what is rent free?
a space where i- culture fiend and occasional internet main character- write about the films, books, shows and conversations that have embedded themselves into my mind, rent free. from long read features on the death of art criticism (thank you swifties) to random musings on the what the spotify wrapped of fictional characters like louis du pointe du lac would be, this is the place to come to get your culture fix.
if you have a letterboxd account and think media literacy is hot, then this newsletter is for you. it’s the opposite of touching grass. i will feed your culture addiction with spot on recommendations and encourage watchalongs but in a chic, critically engaged way that means you’ll hopefully gain brain cells instead of losing them.
who am i?
i’m a culture writer (and now fashion editor at labaatan magazine) who has penned pieces for the likes of teen vogue, vox, black ballad, the metro, off-chance, digital spy, the floor magazine, refinery 29 and more.
some of you may know me as the pen behind some of the most viral features of the year like this piece on why tashi duncan is actually not a villian in challengers or this one on the creative hypocrisy (and orientalism) present in the dune universe. others may know me for being a chronic yapper on twitter, in which case: hello and i’m so sorry for what you’ve had to put up with.
when i’m not using my expensive journalism degree to write about why daniel kaluuya being a villian is hot, i’m finishing up a masters, editing my debut novel and writing scripts. and yes, i am as allergic to rest as i sound.
what to expect.
a newsletter every week. recurring series include:
‘the long read’: consider this the new home for all of my (many) dissenting opinions. a weekly essay diving into the discourse around a popular release or pop culture moment and what it says about our cultural climate. some weeks this might evolve into an in defence of column where i get to tell you why i alone understand a ‘thing’ more than anyone else. sometimes, y’all are just being haters and sometimes, i’m going to call you out on it (with love, obvs)
rf’s monthly round-up: a detailed, slightly bossy recommendations list telling you what i’ve read/watched/listened to that i think you’ll also love (and you will listen to these recommendations because you know i have great taste x)- the last saturday of the month.
‘what’s in my bag/what’s on my bookshelf - character edition’: does exactly what is says on the tin. what handbag (and it WOULD be a handbag) would lestat de lioncourt be papped carrying about and what would be in it? what do we think carmy’s kindle purchase history looks like? a monthly feature that’s all about wondering what the cultural diet of our favorite characters could be.
‘the catch-up’: my raw, unedited reaction to a show, film or book i really should have already seen or read. think of this as me catching up on essential bits of culture on my own time but accompanied with all of my (probably) unhinged notesapp commentary. so everyone telling me to watch SATC on twitter? watch this space and if you are a paying member, we can argue in the rent free chat and you can call me dumb.
‘late night writes’: home to my personal essays on being in my early twenties and tying to create in a world on fire (but that could also be about a cute boy because i contain multitudes) that i will absolutely cringe at and regret sharing in a decade’s time.
‘in the drafts with:’- a monthly interview with some of the Black and brown creatives we should all be paying attention. All about the actual process of making art; how do they outline their books, or decide on the fabric they used to make that one dress that’s going viral? who is on their mood boards? a space where i get to nerd out with the people whose work means something to me.
why should you support rent free?
this newsletter will let me write the pieces no publication is willing to take without being restricted by a twitter word count. entertainment journalism is crumbling and i’m not willing to wait around for it to get better. consider this me building my own table where we can all congregate and nerd out.
money is tight right now for everyone so if you can’t afford the paid membership then i’d still love to have you as a free subscriber. i’m excited to build this with you all and so until next time loves, stay cultured x
-aa
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