> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.protein.xyz/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # #729 | Aesthetic Stagnation, Pleasure Recession & Vulture Culture - URL: https://www.protein.xyz/729-aesthetic-stagnation-pleasure-recession-vulture-culture/ - Published: 2026-09-04T11:02:45.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-04T11:02:45.000Z - Author: Protein - Tags: Supplement Following the publication of [Ruby Justice Thelot](https://asterisques.com/?ref=protein.xyz)’s SEED, [Aesthetic Stagnation](https://www.protein.xyz/aesthetic-stagnation/), and learning he was going to be in town from New York last week, we jumped at the chance for him to lead our first in a new series of [LECTURES](https://www.protein.xyz/tag/lectures/). We were kindly hosted at [Ashley Saville](https://ashleysaville.com/?ref=protein.xyz), the eponymous gallery at 193 Fleet Street, which opened in May this year to much acclaim. You can read the write up [here](https://www.protein.xyz/why-are-there-no-new-aesthetics/). In case you missed it, our [STUPID REPORT](https://www.protein.xyz/the-stupid-report/) is now live \[INDIVIDUAL membership required\] and make sure you take our [STUPID TEST](https://stupid.protein.xyz/?ref=protein.xyz) to see what type of intelligent you are. There's also two months of SEEDS for you to catchup on and we've been digging in the archive - revisited Kyle Chayka's SEED from 2015 - which feels more relevant now than ever. Enjoy. --- [**SEEDS**](https://www.protein.xyz/tag/seeds/) [Surveillance ChicWhat happens when constant surveillance gets dressed up as a fashion flex?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-86e43db1-cf41-43a0-87d3-62ada9ca8103.png)Protein XYZAlexi Gunner![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Untitled-design-3-2c043fee-54be-4137-9703-1c8c9a688411.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/surveillance-chic/) [Hot World BummerHeat is no longer background noise – it’s shaping culture.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-11d6c899-d986-42b4-a519-7d08365c16f2.png)Protein XYZPhilip Teale![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/download-copy-2-6ab5858d-ad37-417e-9e5b-32223f61b762.gif)](https://www.protein.xyz/hot-world-bummer/) [The Sportification Of EverythingSport is evolving from personal performance into our newest social infrastructure.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-69a31a1b-6136-47a4-8647-00dc252998ec.png)Protein XYZMaaike Schutten![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/5k3ixy-1-d8e931f7-8642-4e41-957e-1d4c9bc89e8a.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/the-sportification-of-everything/) [Festival FatigueHow brands can be a vital support act, instead of trying to steal the show.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-432a7943-931a-40d8-939d-b5ae82a632ec.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Google-Search-Image-1-2604ff5c-6f0e-40ee-be94-5b420c2e0c53.webp)](https://www.protein.xyz/festival-fatigue/) [Neo-Neo-OralityAn extract from our Stupid REPORT on the importance of wonder, uncertainty and the revival of the oral tradition in the AI age.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-66a69011-2828-4cd8-943b-0bacebec93c2.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Untitled-Design-1707x1387-2c7fe410-f2d2-4ccf-a68a-8751e271724b.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/neo-neo-orality/) [Age DefyingWhy growing old is a luxury.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-322f6813-d7a1-406e-bab8-2b8862de7909.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-07-28-at-09.37.20-b90890d2-2a56-4dae-aff4-c4bec33c66ee.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/age-defying/) [Stupidly Successful BrandsBest-in-class examples of brands embracing the strange, sensory, and of course, stupid.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-38ef61ae-5e61-47cd-8984-0ead79e40668.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/---Instinct-into-motion.-Human-intention.-Animal-instinct.-Graspifer-and-the-Horse-entwined-in-energy-and-strength.-In-celebration-of-the-Chinese-New-Year.--------@vibramfivefingers-5fbb51fa-5901-4587-af53-8bd31839f1f6.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/successfully-stupid-brands/) [The Pleasure RecessionMore Vice, More Life.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-be20533a-5065-43ee-bc89-5d5ada1d1637.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/4f4e5e68-d232-11ea-88dd-6bec610be4a6_image_hires_122153-1-43b6ebe6-da24-48dc-8167-dd277d26887e.jpg)](https://www.protein.xyz/the-pleasure-recession/) [Windows Of The MindWhy are writers publishing their conversations with AI chatbots?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-363d4aae-fe68-4971-bd92-30008d7f512b.png)Protein XYZSophia Epstein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/35cadf05aac4544161d78e6c72ead8f9-52c6f2d8-0f3a-4ec0-a535-4ebfd816f74d.jpg)](https://www.protein.xyz/windows-of-the-mind/) [Grey AreaA conversation with Al Hassan Elwan and Ruba Al-Sweel of POSTPOSTPOST on the publication of their second printed volume.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-736bda7e-bda5-4553-a708-eedc49f933b0.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/download-1-227ef0bc-7f28-4a73-b893-0f0f9a72096d.gif)](https://www.protein.xyz/grey-area/) [Vulture CultureEveryone wants to be culturally relevant, but what even is culture anyway?![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-1eb65883-f947-4b73-80dd-f6f4b0471836.png)Protein XYZClive Martin![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/screenshot_2025-05-22_at_16.11.51-1-1-c5243cb5-80db-4e09-a16a-483101758401.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/vulture-culture/) [Aesthetic StagnationThe economics of aesthetics, cultural debris, and how to visualise the future without just regurgitating the past.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-1da8c2ee-9415-4924-8a4e-183998e78537.png)Protein XYZRuby Justice Thelot![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Screenshot-2026-08-17-at-16.08.34-ac11795d-577f-4483-ae39-adbe74244bb8.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/aesthetic-stagnation/) [Sounds Of The SeasonThe songs and sentiments of SEED CLUB’S summer.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-dc74a20f-a463-4d52-b120-09503a0c4533.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Sounds-of-the-Season-GIF-A4-Landscape-1-69171b0e-b827-42c2-b162-a1bc58d4f22b.gif)](https://www.protein.xyz/sounds-of-the-season/) [Re: Fwd ThinkingEmail began as async correspondence, had a stint as a status symbol, gave way to instant messaging and birthed the newsletter boom. Now we’re circling back to mail worth waiting for.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-1c7729a5-2721-4d19-b305-c8870b930f06.png)Protein XYZJulián Medrano Hoyos![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/Sounds-of-the-Season-GIF--1--1-b96fa695-f463-4554-bff4-ddfc4adf265f.gif)](https://www.protein.xyz/re-fwd-thinking/) [Linguistic Homogenisation ≠ Kinda ChicWhy vocabulary is becoming dominated by labels rather than descriptors.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-c123837f-4a65-427f-b606-1b718a7b0ede.png)Protein XYZProtein![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/KINDA-CHIC-TO-STFU-copy-1-521ab845-1ea4-4cca-aef6-1d263fb0b725.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/linguistic-homogenisation-kinda-chic/) --- **ARCHIVE** First published in [Protein JOURNAL #14](https://www.protein.xyz/r/df5ab482?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6) in Feburary 2015, this piece examines the burgeoning fusion of the virtual and physical world. [Kyle Chayka](https://www.protein.xyz/r/d2782223?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6) explores the apps [Recho](https://www.protein.xyz/r/7ae8109a?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6), which enables someone to leave a sound in a specific location for another to find later; [Slight](https://www.protein.xyz/r/749bee7b?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6), which allows users to write a digital message and pin it to a physical spot; and [Hi](https://www.protein.xyz/r/eb486fcf?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6), where people can “create textual portraits of the places around them”. As a result, he predicts a future where physical experiences are intensified by virtual ones, with this emerging technology creating a more physical internet. As Alexi Gunner’s [Surveillance Chic](https://www.protein.xyz/r/593d7bac?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6), Mariella Agapiou’s [Fourth Spaces](https://www.protein.xyz/r/119d65ea?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6) and Tyla Jurgen's [Rewilding The Internet](https://www.protein.xyz/r/ccefe271?m=35917f52-a0be-4f65-b762-ac75e171d8c6) demonstrates, 12 years on, Chayka’s prediction has become entrenched in reality. [The Internet of PlacesA new wave of apps are bringing digital interaction into the real world. Rather than looking at your computer to see the next stage in the evolution of the internet, you should be looking out of the window.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/icon/protein-logo-alpha-3-bfce1a55-4eb5-42a9-8c8a-b305946979c3.png)Protein XYZKyle Chayka![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/thumbnail/unnamed--6--fb4f8793-9f4a-4f7b-8a0c-32fe502ce6cc.png)](https://www.protein.xyz/the-internet-of-places/) --- --- [**CONTRIBUTE**](https://www.protein.xyz/contribute/) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/fc/71/fc716215-5729-441a-bd07-e2b50bc413b1/content/images/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-03-at-14.39.49.png) [SEED CLUB](https://www.protein.xyz/contribute/) is our decentralised research community where 450+ handpicked strategists, journalists, and cultural curators sow and grow all the [SEEDS](https://www.protein.xyz/tag/seeds/) every day - identifying, analysing and explaining signals in culture. As a contributor you also have the opportunity to collaborate with [Protein AGENCY](https://www.proteinagency.com/about?ref=protein.xyz) on client projects as well as connect and learn from an incredibly diverse, smart and entertaining group of humans. [Apply to join here.](https://www.protein.xyz/contribute/)