I'm so board with the USA
November 21, 2006
Events are bigger than people think- Francios Guizot
In this new temporal condition "Long tern means a week". The establishment of a style must be declared soon. We live in an acceleration of miss informed decisions poaching on synthetic desires and so called fashions. This epoch has brought us towards the illusion of calculated needs quantified by the over saturation of things that look the same but are sort of different. The landscape is one of smoke and mirrors, clowns and jugglers. We need not follow but move towards a new collective condition of style that modifies and regroups in the manifestation of individuals who are part or a singular self-organizing yet open minded collective. This style I propose need not be similar, however only related by common ideologies and bonds.
In 1986 I first came to London, I skated SOUTH BANK that was great. Who knows who has killed that spot since? I would venture to say many great skaters have ripped it up it since back then.
FAST FORWARD: In November of 2006 we wereinvited back to screen the Stussy World Tour documentary NFT. The NFT is the cinema is above south bank. I would of never thought that twenty years later life would unfold from rolling around some dirty banks to producing a cultural event teetering quite possibly on towards historic magnitude. The perfect circle of high and low once again completed. However, this trajectory is not finished, it is time for a new generation to explore fresh places and carry the torch. The foundation has been laid, now it is time to build and rebuild. The next generation must prepare creative situations or we might all perish into a cultural abyss. The next series of movements might come from new or old people and/or positions. I just think it is a good time to explore and critique the places that we have come too love and hate.
A week in review:
New mags: Carls cars and DRAFT
New book shop: Claire de Rouen 125 Charing Cross Road, Tel 0207 287 1813
Your move: thanks for having us, the London event was the best one yet.
All of the artists were super cool and the London chapter of the World tribe was in full effect.
It was all great except for Kaws and Geoff dissing my pen. I still like my pen.
And bars in London do not like it when Americans request Billy Joel.
Cool hunting Tastemakers.
November 13, 2006
"If you fake the funk, your nose will grow.” — Bootsy Collins
Last decade or sometime there about the cool hunter was invented. I am still not sure what they did, but I guess they were not so good at it because they have seemed to of vanished. Such a shame, I wanted to be a cool hunter back then, it seemed like easy cash. Cool hunting was like corporate crack, every clueless company wanted to get a cheap short evil high. Now with the demise of the cool hunter a new breed of vermin is moving up the food chain, “THE TASTE MAKER”…
I still have no idea what a cool hunter did and I am not sure I want to know what a Tastemaker does. Was late capitalism not doing OK before it needed people to tell other people what was cool??? Do tastemakers work for MENTOS creating new flavors? No, no, no, I am afraid not, Mentos has, “The Fresh Maker”. The Fresh Maker sounds dope, it is like one of the Fatboys names. Or the name on a Bboy name belt. It resonates loud, fly and bold. Tastemaker just sounds out of tune and a bit like a reality show name. (Hmm, note to self, pitch Tastemaker show to MTV).
Back to my point, not that I actually have one, I am just curious why we (not necessarily us, and I am not sure that us exists except as part or a larger company or group) need cool hunters or tastemakers???? I declare open season on them both, I green light both gangs of wannabees and hasbeens, and sorry your time has come. Was the world not cool or tasteful before their rise to greatness, self-importance and the bullshit they rant and sell. It is time to hit the street again, read the signs and figure out the ever so illusive “COOL” on your own.
Where were these cultural experts in the past? Were they down with rock and roll, punk, disco or hip-hop? One needs roots and a position to make choices and site possible valid directions or ideas. Have these hired hands ever been part of any relevant subculture? Did they ever live a life, or have they only tried to live and understand other people’s lives? Have they ever dug in the crates, hit the streets or actually did anything beside ask odd questions that don’t really have any relevant answer. It seems like they always have questions, but so many times the wrong questions are asked. And the wrong question will usually get the wrong answer. So where does that put us? I am sure some of these uber cool idea traders are very good at what they do, but I am afraid what they do is actually harmful, kinda like they have fucked up the gene pool and once mutation occurs, well lets say things are never the same.
Do you remember buying a pair sneakers or record for no reason? But only because it spoke to you? Lack of understanding “why” at a moment is sometimes good in a process of growth and exploration. Things usually get very clear in hindsight. Maybe cultural production would be much smoother and interesting with out this group working at creating inauthentic-cool?
Theodor Adorno and Max Horkheimer famously explored the interaction between culture and economy by the term ‘Kulturindustrie’ (The Culture Industry) to describe the production of mass culture and power relations between capitalist producers and mass consumers. Their account is a bleak one, but one that appears to hold continuing relevance, despite being written in 1944.
It seems like tastemakers deal in an illusionary ideology of illusive temporal production until they need to change their minds. I have a funny feeling that tastemakers were super into Prada Sport not long ago. What happened? Is it not tasteful to have a red rubber stripe on the back of you shoe now???? Has casual tech been replaced by flannel shirts and vulcanized shoes?
In this nebulous world of what might be and where will it come from? We can find comfort and direction in the past. Maybe this is why at the time simple black sneakers are so popular. The masses are taking back the street and running fast from pseudo corporate cool. When you strip all of the collect ability and exclusivity away style will always prevail and there might not be anything cooler than a pair of old black Chucks…
53 and 57
November 10, 2006
Xmas came early this year.
Its kinda warm but i am ready for some snow.
In fact i am ready for lots of snow.
Very deep powder would be best.
With some blue skies.
Stussy and Burton colab on two size World Tour Boards 153 and 157.
Soon to drop, check back for delivery dates and product location availability.
Three thing 2 do in NYC and one sad ending.
November 7, 2006
1) Quite possibly the best Contemporary Photo book shop in the world.
Dashwood Books 33 Bond St
2) TrackStar: a little spot that will solve all your fixed gear needs.
34 East 1st st
3) HOSPITAL PRODUCTIONS
Deep below the bowels of Jammyland. A dark narrow and steep staircase into heavy things.
NOISE+BLACK METAL+DRONE+FREE+GRIND+DOOM
TAPE+VINYL+CD
60 East 3rd st
I never liked Tower Records but its closing is kind of strange. Come on already. Does downtown need another bad retail store or more speculative building?
Stussy World Tour NYC Screening
November 5, 2006
The problem with NYC is there is too much 2 do and way 2 many people 2 see....
Blogging just sometimes has to wait.
I would much rather walk around than sit and type. And i did find some cool new shit here, but that can come on another day.
On Thursday night at the Tribeca film center we screened our WT Documentary for our NYC friends and family.
The crowd was great, it was like a High School reunion. Or at least i think it was, I did not go 2 my reunion so this was the one i never had. Or maybe the 1st of many reunions.
LEE AND EASE
FUTURA
HAZE AND JOSH CHEUSE
SHADI
CEAS
MR CARTOON
Next stop London......
As well if u can roll Stussy NYC will have its World tour art event up until Monday.
So try and catch it.
