We’re moving to a new live time-slot, Tuesdays from 11PM-12:30AM EST in hopes that more of you can tune in. Go to www.brainrotradio.com to stay up to date on scheduling.
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This week on LONGPLAY, we bring you ‘Aisthētikós, Or Why They Tore Down Tilted Arc’. Aisthētikós: from the Greek for aesthetics, denoting that which pertains to sensation, perception, or, in this case, the irreconcilable chasm between artistic intention and bureaucratic impatience.
This is the story of Tilted Arc,an imposing, rust-colored monolith of COR-TEN steel, 120 feet in length and 12 feet in height, a testament to permanence in a world that abhors inconvenience. Positioned with surgical precision in the heart of Foley Federal Plaza in Manhattan, it was heralded by some as an exemplar of site-specific genius. An artwork inseparable from its environment, an intervention in the rhythms of public space. To others, it was an unsanctioned eyesore, a malignant barricade bisecting their hallowed lunchtime perambulations.
It was an artwork intended to last forever. It did not. Instead, it became a cautionary tale. A monument to the fragile tolerance of institutional patience, to the democracy of complaint, and to the curious human impulse to annihilate that which does not immediately gratify.
This is the story of Tilted Arc told through documentary clips and curated songs. This is a journey of discovery of why it was built, how it was maligned, and how, in an act of supreme administrative efficiency, it was unceremoniously eradicated.
Welcome to LONGPLAY.
About varied/mix & Brainrot Radio Partnership
We’ve partnered with Brainrot Radio, a non-profit independent internet station broadcasting coast to coast, to bring our playlists to life on air.
Tune in live at brainrotradio.com every other Tuesday from 12:30–2 AM for the show, where we curate playlists that reflect the moods and energies of the midnight hours (though they’re great at any time).
The next day, catch our writing and the full playlist right here on Substack.
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Listen along as you read.
Listen to the recording of the live show above while you read and find the playlist on Spotify below.
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LONGPLAY
Tune in live every other Tuesday from 11PM–12:30 AM (EST) at brainrotradio.com for themed midnight sets. Missed it? Catch the full playlist, writing, and podcast the next day on Substack and your favorite listening platforms.
Tune in live every other Tuesday from 11PM–12:30 AM (EST) at brainrotradio.com for themed midnight sets. Missed it? Catch the full playlist, writing, and podcast the next day on Substack and your favorite listening platforms.
Share this post