Maekan It Up

Eugene and Charis talk about musical anhedonia, the condition where people feel no pleasure in music, and whether that has implications on the world of audio. They also discuss the anatomy of a TikTok hit and what kind of music goes viral on that platform. 00:00:55 Musical anhedonia 00:27:34 TikTok hits 00:41:19 Banter https://reallifemag.com/vox-populi/ https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-anatomy-of-a-tiktok-hit/ www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about Disney+ and Apple TV+, two new streaming services, launching with series that cost an unprecedented amount of money per episode to make. They also discuss tokenism: what it is, how to deal with it, and whether there are silver linings to it. 00:01:16 Streaming services 00:16:42 Tokenism 00:37:16 Banter https://qz.com/1735700/apple-and-disney-are-creating-an-explosion-of-tv-series-budgets/ https://qz.com/844918/with-the-crown-the-grand-tour-and-westworld-tv-shows-have-become-insanely-expensive/ https://www.dazeddigital.com/art-photography/article/46571/1/how-to-deal-with-tokenism-as-an-artist-according-to-the-white-pube www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis discuss why new technology is difficult to convince people to adopt. They also talk about the habits of the ultra wealthy as well as a new study that shows a key factor in becoming very rich is luck. 00:01:20 Ultra wealthy 00:27:22 New tech 00:44:45 Banter https://www.technologyreview.com/s/610395/if-youre-so-smart-why-arent-you-rich-turns-out-its-just-chance/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/17/style/rich-people-things.html https://www.collaborativefund.com/blog/tech/ https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/10/17/18647521/capitalism-age-of-addiction-phone-david-courtwright www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about TikTok hiring a law firm to advise them on their content moderation policies due to increasing scrutiny of the app. They also discuss Adobe being required to block Venezuelan users from their products due to the latest sanctions on the country. 00:01:24 TikTok 00:19:32 Adobe 00:31:54 Banter https://techcrunch.com/2019/10/15/tiktok-taps-corporate-law-firm-kl-gates-to-advise-on-its-u-s-content-moderation-policies/ https://stratechery.com/2019/the-china-cultural-clash/ https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/evjmqj/venezuela-will-be-cut-off-from-adobe-products-because-of-trump-sanctions www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis discuss Forever 21 filing for bankruptcy and the evolving role of shopping malls. They also talk about the monetization of esports apparel and the possibilities for brands within the gaming industry. 00:01:22 Forever 21 00:20:12 Esports apparel 00:40:15 Banter https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/29/business/forever-21-bankruptcy.html https://hypebeast.com/2019/9/esports-apparel-fashion-adidas-ninja-nike www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about the 2019 MacArthur Grant winners and how money supports innovative work. They also discuss Greta Thunberg, LVMH’s Bernard Arnault’s comments about her, and the relationship between luxury and climate crisis activists. 00:01:11 The MacArthur Grant 00:21:48 Luxury and climate crisis 00:41:21 Banter Links https://www.reuters.com/article/us-luxury-environment/luxury-leader-lvmh-in-green-mode-laments-thunbergs-pessimism-idUSKBN1WA2AY https://www.businessinsider.com/macarthur-fellowship-genius-grant-winners-2019-9 www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about whether good grammar matters, especially when it comes to material written by southeast Asian influencers. They also discuss YouTube’s announcement regarding overhauling its verification program and then the quick walk-back of that announcement. 00:02:42 Influencer grammar 00:21:57 YouTube verification 00:43:15 Banter Links https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/18/style/influencer-grammar-watchdog-accounts-southeast-asia.html https://techcrunch.com/2019/09/19/youtube-overhauls-its-problematic-verification-program/ www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene discuss Frances Bean Cobain launching the “Kurt Was Here” clothing collection and what the purpose is of releasing posthumous products. They also talk about the union drive occurring at Kickstarter and how unions can function within companies.  00:03:04 Posthumous work 00:19:00 Unions Links https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/kurt-cobain-clothing-collection-881429/ https://slate.com/technology/2019/09/kickstarter-turmoil-union-drive-historic-tech-industry.html www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis celebrate making it to 100 episodes by taking one week off to ask each other hard-hitting big picture questions about creativity plus some lightning round either or questions. 00:03:20 Big questions 00:34:55 Lightning round Links https://wepresent.wetransfer.com/story/career-myths-making-good-money-means-selling-out-creatively/ https://www.itsnicethat.com/articles/carly-ayres-the-end-of-hawraf-graphic-design-180319 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene talk about why products for older people are poorly designed and how to include older people in the design process. They also discuss Johanna Hedva’s disability access rider and why constructing society around what we often see to be niche groups is actually the best course of action. 00:03:10 Older people 00:28:11 Disability access Links https://www.technologyreview.com/s/614167/why-are-products-for-older-people-so-ugly https://sickwomantheory.tumblr.com/post/187188672521/hedvas-disability-access-rider www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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/ www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

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 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message