I delay actual reviews for another week to give further thoughts on the corruption of hotel, restaurant and travel systems… and the new mass-luxury economy that is its own type of sheep-shearing.Bronze Age Pervert Magenta Notebooks is a reader-supported publication.
In my view a paragon of this systemic rot is found in the "luxury" tea house phenomenon, specifically Singapore’s TWG (founded by a Morrocan). It is the perfect, distilled microcosm of a fake economy engineered entirely for a fake person.
Consider the sheer cynicism of the brand: it shamelessly plasters "est. 1837" on its logo to ape the gravitas of a centuries old Parisian institution, yet it is a private equity creation from 2008 selling overpriced, crusty bland leaves. It exists almost exclusively in airport duty free zones, thriving on travelers from emerging markets who buy it because of garish gold decoration and supposed gilded status. It is a literal luxury skin suit.
But this fake economy cannot exist in a vacuum; it requires a matching fake consumer I.e. the influencer.
Rather than, as is the lazy conservative tradition, putting this all down to a failure of free markets we can look at it as, in part, a phenomenon of techno spiritual degeneration. The moment a person decides to become an influencer, they cease to be a human being with genuine interiority. They transform into a literal slave to a cyber Borg. That is to say, a cybernetic node whose opinions, tastes, and beliefs are entirely formulated by an algorithmic engagement feedback loop.
Influencers don't really like the crusty airport tea, in the same way that TWG's founder Taha Bouqdib is not an authentic Parisian tea connosieur. These people, if they can even be called that, have no real ideas or beliefs left to like it with. They simply react to the metric spike that the shiny gold tin provides on a screen. They have completely surrendered their agency to whatever the internet dictates. Authentic, contiguous beliefs have largely disappeared from any form of public taste making.
The downstream effect is that the public is then house-trained by these hollowed out nonpeople. It is a closed loop system of pure simulation: a fake corporate entity selling a fake product to a fake cybernetic person, who then shills it to a mass of people who have no idea what an authentic and traditional luxury even looks like.
If the blind lead the blind via a TikTok reel, you get a world where ordering a standard, unpretentious box of Twinings becomes a revolutionary act of aristocratic discernment.
The history of this company is as you say, but a lot of recent Asian luxury has similar history; I don't care for their pretenses or aesthetics, but I think a few of their bagged tea are quite good and not Twinnings, I think that's unfair. It's comparable in quality to Damann on some flavored teas and their tea bags are made of cotton to feel nice, etc.; in fact their "1837" flavored tea isn't bad iced with milk.
It’s one great example of social media perverting aesthetic. I’ve taken to calling these sorts influencers “Grey Goosers” (anyway, Russian Standard is a superior distil, Dan Akroyd’s stuff even more so but the tacky bottle doesn’t meet the “it factor” of these people).
I suppose it’s part of the fun, the hunt for the true local luxuries and elite treasures, when in other places. There’s a special triumphant glee when one ascends the algorithms, the pay-to-play reviews and language to sit down and enjoy the Diamond Delight that you fought through the digital smog to discover.
Temu slogan "Shop like a billionaire" (SLOP like a billionaire) works to instill that wealth and luxury just means buying MORE products rather than buying few quality made things. The 'foule' accepts this and when they make money they want to spend it on MORE rather than on better.
As a regular traveler, this completely matches my experiences, though I've never stayed at an upscale American hotel so I can't speak to that part; however I have little doubt it's as you write, given the ridiculous absence of standards - coupled with race and gender neurosis - now present in American society across the board.
A question: have you ever read any of the Monocle travel guides? They market themselves as being for the rich, but I see no reason why that market has the need of such a guide in the first place, so I assume it's either catering to nouveau riche posturing or UMC homosexuals.
As regards your suggestion for a new magazine, I agree wholeheartedly: I wish I had the capital and connections to get it off the ground. I've wanted such a resource myself for many years.
You also nail the saddest thing about travel: when one frequently moves around the globe they can see the global trends first-hand, and they are overwhelmingly horrible. It's exactly as you describe: it's the transformation of all of mankind's greatest achievements into a single smeared-out shit stain gawked at uncomprehendingly by a horde of arbitrary biomass.
I think people assume the ultra-rich have perfect information and long-standing rumor networks but they don't always. There are "secret food" lists aside from the main known review sites (both I think currently converge on Basque Country as best place for restaurants), but being friends with a few ultra-rich, they often don't have this knowledge, ask each other, sometimes ask me. It's also how people assume "art circle" people in NYC or Paris would know the current-best party spots in the world and they don't. This latter shifts much faster, but it's the same idea...there's so much info and it's very hard to sift through and there's no substitute for someone whose taste you agree with to vouch for it.
Thank you for posting. I have been obsessed with the idea of distinguishing the substance of a thing from its status (how it's regarded), since I have long realized that I can't trust most others' sense of discernment. With regards to their powers of understanding, most everyone is some kind of tasteless striver-larper.
The obssession the poor and rich, both equally dumb, brazilian masses have for Cartuxa is risible but poisonous enough to affect all corrupt and self dealing wine awards in Portugal.
Interestingly some americans (2 or 3) have picked up on the secrets of Vasques de Carvalho, beyond the usual Caaaab or Saaaauv instincts.
Wine is either really sweet or really bitter tasting. Bad wine has a fucked up bitter taste. Old wine that is bitter and doesn’t have a fucked up taste is supposed to be “good.” I’ll never subscribe to that and I’ll enjoy sweet wine from the Central Valley of California for cheap prices until all wine snobs are gone.
Bap please try afternoon tea at Butterfly Room, Rosewood HK. You may find any Rosewood interesting. Chinese baddie soccer mom CEO. Also under radar Korean company Signiel Hotels - Seoul & Busan. Exceptional, please try.
Perhaps a simple way to combat the annoying influx of these wealthy, gauche influencer types is to provide luxury service at affordable prices. It takes away the "status" spending that attracts these vermin.
My spouse and I could hardly relax at a luxury hotel in Hawaii's infinity pool due to all the young Chinese nouveau riche asshats knocking into us with their selfie sticks. Ugh
In my view a paragon of this systemic rot is found in the "luxury" tea house phenomenon, specifically Singapore’s TWG (founded by a Morrocan). It is the perfect, distilled microcosm of a fake economy engineered entirely for a fake person.
Consider the sheer cynicism of the brand: it shamelessly plasters "est. 1837" on its logo to ape the gravitas of a centuries old Parisian institution, yet it is a private equity creation from 2008 selling overpriced, crusty bland leaves. It exists almost exclusively in airport duty free zones, thriving on travelers from emerging markets who buy it because of garish gold decoration and supposed gilded status. It is a literal luxury skin suit.
But this fake economy cannot exist in a vacuum; it requires a matching fake consumer I.e. the influencer.
Rather than, as is the lazy conservative tradition, putting this all down to a failure of free markets we can look at it as, in part, a phenomenon of techno spiritual degeneration. The moment a person decides to become an influencer, they cease to be a human being with genuine interiority. They transform into a literal slave to a cyber Borg. That is to say, a cybernetic node whose opinions, tastes, and beliefs are entirely formulated by an algorithmic engagement feedback loop.
Influencers don't really like the crusty airport tea, in the same way that TWG's founder Taha Bouqdib is not an authentic Parisian tea connosieur. These people, if they can even be called that, have no real ideas or beliefs left to like it with. They simply react to the metric spike that the shiny gold tin provides on a screen. They have completely surrendered their agency to whatever the internet dictates. Authentic, contiguous beliefs have largely disappeared from any form of public taste making.
The downstream effect is that the public is then house-trained by these hollowed out nonpeople. It is a closed loop system of pure simulation: a fake corporate entity selling a fake product to a fake cybernetic person, who then shills it to a mass of people who have no idea what an authentic and traditional luxury even looks like.
If the blind lead the blind via a TikTok reel, you get a world where ordering a standard, unpretentious box of Twinings becomes a revolutionary act of aristocratic discernment.
The history of this company is as you say, but a lot of recent Asian luxury has similar history; I don't care for their pretenses or aesthetics, but I think a few of their bagged tea are quite good and not Twinnings, I think that's unfair. It's comparable in quality to Damann on some flavored teas and their tea bags are made of cotton to feel nice, etc.; in fact their "1837" flavored tea isn't bad iced with milk.
I will try 1837 next time… looking forward to next part in series; thx BAP !
Excellent commentary.
It’s one great example of social media perverting aesthetic. I’ve taken to calling these sorts influencers “Grey Goosers” (anyway, Russian Standard is a superior distil, Dan Akroyd’s stuff even more so but the tacky bottle doesn’t meet the “it factor” of these people).
I suppose it’s part of the fun, the hunt for the true local luxuries and elite treasures, when in other places. There’s a special triumphant glee when one ascends the algorithms, the pay-to-play reviews and language to sit down and enjoy the Diamond Delight that you fought through the digital smog to discover.
I recall in the past (maybe red scare appearance) you floated having video format reviews as well… if I’m not wrong this would be exciti pls
Temu slogan "Shop like a billionaire" (SLOP like a billionaire) works to instill that wealth and luxury just means buying MORE products rather than buying few quality made things. The 'foule' accepts this and when they make money they want to spend it on MORE rather than on better.
Very excited to read further
As a regular traveler, this completely matches my experiences, though I've never stayed at an upscale American hotel so I can't speak to that part; however I have little doubt it's as you write, given the ridiculous absence of standards - coupled with race and gender neurosis - now present in American society across the board.
A question: have you ever read any of the Monocle travel guides? They market themselves as being for the rich, but I see no reason why that market has the need of such a guide in the first place, so I assume it's either catering to nouveau riche posturing or UMC homosexuals.
As regards your suggestion for a new magazine, I agree wholeheartedly: I wish I had the capital and connections to get it off the ground. I've wanted such a resource myself for many years.
You also nail the saddest thing about travel: when one frequently moves around the globe they can see the global trends first-hand, and they are overwhelmingly horrible. It's exactly as you describe: it's the transformation of all of mankind's greatest achievements into a single smeared-out shit stain gawked at uncomprehendingly by a horde of arbitrary biomass.
I think people assume the ultra-rich have perfect information and long-standing rumor networks but they don't always. There are "secret food" lists aside from the main known review sites (both I think currently converge on Basque Country as best place for restaurants), but being friends with a few ultra-rich, they often don't have this knowledge, ask each other, sometimes ask me. It's also how people assume "art circle" people in NYC or Paris would know the current-best party spots in the world and they don't. This latter shifts much faster, but it's the same idea...there's so much info and it's very hard to sift through and there's no substitute for someone whose taste you agree with to vouch for it.
Thank you for posting. I have been obsessed with the idea of distinguishing the substance of a thing from its status (how it's regarded), since I have long realized that I can't trust most others' sense of discernment. With regards to their powers of understanding, most everyone is some kind of tasteless striver-larper.
Libtards tried to make it so I couldn’t read this. The retribution will be swift and heavy handed.
Soon will spend some leisure time in Paris. Hope to find recommendations from like-minded on neighborhoods that mebbe I try...
The obssession the poor and rich, both equally dumb, brazilian masses have for Cartuxa is risible but poisonous enough to affect all corrupt and self dealing wine awards in Portugal.
Interestingly some americans (2 or 3) have picked up on the secrets of Vasques de Carvalho, beyond the usual Caaaab or Saaaauv instincts.
Wine is either really sweet or really bitter tasting. Bad wine has a fucked up bitter taste. Old wine that is bitter and doesn’t have a fucked up taste is supposed to be “good.” I’ll never subscribe to that and I’ll enjoy sweet wine from the Central Valley of California for cheap prices until all wine snobs are gone.
yeas
Bap please try afternoon tea at Butterfly Room, Rosewood HK. You may find any Rosewood interesting. Chinese baddie soccer mom CEO. Also under radar Korean company Signiel Hotels - Seoul & Busan. Exceptional, please try.
Perhaps a simple way to combat the annoying influx of these wealthy, gauche influencer types is to provide luxury service at affordable prices. It takes away the "status" spending that attracts these vermin.
My spouse and I could hardly relax at a luxury hotel in Hawaii's infinity pool due to all the young Chinese nouveau riche asshats knocking into us with their selfie sticks. Ugh