Hello K-Mart Shoppers,
After this is over can we please all just go live in Akon’s sustainable cryptocurrency city together? Sounds like it will be pretty nice. Could be pretty neat-o when we can, like, move around and stuff. While we wait for the light of day I hope you enjoy these linkies.
You're Not Welcome: Rap's Racial Divide In France
Gimme Dat Synopsis Quickie:
This should come as no news flash to anyone, but other countries besides the US are also mad racist. This week’s bigoted news comes to you from France, where rap is by far the most popular genre of music, but is being held down when it comes to recognition by the institutional powers that be.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Days after the ceremony, French music industry body SNEP, which is responsible for collating the charts, distributing royalty payments and more, declared rap music an “overexposed phenomenon” in their 2019 market report. It argued that “fan support for urban music must not eclipse the performances of other musical genres” – an explicit call for less promotion and celebration of the most successful French popular music movement of all time.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
Prejudice and policy to hold back immigrants and people of color can be found in every single nook and cranny of society unfortunately. Read up and spread the word on it whenever you can. Every bit of awareness helps.
Survey Says, Quarantine Might Make Our Generation Immune To Hype
Gimme Dat Synopsis Quickie:
The results of a recent survey from Highsnobiety about their readers' consumption habits and how they've changed in Covid times. People still really want to shop, their purchasing interests have still changed slightly. I know mine have; no instead of pants I just buy extra long shirts. I look like god damn Ebenezer Scrooge in his nightgown.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
The new journey of the Immunized Shopper — young people surfing through crisis — is therefore a process of separating value from values, wants from needs, entertainment from enlightenment.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
According to their survey, the hypebeasts that they cater to are less interested in flashy labels now that they don't have anywhere to go. Currently they’re more interested in higher quality, well-made goods that will hold their value. A finding that seems to say their readers are moving in to a more mature purchasing mindset, but I find this result a bit misleading because I think this survey leads to quite a bit of response bias. Of course anyone responding is going to want to think of themselves as someone not just chasing the hottest styles and flashiest brand names, but rather someone who has a discerning palate and buying for the long haul. So the state of streetwear may not be shifting as much as this survey makes it out to be.
The Worst Rebrand In The History Of Orange Juice
Gimme Dat Synopsis Quickie:
In 2009 Tropicana decided to spend $30M on a rebrand. It failed spectacularly. They lost 20% of revenue a month after launching the new branding and shortly thereafter returned to the old look and feel.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Tropicana took a remarkable, characteristic brand look and replaced it with a bland, average-joe design that would instantly disappear in the masses of no-name juice boxes that populate every grocery store shelf.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
As stupid as it is to spend $30m for an agency to come in and remake your logo and tell you that it is now "minimal" and "timeless" and will “galvanize your consumer base to take action” (I don’t know if these words were used for Tropicana specifically, but one can only assume those words were used in pretty much every branding meeting that occurred in the past decade), branding is still very important. However, first and foremost, practicality is important and this redesign, according to the article, didn’t have any. A widely applicable look into how we can convince ourselves of things we need when we really don’t.
What Does The Art World Look Like Now?
Gimme Dat Synopsis Quickie:
Vogue hollered at a bunch of artists to see what their quarantine life was like at the moment. They got a wide variety of responses probably running a similar spectrum to what we're all going through.
And A Quote From The Article Please:
I’ve often dreamed of a world without the internet or the smartphone, a slowed-down, more contemplative place where the constant intrusive pings of incoming texts and emails don’t monopolize our time. Now the internet is the world—the virtual has become our reality. Closed galleries have online viewing rooms (artists do, too—Robert Wilson just opened his own), as well as Zoom interviews and studio visits; museums offer new ways to experience their wonders digitally; Sotheby’s recently boasted of having its largest online sale ever.
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
These famous and super successful artists are just like all of us. Some of them are doing fine, others are feeling like crap and uninspired. Basically it's a nice reminder that other people, probably much better off than us with famous friends and a carefree Bohemian attitude, are also going through some shit too. But like, not as bad. As I’m writing I’m realizing these people aren’t really working class people so this is more just an interesting look into the lives of artists than a widely relatable article. Apologies. Still cool though!
This Luxury Tower Has Everything: Pools. A Juice Bar. And Flood Resilience.
Gimme Dat Synopsis Quickie:
Tons of exclusive properties are being developed for the wealthy with the draw being that they'll be properties that are safe from climate change and rising sea levels. Complete with life rafts (I made that up but it may be a factor who knows).
And A Quote From The Article Please:
Monad Terrace is “the first luxury condos Miami has seen be built above updated flood and sea level elevations,” the marketing material claims. It is “designed to reflect the light and water of its surroundings, while living in harmony with the time and place in which it rises.”
And Tell Me Why I should Care:
The battle against climate change, just like everything else, is soon going to become stratified based on economic level. Not that it already isn't, but make yourself aware of where this thing is heading so you don't end up underwater literally and figuratively.
Interesting Stories That You May Or May Not Care About
Remember years ago when that huge volcano in New Zealand erupted? Yeah that was only in December. This is the story of it happening.
Michael Buffer, the “let’s get ready to rumble” guy also happens to be long lost brothers with Bruce Buffer, the super famous UFC announcer. This is their story.
Ever wonder what it was like to be trailed by a KGB agent in Russia? Well, this is one guy’s story about what it felt like.
Obligatory Corona-Related Article
A Non-Scientist’s Primer on Testing for COVID-19
A guy who isn’t really a scientist breaks down everything you need to know about why Covid-19 testing is the way that it is. Why things take a long time and why things aren’t entirely accurate. It’s helpful and informational.
Videos Are What The Internet Was Made For!
This video of Fred Armisen doing accents from all across the United States is pretty spot on and weird as hell in a way that only he can pull off.
“You eat the cat poop after you read The Breads” — Fred Armisen’s character in Anchorman
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