007 - All blank and no blank makes blank, a blank blank.
We are what we surround ourselves with. In that vein, currently, I am Malaysian food, good friends and satisfyingly humid. I talk about how spaces and learning, Booktok, Blank street and more.
Mood this week:
The more you know: Malaysia-Singapore Border Culture
for those who don’t know, ‘home’ is between Singapore and Malaysia.
In the run up to Christmas, people were stuck in the border crossing between Malaysia and Singapore for 7 hours. The distance is only 29 km. Singaporeans came and cleared painkillers off shelves of most of the pharmacies in Johor. Singapore’s increasing inflation, will lead to continued tourism to Malaysia in search of cheaper prices. Meanwhile, in order to deal with the flow of its dense population (3rd most densely populated in the world), Singapore’s urban planning includes things like vertical building, satellite towns and hollowed out buildings.
The not so wholesome subculture of Book Tok
One part of the internet that I love, not at all because I participate, but because of the seemingly wholesome nature of it, is booktok. But, even this part of the internet is not immune to drama, like the debatable fiction of Coleen Hoover, or authors who are just down right scammers. The fascinating subculture makes you feel good that reading books is well and alive, while also ‘disrupt’ the fabric of the publishing industry.
DESIGN: Sustainable spaces for sustainable learning
Watch: Glass Onion and the itch it scratches
Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery thriller? As a child, I would devour Nancy Drew books and The Hardy boys. The film version of this genre lends well in portraying basic character tropes (at least at first): The anti-feminist who lives with his mother; the care-free-racist-party girl; the excellent smart straight edge cookie; and everything in between. But, as you watch a little further, you’ll find the glass onion is a metaphor for the characters, as well as how the film itself plays out. Amongst all the easter eggs, character development, and celebrity cameos, my favourite is seeing more of Benoit Blanc silliness.
Friendship and all of its messy bits
As I’ve come back to Singapore and saw a lot of my high school friends, a lot of them friends for 14 years, I have to talk about friendship. Having dealt with a few hardships this year, I was reminded of the strength of friendships, especially female ones. But, the struggle to find good friends is real. So much so, that The Atlantic has an archive called ‘The Friendship Files’ exploring all the nuances in how we make, break and maintain friendships. As most of us have gone back home for Christmas, a reminder to text friends even if you think they won’t care. And a challenge to reflect on if your friends are real friends?
Female friendships “a site for assessing meaning of self and of reality, a site for the experience of different perspectives and viewpoints, and an opportunity for growth through interdependency.”
Blanding, Blank Street & Influencers
What is the difference between Glossier and Blank Street Coffee? Both companies have been described as tech companies and use a similar branding style featuring millennial pastel and simple fonts (also known as "blanding" - devoid of originality). Unlike Glossier though, Blank Street has focused heavily on partnerships to grow. Leveraging on this blanding, “The chain’s minimal, pastel-hued decor and influencer partnerships,” make it a perfect template for collaborations (818 Tequila & Emma Chamberlain), “recognisable for younger women who live in cities and work in office jobs,” and synonymous to a newer, hipper Starbucks. On top of all that, their coffee is priced between delis and specialty shops, which has helped drive out those specialty stores (and their personalities) from neighbourhoods. All that’s left is the literal blah space that is Blank street coffee.
REFLECTIONS:
positives of the week: I ate a lot of food, I saw a lot of family and friends, I was in the humidity and I couldn’t have enjoyed it more.