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Most recently published stories in Critique.
Celluloid Comrades
A review of: Nadège Ragaru (2023). ‘Millions for the Movies’ in Late Socialist Bulgaria: : The Political and Moral Economy of the Cinema Industry. Sociétés politiques comparées. Revue européenne d’analyse des sociétés politiques . [online] doi:https://doi.org/10.36253/spc-18718.
By Peter Ayolovabout an hour ago in Critique
The Shaped Self: Images Without History
The Shaped Self: Images Without History Peter Ayolov, Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”, 2026 Abstract E-democracy is not a technical upgrade of representative government. It is a transformation of citizenship inside a regime of visual formatting. Drawing on Žarko Paić’s analysis of video-centrism and the world-picture, this article argues that contemporary political life unfolds in an environment where images no longer reflect history but organise reality in advance. In this condition, the citizen does not merely participate; the citizen appears through an interface. Political agency becomes inseparable from visibility, recognisability, and circulation. By placing Paić in dialogue with Marcel Duchamp, Jean Baudrillard, Tom Wolfe, and Jean-Luc Nancy, the article develops the concept of the shaped self as the central figure of e-democracy: an interface-formed subject structured by edges, templates, and repeatable visual patterns that enable identification but risk reducing agency to performance. The struggle for democracy becomes a struggle over representation itself: over ownership of likeness, transparency of distribution systems, and the capacity to distinguish voice from simulation in an environment saturated with images, metrics, and deepfakes. As the concluding work of the Mirror Selves Trilogy, this article presents the book The Shapes of the Self: Identity and Recognition in Visual Space (2026) that investigates how the self emerges not as an inner essence but as a shaped and formatted presence within contemporary visual space.
By Peter Ayolovabout 2 hours ago in Critique
Why Saying Less Makes Words Feel More Valuable
There is a widely held belief that words gain value through scarcity. When someone speaks rarely, their statements are treated as weightier, more deliberate, and more worth attending to. When someone speaks often, their words are assumed to be interchangeable, disposable, or less carefully considered. This intuition is not entirely wrong, but it is frequently misapplied. Scarcity does affect perception, but perception is not the same as truth, and rarity is not the same as meaning.
By Peter Thwing - Host of the FST Podcastabout 8 hours ago in Critique
Cassie and Johnny
I’m the kind of dame you notice. I’m no femme fatale, but you can’t ignore me, at least not until I warn you about what’s coming, then everybody ignores me. Hell, they usually blame me afterwards and give Johnny all the credit for saving the day, but my Johnny couldn’t save a seat at the movies without my help. Sure, he’s brawny, but brainy? Not so much. Like that time I asked him to spot me five bucks, and he said he didn’t see it anywhere on me, and believe you me, he looked but good.
By Harper Lewisabout 12 hours ago in Critique
On The Accessibility of US Political Systems & A Crisis of Legitimacy. Content Warning. AI-Generated.
California prides itself on 'expanding the voting franchise' by delivering a ballot to each doorstep, but a single vote does not even guarantee lobby entry into a private club where the membership access and dues stay unchanged. Moreover, mail-in ballots are fake paper thin luxuries when you lack the stable home, living wage, and benefits (medical, dental, and retirement) needed for a future. While California postures as a sanctuary for voting rights under the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA), an incumbent, self reinforcing status quo undermines free and fair elections in a lot of places - which I suspect has been the case for many generations but observe it with increasing clarity. Most folks do not understand this status quo for their relative class at birth - so they vote along party lines according to what is popular which means exposed most.
By James Royerabout 15 hours ago in Critique
WELL DAMN Joe Budden Says He's Happy That J.Cole's Honda Civic Broke Down! "Tired Of The Fake Humble Gimmick"
If pride is the crown of all virtues, humility is the shabby little garbage swirling the gutters of the world. To J Cole, this bit of humble display cost him a hiccough in his roll out to his latest opus. In a nineties edition Honda Civic, he chose to go across the country and show off his modesty as a gimmick to hock his discount CDs.
By Skyler Saundersabout 20 hours ago in Critique
Bridgerton Season 4: A Predictable Turn and Diminished Intrigue
When season 3 of Bridgerton wrapped up, I genuinely thought it would be the show’s swan song. Penelope’s marriage provided a satisfying conclusion to her romantic journey, while the long-awaited reveal that she was Lady Whistledown finally brought her secret life into the open. With both of these major storylines seemingly resolved, it felt as though the series had reached a natural stopping point, leaving few significant loose ends. That’s why the announcement of a fourth season caught me off guard. Still, as someone who’s thoroughly enjoyed the previous seasons and is a fan of historical fiction, I was curious to see what direction the story would take next.
By Sarah Xenosa day ago in Critique
Completed Draft
When is a piece of writing finished? It’s a question with as many different answers as writers. For me, a work is finished when it can’t be improved anymore. Almost everything I have posted here is still in drafting (not draft; they’re posted). Even when I think a work is finished, I read it again, usually finding something I can improve or tighten.
By Harper Lewisa day ago in Critique
$5 CHICKEN EXPOSED Creepy AI Video Goes Viral Claiming To Reveal How Costco And Other Stores Keep Their Chicken At $5!
At least in some videos, you know that it is obviously AI. In this clip, a chicken explains the difference between “real” chicken and “modified” chicken. The grotesque figure with bulbous eyes, bruised skin, and decaying teeth walks down a processing plant lane to show the chickens that can be found at your neighborhood supermarket. The ones that are encased in plastic and ready to eat, this chicken claims is full of “GMOs.” Let’s stop right there; genetically modified organisms have been part of the diet for centuries starting chiefly with American Indians who used the process of altering the genes to produce more corn.
By Skyler Saunders2 days ago in Critique
WILDIN' They Were Shook: 2 Dudes Get A Gun Pulled On Them For Trying To Run Off With Jewelry During A Public Sale!
In an age where viral videos can be orchestrated, tampered with, and photo shopped, or AI somehow alters it, things can be challenging to make sure they are the real deal.
By Skyler Saunders2 days ago in Critique
