Existentialism, 101

Existentialism is a philosophy, in part inspired by the 19th-century texts of Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, that suggests life has no predetermined purpose and that individuals should strive to create their own meaning. The philosophy’s ideas, along with a loosely affiliated literary movement inspired by them, gained popularity in the mid-20th century, with many scholars citing it as a response to the horrors of World War II. (See a recommended reading list.)
 

Some of the most influential existentialist thinkers were Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus, and Martin Heidegger, though only Sartre and de Beauvoir openly identified with the term. The ideas resonated beyond philosophy, with novelists, playwrights, psychologists, and others creating work inspired by existentialist concepts.
 

Today, existentialist texts remain widely read, particularly in universities, where works like Camus’ “The Stranger” and de Beauvoir’s “The Second Sex” are considered integral keys to understanding the 20th century and beyond.

Also, check out ... 

> A visual guide to Kierkegaard's many pseudonyms. (View)

> The Vatican said de Beauvoir's books contained a "hidden poison." (Read)

> The existential dread of Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" resonated with prisoners at San Quentin. (Read)

> A high school teacher asked students to apply existentialist ideas to social media. (Read)

Explore everything else we've found on existentialism. 

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An introduction to quiz shows

Quiz shows are broadcast competitions based on trivia. They often feature a host who poses questions to contestants, who compete against one another for the grand prize.
 

American quiz shows debuted on the radio in the 1920s and eventually transitioned to television. They grew especially popular in the 1940s for featuring contestants seemingly plucked from obscurity and afforded the opportunity to win large sums of money. That perception changed after several popular shows were revealed to be fraudulent, leading to condemnation from President Eisenhower and a legal amendment that explicitly outlawed the fixing of quiz shows.
 

“Jeopardy!” debuted in 1964, leading to a resurgence of the genre that continued through “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which became a widespread phenomenon. While the quiz show remains popular, modern game shows have largely veered toward a different model, pioneered in the 1960s, that focuses on celebrity and romance.

Also, check out ... 

> "Twenty-One" leaned into a fabricated narrative to attract viewers. (Watch)

> Following the '50s quiz show scandals, CBS briefly banned canned laughter. (Read)

> A collection of the best incorrect "Jeopardy!" responses. (Watch)

> The "Jeopardy!" theme was originally written as a lullaby. (Listen)

Explore everything else we've found on quiz shows. 

A beginner's guide to Alfred Hitchcock

Often referred to as the “Master of Suspense,” Alfred Hitchcock is one of the most influential movie directors of all time. He directed more than 50 films and was also the host and producer of the American television anthology series "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Throughout his six-decade directing career, he produced many films that are now considered classics and helped legitimize the thriller genre.
 

Hitchcock made his directorial debut in 1925 with “The Pleasure Garden." Signature Hitchcock archetypes include an ordinary man thrust into an extraordinary situation he doesn’t understand, and icy, yet beautiful, blonde leading ladies headlining his films.
 

"Rebecca” was the first and only Hitchcock film to win the Academy Award for best picture. Hitchcock received five Academy Award nominations for best director, though he never won the award. In all, his films received 46 Academy Award nominations and earned six wins.

Also, check out ... 

> Alma Reville was Hitchcock's wife—and his secret weapon. (Read)

> The director regularly made cameos in his own films. (Read)

> With "Psycho," Hitchcock defied Hollywood's Production Code. (Read)

> A music professor breaks down the music theory behind "Psycho." (Watch)

Explore everything else we've found on Alfred Hitchcock. 

Cultural Context

Beyond our weekly deep dives, we love finding great takes on the culture currently shaping our lives. Here are some of the best reactions, profiles, and think pieces we encountered this week.

> How the New Yorker Lost Its Soul

Persuasion | Sam Kahn. The New Yorker is still widely read in its hundredth year, but Kahn argues it has lost the thing that made it so important in the first place: an inspired focus on everyday people. Now, he writes, it's "a gilded gargoyle on the cathedral of polite thinking." It's both a criticism and a call to action. (Read)

> The Stoic Marathoner

Marathon Guide | Matt Fitzgerald. There's plenty of time for thinking while training for a marathon, and Fitzgerald suggests it'd be wise to use it to reflect on the Stoic philosophers. Fitzgerald may be talking about running, but his advice can apply to any seemingly impossible goal. (Read)

> Are We Falling Out of Love With Nonfiction?

The Guardian | Emma Loffhagen. After a boom period in the late 2010s, nonfiction book sales have now declined. Loffhagen talks with writers and industry insiders to figure out why. One of the main culprits seems to be the rise of the podcast, which can offer similar depth—often for free. (Read)

> Throwing Bricks

Victory Journal | Shane Lyons. Self-described Lego nerd Shane Lyons walks readers through the sports-inspired pieces of his collection, offering a window into an obsessive hobby and the personal memories that live alongside it. (Read)

> Death of the MTV Generation

Chronicle | Noel Yaxley. MTV shuttered its remaining music channels Dec. 31, concluding a 44-year run. Yaxley memorializes the channel's impact on popular culture, noting that it was both initially groundbreaking and, ultimately, a symptom of cultural rot. (Read)

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Best of the Week

We curate hundreds of resources into 1440 Topics each week. Here are some of our favorites from the world of society and culture.

> Bob Dylan said Willie Nelson is "like the invisible air."

> The "Wicked" movies turned an already successful Broadway show into a behemoth.

> Disney was saved by "Cinderella," which brought the company out of debt.

> Although not known for horror, a young Tennessee Williams wrote a gothic radio play.

> Hockey romance novels have become an unexpected sensation.

> At the height of his fame, Salvador Dalí partnered with Hallmark to design surreal Christmas cards.

> In 1957, a vice president at JPMorgan became an outspoken evangelist for psychedelic mushrooms.

> Atari buried hundreds of thousands of video games in the New Mexico desert.

> The "Mission: Impossible" theme song's opening notes were inspired by Morse code.

> Jean-Michel Basquiat attended City-As-School, a New York alternative public school, before dropping out.

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