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February 21, 2024: The Utopian Simulation of Summer Camp

This week on The Deep Dive: I just learned what Frutiger Metro is and apparently itā€™s already making a comeback, the many contradictions of American summer camp culture, ChloĆ« Sevigny has been cool for as long as Iā€™ve been alive, American Idol may be the reason we text so much today, and family channels are bad, but you already knew that.

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(If the YouTube playlist is still cutting it for you ā€“ donā€™t worry, weā€™ll continue to update it every week!)

DESIGN

A Forgotten Aesthetic: Frutiger Metro (ft. ShaiiValley) by Jaden Salads (15:30)

If Frutiger Aero was a promise of the idealistic world tech would bring, Frutiger Metro gave up on that dream and presented the so-called future as it was. In this video, Jaden Salads defines the aesthetic that dominated the mid-2000s to early 2010s ā€“ a design style that you may have forgotten ever existed but is making a comeback thanks to current up-and-coming artists and TikTok edits. More evidence that the 20-year trend cycle truly never fails us, even when we sincerely hope it will. What do the fall of skeuomorphism, the iPod silhouette ads, Zoey 101, Just Dance, and countless music videos, MySpace profiles, and high school yearbooks from the time have in common? Frutiger Metro. And even if you donā€™t know what that means, Iā€™m willing to bet you'll know it when you see it.

CULTURE

The Consequences of Utopian Summer Camp by SKIMBS (28:15)

Summer camp in the wilderness has been a key part of American life for generations. It fosters the growth, socialization, and development of children. Itā€™s also likely to be pushing some ideology in many cases (especially if it's affordable). But most importantly, itā€™s fun ā€“ like, really, really fun. In this video, SKIMBS examines the temporary dreamy utopias created by summer camp, along with its genuine benefits as well as its long history of reinforcing systems of white supremacy, patriarchy, and gender roles. If you grew up going to summer camp in any capacity, you know how unbreakable those bonds of friendship can be. But like anything, they come at a cost. So, how can we make summer camp better for children of the future?

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