Writing that actually moves us requires precisely what AI eliminates: the messy human struggle. George Saunders calls this your "iconic space": the place from which you write stories only you could write. I ask my readers: what will you write that only you can write?
Disintermediated? Think Again. The Rise of the Digital Gatekeeper
Ever wonder why those unskippable ads on your streaming service are getting worse? Or how a market sprang up in a WWII POW camp? It all comes back to the middleman. I dive into why brokers are essential for markets to thrive, and how they've evolved from mere facilitators to powerful gatekeepers. Discover the surprising truth behind why markets need brokers, and when they become a problem you can't ignore.
Beyond Propaganda: Defending Art for Art’s Own Sake
I probe into the thin line that separates art from propaganda. Think about it: Why do some films from the past, like Salim-Javed's classics, still resonate while others, with their overt messages, fall flat? What made Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged feel like a lecture, while George Orwell's 1984 continues to expose truths across every political divide?
Book Review: LIFT OFF by Hema Hattangady
I review ‘LIFT OFF - Transforming Conzerv’ by Hema Hattangady.
Take Control of Your Information Diet
I talk about the perils of information obesity and argue for intellectual fitness.
The Art of Writing is in the Rewriting
I argue why it’s rewriting that separates good writing from generic ones. Based on my decades of writing experience, I offer a few suggestions on how to rewrite.
The Second Coming
I talk about how persistence separates the great writer from a good one. I talk about how it was a flop movie that catapulted filmmaker Ramgopal Varma to international fame.
How Social Media Changed Politics
I analyze how social media has changed politics and political campaigns. I argue that while social media has enhanced the freedom of expression, it has also created ideological echo-chambers. I borrow ideas from Jonathan Haidt, Neil Postman and Richard Hanania to build my case.
The Medium is the Metaphor
I explore why writing is fundamentally different from the video-audio format. To this end, I borrow extensively from Neil Postman’s works, particularly, “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. I argue, with examples, why the medium is the metaphor.
Why Political Discourse Seems So Stupid
I talk about why the current political discourse seems so stupid. I borrow the following concepts to make my point: - Final Vocabulary - Purva Paksha - Ideological Turing Test - Pigeonholing
Musings by Madhav 