Is Social Media the New Punk Rock?

The stylish video below compares social media to punk rock. It's an interesting analogy, but I agree to with one of the comments on the YouTube clip which goes as follows: "Social Media is more Hip Hop than punk, because it has evolved from its early rap roots it is changing but still harks back to older forms of communication or 'samples'. Either way comparing Social Media to punk, Hip Hop or any other musical genre just sounds a bit wanky to me and for the sake of videos like this Social Media is fast becoming just another fucking ace marketing tool." But music genres aside, I think the real lesson in comparing the two is that what we're really talking about is authenticity and the ability to listen to, and acknowledge, your audience. I think that there is nothing wrong with marketing, as long as it's done right, but it so often isn't, which is why punks and other rebelled against it. Social media has actually made it possible for big media companies and other businesses, and even governments, to become more "real" and actually participate in a conversation and listen. But if they try to use social media like mass-media to do in-you-face branding and push product, then they're missing the point and the opportunity becomes a threat. So listen up. BTW, I'm born 1976, so I missed the boat on the punk movement. But I'm really into Hip Hop. Check out some of my earlier posts for Hip Hop artists successfully using social media to communicate with their audience and build up a community of fans.

Rymdreglage's Stop-Motion Lego Animation Impresses

“8-Bit Trip” is an amazing stop-motion lego animation by the Swedish band Rymdreglage that pays tribute to classic video games. It's an impressive piece of geek-art! Via Laughing Squid.

New Boyz: Nerds are Now the Cool Kids

There is a nerdy urban fashion movement in LA, which I really like. Baggy and gangster is out, skinny jeans and color is in. Check out the two videos below, Jerkin is more than just music and dancing, it is a fashion focused movement as well. Met these kids in the park today when I was walking the doggie..

Felix da Housecat and Kid Cudi

Terry McBride (Nettwerk) just Facebooked the very cool new video from Felix da Housecat below. Living in Chicago as an up and coming graffiti artist, Felix was perfectly located to develop a keen interest in the emergent House music scene, which found its hub in Chicago. Felix is regarded as a member of the second wave of Chicago house. He entered the dance music elite not only via his recordings (under a number of aliases, including Thee Maddkatt Courtship, Aphrohead and Sharkimaxx), but also for his ownership of Radikal Fear Records, one of the premiere Chicago labels of the 1990s. In 2009 Felix released He Was King, via Nettwerk Records. The album pays homage to artist like Prince and is heavily steeped in the elctrohouse touchstones Felix is known for.Felix Da Housecat - We All Wanna Be Prince
When it comes to up-and-coming artists, check out the Cleveland rapper Kid Cudi, which Rolling Stone Magazine recently gave good reviews with a killer sing-song flow got a major boost at South by Southwest, where he showed up higher-billed acts like Chromeo and Kid Sister. Check him out in the video below featuring Kanye.Kid Cudi - "Make Her Say" (feat. Kanye West & Common)

Alive in Joburg - The short that Inspired District 9

Neill Blomkamp, the Director of District 9, looks back on District 9 and reveals his future with Halo in this interview with Creativity. The director had launched into the project after spending nearly half a year trying to bring the popular Halo franchise to the big screen with producer Peter Jackson, only to be booted off the project by the film studios. Now it looks like the young talent's naysayers should be eating huge heaps of humble pie. D9 crushed the competitors at the box office, earning $37 million during its opening weekend and drawing raves from the critics, some who have even called it the next "sci-fi classic." Just check out the short that inspired the movie, so innovative and visionary!

The Norwegian five step program - an Arts video

Moods of Norway has been doing the hibbedy-dibbedy on the international fashion dance floor for 6 years now, the philosophy is still the same even though the Norwegian oil price is as flexible as an Bulgarian gymnast after 14 tequila shots. Their main goal, besides making their grandmas happy, is to make happy clothes for happy people around the world, according to their blog.

One iPhone Case + One App To Buy This Week

This is the next case I'm getting for the iPhone, 12 bucks and ultra slim. Also, I downloaded the iLike Challenge over the weekend, it's a new app that let's you play "name that song" against another player. Doesn't sound like much fun perhaps, but it's pretty fun. Check it out here. I think it's $3.99 at the app store.

Interns at Crispin Porter + Bogusky Had a Fun Summer

The ad agency Crispin Porter + Bogusky in Miami has a creative way to pay for their interns, while making it a prestigious gig - make clients bid for their services. Winning bid this summer - $17,655! The interns produced this hilarious video, proving that they can do much more than fetch coffee and have fun too!

Sunset Junction Street Fair August 22 & 23

Success! After nearly a year of grueling and dramatic meetings between Sunset Junction Festival organizers, the city and local neighbors and businesses, the festival will now go on as planned! The organizers had been fighting local residents and business, which have now been provided free wristbands among other things and the area is a little smaller than last year. See you there!

Missing Out On iPhoneDevCamp This Week

I was invited to attend iPhoneDevCamp 3 this week at Yahoo! Headquarters in Sunnyvale, CA, but could not make it, since I'm in Sweden right now. David Newman has been drawing some really awesome Japanese brushpen ink sketches featuring developers at the Camp (thanks to Laughing Squid for making me see them), which really makes me want to go next year. BTW he sketched the Dan White trial in 1979. Dan White is the former San Francisco Supervisor who assassinated Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978 (see below). See the movie! iPhoneDevCamp sponsors this year include Yahoo!, Medialets, DollarApp, Small
Society, iPhone in Action by Manning, PayPal, AppSpace (ZAGG),
Twittelator Pro, Mobclix, Blinksale, iPhone Life, Pinch Media, Wirefly
(Simplexity), Urban Airship, Sugarcube, iLime, Greystripe, Tadow!, EZ-
Tracks, Offerpal Media, DeviceAnywhere, Push.IO, Appcelerator,
Fastmac, Belkin, SiK, AdMob, Tapulous, and Tapjoy.