ways. Specifically, I'm looking at Frankie's Cultural Observations. If you don't know the series, I'm delighted to share it with you today!

This is the 3rd in my series, What Makes This Remarkable, where I break down remarkable content I come across to give you new perspectives on your own work (creative or otherwise). Premium subscribers also get "Remarkable Homework"—prompts for thinking differently about your projects—and the chance to ask questions or discuss that week's lessons. Upgrade your subscription to join in!

Footnotes:

• What Makes This Remarkable (60 Songs That Explain the '90s, Savior Complex)
• Frankie's Cultural Observations on YouTube
• "Observing Frankie McNamara's Observations" by Brandon Tauczik in Paper Magazine
• Sandwiches of History on YouTube
• Girl with the Dogs on YouTube
• Working definition for the gimmick as a medium: A gimmick is a nonsequential series of works that utilize a novel scheme, angle, or device to explore a network of ideas.
• "Why Write In Form?" by Rebecca Hazelton via The Poetry Foundation
• Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman
• Hyperculture by Byung-Chul Han
• Ted Nelson & "intertwingularity"
• The Cluetrain Manifesto

All new episodes are available in written essay form at whatworks.fyi

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If you’re questioning your relationship to work but finding it difficult to make lasting changes, I’d love to help.

I’m committed to helping you confront and deconstruct big assumptions that compete with your good intentions. And that’s exactly what we’re doing in my new 8-week cohort-based course, Rethink Work.

We’ll examine the beliefs, stories, and systems that keep us hustling—even when it hurts—so you can make changes that last and create a more sustainable approach to work.

• (00:00) - Gimmicks
• (00:08) - Introduction
• (02:20) - What Makes This Remarkable: Gimmicks
• (03:52) - Frankie's Cultural Observations
• (08:37) - The Gimmick as a Medium
• (14:23) - Gimmicks are like Poetry
• (17:24) - Citing Theorists to Think About TikTok
• (21:33) - Intertwingularity and Hyper-rationality
• (24:33) - New Media Influence How We Think
• (26:08) - Conclusion
• (27:32) - You're invited to Rethink Work

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What is What Works?

Work is central to the human experience. It helps us shape our identities, care for those we love, and contribute to our communities. Work can be a source of power and a catalyst for change. Unfortunately, that's not how most of us experience work—even those who work for themselves. Our labor and creative spirit are used to enrich others and maintain the status quo. It's time for an intervention. What Works is a show about rethinking work, business, and leadership for the 21st-century economy. Host Tara McMullin covers money, management, culture, media, philosophy, and more to figure out what's working (and what's not) today. Tara offers a distinctly interdisciplinary approach to deep-dive analysis of how we work and how work shapes us.