Quick Read
- Fran Lebowitz will appear at Carnegie Hall on December 12, 2025.
- She avoids technology, including smartphones, email, and Wi-Fi.
- Lebowitz is skeptical about artificial intelligence and driverless cars, citing concerns over safety and autonomy.
- She doubts significant political reforms will make New York more affordable.
- Lebowitz criticizes the decline of magazines and relaxed ethics in journalism.
Lebowitz’s Reluctance Toward Technology: A Voice From the Past in a Digital Age
Fran Lebowitz has always marched to her own beat. In a world where our lives are increasingly intertwined with devices, Lebowitz’s refusal to embrace technology is more than a quirky personality trait—it’s a pointed critique of modern dependence. “I’ve always had an antipathy to machines,” she said, distancing herself from emails, cellphones, and even Wi-Fi. For Lebowitz, the digital revolution isn’t progress; it’s a transformation she’d rather watch from the sidelines.
Her stance is not just resistance, but a mirror held up to society’s shifting priorities. While most Americans rely on their smartphones for everything from communication to navigation, Lebowitz’s analog existence feels almost rebellious. She’s surprised by how much people depend on technology, and her experience stands in stark contrast to the norm. In her words, “I don’t care what other people do.”
Artificial Intelligence: Confusion and Caution
When the conversation turns to artificial intelligence, Lebowitz admits she doesn’t fully understand it. She likens AI to “theft”—a provocative metaphor that hints at her skepticism about its ethical implications. Lebowitz’s indifference toward AI’s rapid adoption, especially among younger generations, is clear. Rather than being alarmed or excited, she simply shrugs: technology’s march is not her concern, but she questions what is lost along the way.
Driverless Cars: Safety, Autonomy, and the Limits of Technology
Lebowitz’s critique of technology extends to driverless cars, a symbol of innovation for some and a source of anxiety for others. “I won’t go in one,” she insists, underscoring her doubts about safety and autonomy. The need for a smartphone to operate these vehicles puts them out of her reach, and the thought of being trapped inside until the destination is reached is, for Lebowitz, an unacceptable loss of control. Her concerns are not just technical—they’re existential, reflecting a broader unease about how much agency people surrender to machines.
Political Realities: Zohran Mamdani and the Struggle for Affordability in New York
Lebowitz has never shied away from politics, and her support for Zohran Mamdani—a progressive New York politician—comes with a dose of realism. She admires Mamdani’s challenge to traditional Democrats but doubts his ability to make New York more affordable. “He’s not going to freeze rents,” Lebowitz states bluntly, pointing to the entrenched nature of political and economic interests. At 34, Mamdani is, in Lebowitz’s eyes, “too old to believe these things”—a wry commentary on the optimism that often collides with legislative reality.
Her skepticism is rooted in experience: Lebowitz sees little hope for meaningful reform without widespread consensus among lawmakers. For her, New York’s affordability crisis isn’t a problem with a simple fix—it’s a symptom of a deeply divided political landscape.
The Changing Media Landscape: From Magazines to Ethics in Journalism
Reflecting on her own writing career, Lebowitz laments the decline of the magazine industry. “Magazines were once vital for news and culture, but they’re not now,” she observes. For aspiring writers, her advice is blunt: look elsewhere. The publishing world she knew has transformed, and the dynamics of media and culture are shifting in ways she finds troubling.
Lebowitz’s commentary on Olivia Nuzzi’s recent move to Vanity Fair, following a controversy involving Robert F. Kennedy Jr., illustrates her concerns about journalistic standards. “They used to have rules in journalism,” she recalls, suggesting that ethical boundaries have loosened. The implication is clear: as the media landscape changes, so too do the values that once defined it.
Cultural Reflections: The Movie Theater Versus the Square Inch Screen
Even her cultural tastes reflect a longing for a less digitized world. Lebowitz prefers watching movies in theaters—a ritual she sees disappearing among younger audiences. “They think a movie is one square inch,” she quips, critiquing the migration from communal cinematic experiences to the solitary confines of personal screens. For Lebowitz, this shift isn’t just technological; it’s generational, and it marks a loss of shared cultural moments.
Lebowitz’s Place in Contemporary Discourse
Despite—or perhaps because of—her critical stance, Fran Lebowitz remains a vital commentator. Her willingness to challenge prevailing trends, whether in technology, politics, or culture, offers a necessary counterpoint in public debate. She stands as a reminder that progress, for all its promise, comes with trade-offs, and that dissent has its own kind of value.
At Carnegie Hall on December 12, she’ll engage with audiences face-to-face, reaffirming her commitment to direct conversation in an increasingly mediated world. Lebowitz’s voice is not just a relic of the past—it’s a challenge to the present.
Lebowitz’s enduring relevance stems not from nostalgia, but from her ability to question the narratives of progress and challenge the complacency of digital culture. Her skepticism is both a warning and an invitation: to reconsider what we surrender for convenience, and to defend the spaces—literal and figurative—where genuine dialogue can still flourish. (Source: el-balad.com)
