 Rojak is a colloquial Malay word for “eclectic mix,” and is the name for a Javanese dish that typically combines sliced fruit and vegetables with a spicy dressing. In this recurring Flagship feature, we highlight the best newsletter writing from and about Asia. App-lied science Chinese app Xiaohongshu was hailed earlier this year for creating a rare global bridge of genuine cross-cultural connection when American users flocked to it after the fate of TikTok in the US was briefly imperiled. But that global popularity also created a “hateful geopolitical circus,” which altered Xiaohongshu’s reputation as one of the rare female-dominated online spaces, Meghan Boilard wrote in her newsletter Off-Topic. Launched in 2013 as “Hong Kong Shopping Guide,” Xiaohongshu — which translates to RedNote or Little Red Book — has been labeled China’s answer to Instagram, though it’s more like a combination of TikTok, a travel guide, and a “crowdsourced search engine.” Because of its focus on lifestyle content, Xiaohongshu became a way for women in China “to carve out spaces free of men,” using code words to discuss topics that might otherwise be taboo, like marriage or LGBTQ issues. But its newfound popularity has allowed for the proliferation of violent and xenophobic rhetoric disguised within graphics featuring “cutesy” aesthetics designed for the lifestyle algorithm. “The line between calculated bot and nationalist-fueled lunacy has blurred, and sometimes I fear I’ll never find my way back to that place that briefly inspired optimism,” Boilard wrote. Money (quietly) talks The expression of extreme wealth in China has evolved through the 21st century from being loud and aspirational to relatable and subdued. In the 2010s, pop culture’s portrayal of wealth was “presented as pure flamboyance,” but the public still held positive perceptions of rich celebrities, according to Active Faults, a Chinese pop culture newsletter: “We watched with intrigue as they burned through their savings with increasing creativity.” Fans then became part of the equation, with a celebrity’s value becoming linked to how much their followers could be coaxed into buying a brand they represented. But sometime in the last few years, the cultural and economic tides shifted, and people grew tired of conspicuous displays of wealth. Today, mainland celebrities are “increasingly brandless and logoless,” which echoes the “quiet luxury” trend that took off in the West. They are now brand ambassadors for more down-to-earth products like herbal teas and menstrual pads. Any overt representation of glamor and luxury has to be packaged “into a nationalistic, soft power campaign.” Ali-bye-bye A letter written by an Alibaba employee who quit went viral in China and sparked a reassessment of the tech giant’s work culture. The 10,000-word “corporate autopsy,” which was first posted on Alibaba’s internal messaging board and got little attention outside of China, is a “brutal breakdown of how a great company became mediocre,” The Great Wall Street newsletter wrote. The ex-employee details Alibaba’s acquisition failures and how the firm shifted from mission-driven to money-driven, leading to a breakdown in morale. That includes the “996” work culture common at some Chinese tech companies — 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. “Creativity is driven by inner motivation, not external pressures,” the employee wrote. Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma praised the letter, and the company’s recent shareholder letter suggested they’re acting on some of the insights. “Whether they can execute before more talent walks out is the real test,” the Substack wrote. |
