Cultural commentary
that gives precedence to aesthetics and ontology over ethics and politics.
Start with the Manifestoi The agenda
“Too much of public discourse today is centered on politics and moralistic ethics.”
- i
Aesthetics
“We cannot come to moral or political conclusions without first considering matters of metaphysics/ontology and aesthetics/culture.”
- ii
Ontology
“We focus on ‘metadiscursive’ matters—religion/philosophy and culture—and only touch on moral/political issues in as much as they intersect with spiritual/cultural ones.”
- iii
Culture
“We are determined to risk seeking the shards of truth cracking through postmodernism.”
Each pillar is quoted directly from the Manifesto 2.0.
ii Read
Latest from the Substack.
In Defense of the Culture War
what Shadi Hamid & Matthew Kaemingk get right about religion—and wrong about American polarization
I’m not white, I’m Italian
how the Columbus Day wars erased Italian identity
pomo update 29.0
Oct. 7, Jason Arday, & Doomer Optimism
I don’t trust incel priests
the priesthood is not an escape from inceldom
We Still Need God in Every Moment of Our Lives
the deactivation & rebirth of @ineedgodineverymomentofmylife
welcome to no pomo 2.0
some house keeping...
iii Start here
The syllabus.
The foundational texts, laid out like spines on a shelf. Read these first, in any order, then argue.
- The Manifesto 2.02025 updateOur agenda, our mission, and why the interesting people are usually wrong.
- What is Cracks in PoMo?A manifesto · 2021The original explanatory note, written for the podcast.
- The Syllabus 2.02026 updateWhat to read in order to understand Cracks in PoMo.
- The Reading ListA syllabus for cracking postmodernity · 2021The first reading list.
- The EssentialsArticles & episodes · 2023Stephen’s own selection of the pieces to start with.
- no pomo 2.02026Where the curator posts his “unpolished, unhinged hot takes,” now a section of the main page.
iv Listen
The podcast.
Long conversations with writers, scholars and the occasional Jesuit. On Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
v The Zine
Printed. Stapled. Mailed.
An actual paper zine, launched at actual parties, with pieces by a menagerie of contributors. Two volumes so far on the shelf, and more on the way.
How to get one
Copies are ordered by email: write with the subject line “ZINE ORDER”, your name, how many copies, and your mailing address. Annual and founding subscribers get a discount, per the Substack.
Prices and current availability: [confirm]. Volume i is also readable as a PDF.
- The intro to vol. i · 2023
- Vol. ii announcement · 2024
- Intro from vol. iii · 2025 [confirm]
- “NYC is a deeply religious city” · 2026 zine launch at KGB [confirm]
vi The curator
Stephen G. Adubato.
Host of Cracks in Postmodernity and a philosophy professor, writing from New Jersey and New York. His forthcoming book, Power Without a Face, is coming from Image / Penguin Random House.
Bio drawn from Stephen’s own public profile. University affiliation and an approved bio: [confirm].
Writing in
- The New York Times
- The Wall Street Journal
- Newsweek
- America
- First Things
Set in type until logo use is confirmed [confirm logo use].
Forthcoming book
Power Without a Face
Image / Penguin Random House. Release date, cover and pre-order link: [confirm].
vii Readers say
What readers say
“Always original, always insightful. Worth a read and worth putting your money up for it, too.”
“A unique zine in which somehow the Catholic Worker vibe intersects with a wonderful menagerie of brilliant sketchiness, impossible to describe.”
“Stephen has the po-mo vibes and conundrums (conundra?) down pat… I read it, and I buy every zine.”
Published on the Substack homepage. [confirm permission before launch]
viii Subscribe
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- Essays in your inbox
- The “pomo update” roundups
- Podcast episodes and event news
Paid
Everything, plus the zine
- Every post, including subscriber-only essays
- A discount on the print zine
- Founding members: a free zine, the group chat and in-person meetups
Perks as described on the Substack. Pricing and current tiers: [confirm].
See paid options