MEDIA DIET
By:
October 23, 2026
A weekly series exploring the media “input” of a group of people — HILOBROW’s friends and contributors — whose “output” we admire.
Susannah Breslin has been a valued HILOBROW contributor since 2017. Her first post was on the topic of SILICONE VAGINA. Her most recent contributions to this publication include: MIRROR IN THE BATHROOM | ANTON CHIGURH | PEE-WEE’S PLAYHOUSE.
Los Angeles…
HILOBROW: What work of literature (old or new) would you recommend to someone trying to make sense of today’s world?
SUSANNAH BRESLIN: Recently, I read Tender Is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica. I was aware of the book, but I had sort of veered away from it every time I encountered it. Mostly this was because it’s about cannibalism. And while I don’t want to sound like a prude, I’m personally not into cannibalism. But something — I can no longer recall what — prompted me to read it, and, wow, it is just mind-blowing. I was intoxicated by the idea of this world that was so ruthless and this narrator who was so numbed to it all. It was very relatable. Au courant, really. Sometimes I feel like my writing is too out there, but this not-very-long novel inspired me in my own work. It seemed to suggest: You can do disgusting things and people will love it if you do it well. So that’s what I’m trying to do.
HILOBROW: What’s the best movie you’ve ever seen?
SUSANNAH BRESLIN: Well, I’m going to revise the question to fit me because I write about the porn business and sometimes people ask me what the best porn movie I’ve ever seen is. Honestly, there’s not a lot of competition. Most porn movies are very terrible. Are they even movies? Or vehicles for sex? But my answer is The Operation, a 13-minute 1995 black and white explicit film shot with thermal imaging technology. It was directed by Jacob Pander and stars Gina Velour and Otto Wrek. It is absolutely astounding, beautiful, and luminous. In my opinion, all porn movies are an attempt to get inside the body, to penetrate its mysteries, and this cult short is the closest I’ve ever seen to succeeding. To connect with a project like this makes me feel like I have a creative kinship.
HILOBROW: What’s the best TV series you’ve ever seen?
SUSANNAH BRESLIN: I don’t know if Barry is the best TV show I’ve ever seen — because, let’s face it, Succession is, but I just rewatched Barry for the umpteenth time, and so it’s top of mind. I love Barry because it’s set in the San Fernando Valley, where I live; it’s about a guy who kills people, which is always exciting; and it’s darkly, snarkily hilarious. It makes me feel like I should keep writing about porn but also write more about violence. People can’t get enough of violence. They like sex, too, but are a bit more coy about it.
HILOBROW: Do you subscribe to any magazines or newsletters that you’d strongly recommend?
SUSANNAH BRESLIN: I bought a copy of this fantastic magazine-that-is-like-a-book called Arkiv Paper. It’s the brainchild of Kenny Karpov, a fantastic photographer. The most recent issue is about sex work, and I was blown away by the documentary photographers featured in it, who produce unblinking, unflinching work. I don’t like work by pussies.
HILOBROW: How do you use social media, these days?
SUSANNAH BRESLIN: I regret to confess I am currently addicted to Instagram. I don’t even know why. It’s so depressing. All these sad, dancing souls, stuffing their faces, singing their songs, begging for you to stare at them for a fraction of a second. I think it is making me more depressed and anxious, but if I weren’t depressed and anxious, would I even be an artist?
MEDIA DIET series: MATTHEW BATTLES | ADRIENNE CREW | HOLLY INTERLANDI | CAROLYN KELLOGG | MARK KINGWELL | FLOURISH KLINK | ADAM McGOVERN | CHARLIE MITCHELL | TOM NEALON | ANNIE NOCENTI | GARY PANTER | LYNN PERIL | JONATHAN PINCHERA | NICHOLAS ROMBES | CARLO ROTELLA | LUCY SANTE | SETH | MIKE WATT | JUDITH ZISSMAN | & many others! Visit the SERIES INDEX.