At around four in the morning on May 1, 2017, I was sent a magic cat. It did not fly through my half-open window, but appeared on my phone screen as ASCII text art: “Send this to 10 friends and you will ace your finals” read the words below its wand, conjuring clouds of asterisks, cedillas and commas. While the missive was obviously good-natured, perhaps even adorable, there was a touch of quiet malevolence in its implication. Would a refusal to reproduce the message result in academic failure? And what if the recipient of the text doesn’t have the requisite number of friends upon whom to inflict the curse further? This story is from Kinfolk Issue Forty-Two Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 49 Karin Mamma Andersson Inside the moody, mysterious world of Sweden’s preeminent painter. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Jenny Odell The acclaimed author in search of lost time. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Amalie Smith The Danish arts writer finding clarity between the lines. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Ryan Heffington Meet the man bringing choreography, community and queer joy to the desert. Arts & Culture Issue 49 Nell Wulfhart Advice from a decision coach. Arts & Culture Fashion Issue 49 A World of Difference A fun lesson in cultural faux pas.
Arts & Culture Issue 49 Karin Mamma Andersson Inside the moody, mysterious world of Sweden’s preeminent painter.
Arts & Culture Issue 49 Ryan Heffington Meet the man bringing choreography, community and queer joy to the desert.
