Silent Generation

By Silent GenerationSociety & Culture Arts History

Silent Generation episodes

December 13, 2023 Ep. 5: Interwar Modernism
The interwar period is defined as being from 1918 to 1939 while the modernist period is loosely defined as being from the early 1900s to 1940s. What were architecture, design, and art like during the time period where the two overlapped? Within this week’s episode Joseph and Nathan pay particular attention to the Streamline Moderne, Bauhaus, Deutscher Werkbund, and International styles of architecture and design. Other ideas explored include the aesthetics of the future, the color chrome, Jean-Michel Frank’s interior design, the Age of Anxiety, glass blocks, antiquing, and the potential demolition of the Century & Consumers buildings.

Links:
Interwar Modernism Pinterest board
Thorne miniature rooms’ California Hallway
Gun that shoots frozen tears
The original Chicago Federal Building

Art:
Narcissa Niblack Thorne. California Hallway c.1940. The Art Institute of Chicago.
(CC0)

Recorded on 12/10/2023
1 hr 10 min
December 08, 2023 Ep. 4: Mid-2000s Prep
Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, Aeropostale, American Eagle, and Pink were dominant clothing brands during the mid-2000s. Despite their immense popularity during this time period they are scarcely referenced in alternative fashion today. In this week’s episode Joseph and Nathan suggest that said logo-centric aesthetic be labeled “logoprep.” Amidst a larger discussion about prep in the mid-2000s the boys discuss the great recession, malls, Uggs, American Apparel (again), the Netflix film White Hot, and Why I Hate Abercrombie & Fitch by Dwight A. McBride.

Links:
Logoprep Pinterest board
Isabel Clancy’s Tiktok account
American Apparel’s fingerless gloves ad
No Logo: Brands, Globalization, Resistance (Featuring Naomi Klein) - Full Movie

Recorded on 12/03/2023
1 hr 22 min
December 02, 2023 Ep. 3: Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles was a Canadian electronic music group known for their experimental sound characterized by video game sound effects and synthesizers. It was initially formed in 2006 by vocalist Alice Glass and producer Ethan Kath and lasted until it ended in controversy in 2017. Their music has become popular on Tiktok recently and has influenced a new wave of electronic producers such as Pastel Ghost, JUHVAHN, Akiaura, and Alice Gas. Joseph and Nathan discuss Crystal Castle's troubled past, present popularity, and future legacy on this week’s episode of Silent Generation.

Links:
Pinterest board with Tiktok links
Alice Glass is not afraid to punch you in the face (recent Alice Glass Interview)
Hoodie by Lady Sovereign

Recorded on 11/26/2023

All song clips used in this episode are claimed as fair use
1 hr 23 min
November 28, 2023 Ep. 2: Saudade & Nostalgia
This week the boys discuss saudade, an emotion unique to Portuguese-speaking cultures that is similar to nostalgia. In the second half of the episode they discuss notalgia-driven media in American culture. Amongst other things they discuss Nathan’s undergrad thesis, culture bound syndromes, the stories of how they got their names, Grief and a Headhunter’s Rage by Renato Resaldo, American Apparel, and Lady Bird.

Links:

Wisconsin Dells location on a map
Homesickness by Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou

Recorded on 10/29/2023

1 hr 30 min
November 24, 2023 Ep. 1: Flaneur [TEASER]
Full episode available on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SilentGeneration

Silent Generation is a Chicago based cultural analysis that covers topics in art, fashion, politics, and urbanism. In this episode Joseph and Nathan discuss the flaneur, a French literary archetype that described modern young men who wandered around Paris and observed modern life in the late 19th century. They also discuss Paris’s boulevard system, lindy walks and LindyMan, watching as entertainment, early trend forecasting, and the film In Time starring Justin Timberlake.

Links:
LindyMan’s Twitter Account
Ohio State University’s oval walkway based off of desire paths
Sunbelt sidewalks

Recorded on 10/22/2023
6 min

About Silent Generation

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Silent Generation is a Chicago-based cultural analysis podcast that surveys the cultural consequences of car-oriented development in the mid-20th century. It explores what was lost between the…