Pia’s Reviews > Strange Intimacy: Essays on Dressing Up and Consumption > Status Update

lonely is the room. Writing about exhibits is interesting… but in general I’m just not on board with total-gushing-over type of reviews when it cant justify why in the text? Or maybe its not justifiable to me because “women’s desire” is low priority in the hierarchies of pressing cultural issues? Maybe

Close to Shore: After my Mother’s Paksiw. The essays where Asis talks about her mom are the best ones

Things That Grow. Beautiful essay. Asis’ tendencies to subtly dramatize are better served by writing within definite confines, and in talking about another person

Notes on Space. Meanders aimlessly, uses high-faluting language to justify the fact na after college she’d rather move back with family than learn housework. Clumsily concludes by comforting herself that her sister is fine with her lifestyle, even though said words are from a postcard during college and not in the present. The lack of self awareness is miserable

Why is the titular essay the ones that says “The clothing stores are data-farming my interaction with the UI, and making an version of me in thats flattened me to my consumption habits…and I’m OK with it bc its the one certain thing I have in this world”?!?!?!?!?! Are we this amenable to hedonistic liberalism? My god