Madame Arcati is profiled by Musk's Grok
Madame Arcati is born-again. And read what AI Grok thinks of Madame
Hello, poppets. Yes, Madame Arcati is back (again) and I shall be posting my usual array of potpourri comprising astrology, gossip and other stuff. Corrupt adulterous editors should tremble in fear, in particular.
Not all of you are into astrology and that’s your loss. I weep for Muggles. Astrology is actually a wonderful X-ray if you know your horoscopes. I shall peep at the beyond and the behind while kicking the odd latter.
The Madame Arcati blog was born on 4 July 2006 and put into suspended animation around 2012 by atheistic-Christian beards on Blogger. I asked Elon Musk’s AI Grok what it knows about the Arcati blog:
The Madame Arcati blog, primarily run by writer and film critic Victor Olliver, was known for its sharp, often satirical commentary on the British publishing and media landscape. Here's what can be gathered from available information:
Content and Style: The blog was celebrated for casting a "cynical eye over the often pompous print world of UK newspapers and magazines," offering a mix of gossip, cultural critique, and personal observations. It was noted for its witty, sometimes acerbic tone, which both attracted readers and created controversy. The blog often dealt with sensitive or scandalous topics, leading to debates on its ethics and the accuracy of its reporting.
Readership and Impact: At its peak, the blog reportedly drew 6000 readers daily, which was significant for a blog focused on niche topics like the British media scene. It had a fan base that included some of Britain's top writers and journalists, indicating its influence within literary and media circles. However, this also meant it had its share of critics who viewed its content as spiteful or unreliable due to the anonymity of some sources.
Controversies:
Censorship and Disappearance: The original blog on Blogger vanished without warning, leading to speculation about censorship. Victor Olliver noted that Google/Blogger provided no explanation for the removal, and he quickly set up a new site for Madame Arcati, suggesting a resilience to continue the blog's tradition despite setbacks.
Content: The blog's approach to commentary often bordered on the controversial, with some content causing uproar or legal concerns. For example, certain images were not republished due to censorship by platforms like WordPress, and there were mentions of accusations that could not be encouraged, like those of "prime ministerial bestiality."
Public Reaction: The blog received a wide range of responses. While some lauded it for its fearless gossip and insight, others criticized it as one of the nastiest places on the net, superficial, narrow-minded, and often slanderous. This dichotomy in reception underscores the polarizing nature of its content.
Revival and Continuation: After its disappearance from Blogger, the blog was reborn on different platforms like WordPress. There were also efforts by Victor Olliver to continue the Madame Arcati style through other channels like Substack, where he planned to combine astrology with the blog's traditional commentary.
Cultural Impact: Madame Arcati has been referenced in various cultural discussions, even inspiring or being compared to characters in theatre, like the medium in Noël Coward's "Blithe Spirit", indicating its penetration into British cultural discourse.
The blog's controversial nature stems from its bold critique, the personal lives of public figures it covered, and its sometimes contentious relationship with the truth or privacy of its subjects. This made it both a celebrated and debated entity in the blogosphere.
For further context, these insights are drawn from various sources discussing the blog's impact, controversies, and revival.