Eugene and Charis discuss the future of Diet Prada, the media company run by Tony Liu and Lindsey Schuyler that aims to hold the fashion industry accountable. They also talk about the use of gender-neutral pronouns and the possible effects shifting language can have on shifting culture.

00:01:30 Diet Prada

00:28:51 Pronouns

Links

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/professional/the-future-of-diet-prada

https://www.wired.com/story/actually-gender-neutral-pronouns-can-change-a-culture/

www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about the possible relationship between memes and brands as being top-down or bottom-up, giving the New York Times and Wendy’s as examples of each. They also discuss the new virtual influencer Liam Nikuro and what virtual influencer companies get right and what they could do better.

00:01:41 Memes and brands

00:22:39 Virtual influencers

Links

https://breakingsmart.substack.com/p/memes-brands-and-missions

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/07/e2037ca6e34d-feature-japanese-pop-culture-takes-world-stage-through-virtual-influencer.html

www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss only one topic this week, but go all in on it. Greg Jackson’s essay“HipsterElegies” provides the starting point for a conversation on the history of the hipster and the importance of the hipster on the evolution of culture. 

00:02:27 Effect of the hipster

Links

https://hedgehogreview.com/issues/reality-and-its-alternatives/articles/hipster-elegies

www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about whether we have reached peak podcast and, if not, what peak podcast would look like. They also discuss where the thousands of Bob Ross paintings are, what his appeal has been in the last five years, and how people are seeking hope wherever they can.

00:02:27 Peak podcast

00:31:46 Bob Ross

Links

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/18/style/why-are-there-so-many-podcasts.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/arts/bob-ross-paintings-mystery.html

www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss measures Instagram as a platform is taking to combat bullying and more generally what bullying looks like. They also talk about how the art market is changing to attract younger collectors, as well as the company Otis which is about investing in“alternativeassets”.

Timestamps

00:03:49 Instagram combats bullying

00:24:26 Millennial art market

Links

https://withotis.com/about

https://news.artnet.com/market/how-to-sell-to-millennials-1581577

https://time.com/5619999/instagram-mosseri-bullying-artificial-intelligence/

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Charis and Eugene talk about what the relationship between a photographer and their subjects looks like, according to four different photographers. They also discuss two articles that seem to take a different stance on the smartphone—it’s either a planet killer or a global savior.

00:06:07 Photographers and subjects

00:28:07 Killer/savior smartphones

Links:

https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-photographers-owe-subjects-four-photographers-weigh

https://www.fastcompany.com/90165365/smartphones-are-wrecking-the-planet-faster-than-anyone-expected

https://www.wired.com/story/iphone-environment-consumption/

www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss whether gaming subscriptions can possibly lead to more innovative and experimental video games. They also talk about what changing the rules and regulations of women’s football might do for the development of the game. 

00:02:33 Gaming subscriptions

00:27:30 Women’s football

Links:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/18/18682700/gaming-subscriptions-ea-microsoft-ubisoft-netflix-streaming

https://the18.com/soccer-entertainment/size-of-womens-soccer-fields-debate-hope-solo

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Charis and Eugene talk about Aaron Rodgers coming on as partner in a new venture and growth capital fund. This piece of news links to a trend towards a broader consideration of creative capital and the possibilities for how creatives conduct business. They also discuss Greta Thunberg, a teenager in Sweden striking in order to call for something to be done about the climate crisis. 

00:02:53 Creative capital

00:26:36 Teens on climate crisis

Links:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbadenhausen/2019/06/05/aaron-rodgers-launches-50-million-venture-capital-fund-with-roth-capital/#1cfb1f1c2b41

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/greta-thunberg-climate-crisis

www.maekan.com

Eugene and Charis discuss a recent WWD interview with Rei Kawakubo, founder of COMME des GARÇONS and Dover Street Market, where she makes distinctions between her relationship with fashion and business. They also talk about whether the role work now plays in people’s lives can be considered equivalent in any way to the role religion used to have. 

00:02:53 Rei Kawakubo

00:26:36 The role of work

Links:

https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-features/the-originals-rei-kawakubo-on-the-genius-grind-1203137382/

https://www.fastcompany.com/90350861/how-work-became-the-millennial-religion-of-choice

www.maekan.com

Charis and Eugene talk about art collective Meow Wolf and the concessions necessary to make art profitable. They also discuss the health of the Internet particularly as it pertains to the world’s population increasingly gathering in cities. 

00:02:53 Experience as art

00:26:36 Internet health

Links:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/05/01/magazine/meow-wolf-art-experience-economy.html

https://internethealthreport.org/2019/the-power-of-cities/

www.maekan.com