Born To Lose & Born To Win
Bell Hooks, Essential Reading, Manifests, ACAB, Documentaries and More!
Morning Comrades. Here we are, well, almost but at least in regards to this years drops this is the last and I figured it is a good enough reason to go out with a bang. First up we have this collaboration with the legend himself, Yobbo De Kwal. Himself a tattoo artist from The Netherlands currently residing in Hamburg, known and renowned for his brilliant take on Old School and someone that does not usually dabble in merch. So this is special for many reasons, plenty of which are personal due to the fact that he’s also a dear friend. The designs are original pieces of flash and available on a crisp white t-shirt until Sunday.
Secondly, a new design that was inspired by a 1920s piece by Gerd Arntz who co-founded the ISOTYPE school I wrote about on Monday. I wanted to bring this design into a mid 90s skate vibe and figured, for the first time, that a heather grey shirt with this two-colour, front screen print was exactly what I wanted to wear in 95, but obviously never did, because I was poor. So now is my and your chance.
Once again, if buying t-shirts doesn’t align with your pre-holiday vibe at this point I would like to point you to the option of gifting a subscription to this newsletter as an alternative option.
FEMINISM: A BELL HOOKS SPECIAL
Sadly, one of the greatest Feminist Activists, Writers and Thinkers passed away this Wednesday and I wanted to take this opportunity to point you to a few pieces of her work. What fascinates me most about her work is the clarity of her insight and offering her brilliant analytical skills in ways that everyone understands them. The fact that she wrote in the manner of an activist and not an academic has no impact on the weight and brilliance of her work, on the contrary, in my opinion it adds to it, hugely. For what is the point of insight if it remains within the confines of the academic ivory tower.
In regards to her work, I would recommend starting with “Feminism For Everybody” and then “All About Love” and then take it from there. May we all, together, will build a world worthy of her vision and contribution.
Speaking of worthy material to be reading, click the above link! Anton Jäeger is a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Leuven in Historical Political Thought. Whilst this list isn’t about books, but rather essay and commentaries, these pieces include some of the best brains when it comes to Political Philosophy today. Get on it!
This is a brilliant manifest. I know it is hard to imagine an internet prior to social media for some people and that’s fine, for myself however, it was a wonderous, brave new world kicking off around 95, a time when you’d meet in black light internet cafe’s, dropped some e’s ( of course not ) and surfed various AOL chat rooms to chat to random strangers from all over the world! I know, I sound old, I am, but hot damn that was an exciting time, mostly because none of this was monetized. Obviously, we all know how bad this all has gotten by simply looking at our phones and our therapist bills. In any way, before I become to nostalgic, just read the above.
I know, we all scream ACAB when see cops floating around wasting tax money being racist, fascist pigs as they have always been, but if you ever feel like putting more substance into your critique of the pigs, this here thread and account is a great start to it.
Below are some wonderful youtube documentaries to take into your weekend and get sucked into even better k-holes, presented without comment, because, well, just watch them. They’re good.
I am going to leave with a few more Hot Shots that caught my attention today and that concludes the last full week of the year on here. I will return on Monday and then will leave you alone with a special email on Wednesday to log off for the rest of the year. Until then, I remain yours, without compromise,
V.