Maekan It Up

Eugene and Charis talk about whether or not an issue of political correctness censoring fashion design exists, a discussion revolving around an op-ed written by Eugene Rabkin. They also talk about how the age of the influencer is starting to come to an end while appreciation of the slacker and slacking off is on the rise.  00:02:23 Politically correct fashion 00:29:27 Rise of the slacker Links: https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/fashion-age-political-correctness/ https://qz.com/quartzy/1588115/instagram-influencers-are-out-slackers-are-in/ www.maekan.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Charis and Eugene discuss the emergence of increasingly lengthy captions on Instagram and the implications of this trend. They also talk about the newly opened MUJI Hotel in Tokyo and what it takes for a brand to successfully extend itself. 00:01:46 Captionfluencers 00:19:00 MUJI Hotel Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/27/style/instagram-long-captions.html https://maekan.com/2019/03/muji-hotel-ginza-opening/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/maekanitup/message

Eugene and Charis talk about the partnership between the big tobacco company Philip Morris and the media platform VICE in relation to the idea of whether good things can come from bad money. They also discuss the issue of increasingly large museum collections and what museums might do collectively to make art more accessible. 00:01:48 VICE Philip Morris 00:27:15 Overflowing museums Links: https://notvice.com/vice-and-philip-morris-international-partnership-c0cd977738df https://maekan.com/2019/03/museum-artwork-full/ What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture.We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MA

Charis and Eugene discuss whether it’s possible to become a mega-influencer anymore. They also talk about the reasons China might tax luxury goods and how that might affect consumerism in the country. 00:00:54 Mega-influencers 00:24:32 Luxury tax Links: https://fashionista.com/2019/03/top-instagram-social-media-influencers-marketing-success https://jingdaily.com/china-luxury-debt/   What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com.  You'll unlock all of our stories, be given exclusive member-onl

Eugene and Charis talk about Goldman Sachs telling employees that they can start dressing more casually and how that might affect the fashion landscape. They also discuss an argument for veganizing design and the counter-argument against applying that ideology. 00:18:40 Losing the suit 00:35:14 Vegan design Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/06/business/dealbook/goldman-sachs-dress-code.html https://www.dezeen.com/2019/03/01/sebastian-cox-vegan-design-sustainable-opinion/ What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. Yo

Charis and Eugene talk about the latest video ad for Nike titled Dream Crazier that features women in sports and a voiceover encouraging women to attempt even more. They also discuss the phenomenon of being professionally successful on paper but miserable in actuality. 00:10:17 Women in sports 00:28:55 Miserable at work Links: https://news.nike.com/featured_video/dream-crazier https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/02/21/magazine/elite-professionals-jobs-happiness.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll

Eugene and Charis discuss when skepticism is good and when more trust is needed. They also talk about the increase in artist-endowed foundations and the work that these foundations are doing in terms of cultural philanthropy. 00:20:20 Healthy skepticism 00:33:58 Art philanthropy Links: https://medium.com/s/reasonable-doubt/when-healthy-skepticism-really-isn-t-e95594d1e380 https://news.artnet.com/art-world/ongoing-artist-as-philanthropist-report-tracks-the-rise-of-endowed-foundations-1463578   What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membershi

Charis and Eugene talk about consumer power and the responsibility that comes with spending money on anything. They also discuss the potential funding Reddit might be accepting from Chinese tech giant Tencent and how that could shape the Internet in the States, in China, and globally. This episode attempts to unpack what it means to follow the origins and effect of each dollar. 00:11:55 Consumer power 00:41:53 Chinese investment money Links: https://noahny.com/blogs/news/consumer-power https://gizmodo.com/reddit-banned-in-china-is-reportedly-set-to-land-150-1832375439 What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed thi

Eugene and Charis discuss the influence of Nardwuar on the hip-hop world and how his persona plus interview style gets great results. They also talk about why CAPTCHA exists, what the future of CAPTCHA looks like, and what the progress of CAPTCHA says about our pursuit to find the universal quality of humanness. 00:13:58 Nardwuar’s influence 00:30:35 Evolution of CAPTCHA Links: https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/nardwuar-hip-hop-significance/ https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/1/18205610/google-captcha-ai-robot-human-difficult-artificial-intelligence What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the  sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning,  participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level  that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of  creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives

Charis and Eugene talk about how restaurant websites are being visited less and losing personality, and therefore are in need of a purpose and identity overhaul. They also discuss how billionaires are being critically panned and what the responsibility of the wealthy is to the world. 00:09:50 Website personality 00:22:36 Billionaires’ responsibility Links https://www.are.na/blog/restaurant-websites https://www.axios.com/billionaires-economic-inequality-davos-world-economic-forum-85d51f38-6a7f-4017-9566-169cb6732f83.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer,

Eugene and Charis talk about the newly proposed “flexitarian” diet configured by 37 scientists to not only be healthy for humans, but to take care of our planet. They also discuss what it looks like to be creative while clean as described by nine musicians interviewed by GQ regarding all aspects of their journey through substance abuse into sobriety. 00:16:22 Flexitarian diet 00:33:42 Creating while clean Links: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-46865204 https://www.gq.com/story/clean-musicians What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membershi

Charis and Eugene discuss Don Norman’s concept of how pizza could save the world—metaphorically speaking—as pizza is a way to view and solve problems. They also talk about millennial burnout and why the generation born between the early 1980’s and late 1990’s experiences errand paralysis, engages in self-destructive behaviors, and have tough mental battles to wage. 00:07:57 Pizza solution 00:20:47 Millennial burnout Links: https://www.fastcompany.com/90288282/how-pizza-could-save-the-world https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/annehelenpetersen/millennials-burnout-generation-debt-work What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this sto

Eugene and Charis discuss the new hit app Zepeto and how the virtual avatar platform can lead to the continued rise of virtual influencers and digital exclusives in consumer goods. They also talk about the non-stop growth of big tech and the ongoing relationship individuals must navigate with technology. 00:09:45 Virtual influencers 00:23:41 Big tech Links: https://jingdaily.com/virtual-avatar-china-luxury-brands/ https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/01/technology/big-tech-troubled-just-getting-started.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your m

Eugene and Charis talk about how the future book is already here even though its form may be different from what we expected. They also discuss the comeback of physical books, in part thanks to social media. 00:15:57 The future book 00:30:03 Book resurgence Links: https://www.wired.com/story/future-book-is-here-but-not-what-we-expected/ https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/19/18146500/independent-bookstores-instagram-social-media-growth What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be given

Eugene and Charis talk about a Nike football shirt created in collaboration with The NATIVE and use that subject as a launching point for discussing projects done well that are inspired by heritage. They also discuss why Air France’s airline Joon, which targets millennials, isn’t working and what could possibly make airlines more appealing when you control for price and schedule.  00:17:13 Heritage projects 00:33:25 Millennial airlines Links: https://news.nike.com/news/native-lagos-football-jersey https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/12/13/18138423/millennial-airline-air-france-joon What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this sto

Eugene and Charis discuss how advertising on podcasts can be done well and what makes an ad work particularly well for specific podcasts. They also talk about the effects of the recent Tumblr ban of NSFW adult content and how the internet is continuing to shrink—to the detriment of all of us. 00:11:34 Podcast advertising 00:33:05 Tumblr’s NSFW ban Links: https://medium.com/that-good-you-need/malcolm-gladwell-and-exceptional-advertising-198a21af8fba https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/catesish/internet-is-getting-small-and-boring-long-live-tumblr What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see wh

Eugene and Charis talk about how Cambridge Analytica data found that fashion profiling reliably showed political leanings and what that means for fashion brands. They also discuss Amazon HQ2 being built in Queens, New York and Crystal City, Virginia and what that means for those neighborhoods in the context of gentrification. 00:11:42 Fashion profiling 00:29:41 Ethics of gentrification Links: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/29/style/cambridge-analytica-fashion-data.html https://www.fastcompany.com/90274295/is-gentrification-ever-ethical What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MA

This week the discussion revolves around the impact of Craigslist on decreasing waste production and the possibilities for encouraging a wider culture of reusing and sharing items. Tavi Gevinson writes a heartfelt Editor’s Letter to explain the end of Rookie Mag. Eugene and Charis discuss how to stay true to personal interests while remaining responsible to others. Links https://www.fastcompany.com/90272357/craigslist-is-quietly-changing-how-much-americans-throw-away http://www.rookiemag.com/2018/11/editors-letter-86/ What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sig

Eugene brings up the subject of the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 in relation to the feeling of envy. He and Charis talk about under what circumstances envy can be good and bad. Charis points out the constant stream of NASA-inspired apparel and considers whether more can be done for women in STEM. Links https://slate.com/human-interest/2018/11/30-under-30-millennials-in-congress-envy.html https://www.history.com/news/human-computers-women-at-nasa What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else MAEKAN has to offer, sign-up for your membership at MAEKAN.com. You'll unlock all of our stories, be

This week Eugene looks into the business of background music and the art of curating audio qualities that’s appropriate for brands and spaces. Charis discusses the shifts in the influencer economy towards nanoinfluencers and considers how this changes the prospects of influencers at various levels plus the actual overall effectiveness of these tactics. Links https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/nov/06/inside-the-booming-business-of-background-music https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/11/business/media/nanoinfluencers-instagram-influencers.html What is MAEKAN? MAEKAN is a membership-based publication and community focused on the sights and sounds of creative culture. We're about learning, participating, and connecting with a global community on a deeper level that social media just doesn't provide. We’re defining the future of creative culture. We don't have all the answers, but our curiosity ensures we never stop looking. Sign-Up Today If you've enjoyed this story from the archives and want to see what else