Beach Sloth

                Alt Lit is Casper the friendly ghost of literature. Kind, supportive, surrounded by a bunch of larger, oftentimes bully-like older ghost brothers Alt Lit has it rough. Life is difficult for Alt Lit. What makes it so difficult for those on the inside of the normal or money-producing literary scene is how fucking dang Alt Alt Lit is. Compared to other literary scenes Alt Lit is the absolute altest. Explaining how Alt Lit is different can be somewhat difficult. Thanks to the help of a particularly lovely ‘numbering scheme’ perhaps some of these Alt Lit problems can be clarified:

1.       Alt Lit gives no fucks: this is true. Usually literature consists of a couple stuffy bros exploring philosophy using big old fancy words or some elegant grand scheme. With Alt Lit there is a greater focus on the most minimal usage of words for maximal impact. Everything is fair game. This includes GCHATS, text messages, Macros, Tweets, etc. For whatever reason the rest of literature decided that conversations over the phone are fair game for dialogue but for whatever reason text messaging, something done all the time, isn’t. Or even the whole ‘surfing the net’ that the young ones engage in is left out. Little reference is made to all the places that people tend to consume culture. Nobody goes to museums anymore. New art is rarely found in museums. Art is online. Art is free. Which is part of Alt Lit’s other problem.

2.       Alt Lit is free: this is very true. There hasn’t been much of a sustainable business plan for Alt Lit. Indeed this is for something entirely different. People in Alt Lit tend to write for extremely personal reasons. Getting recognition for it and merging it with other forms makes it even more difficult for it to have a sustainable business model. Putting videos into a book is downright impossible. Sometimes they write for profit. With few profit centers even for those interested in turning a profit, the next best option is to at the very least ‘break even. More focus has been placed on trying to bring attention to the wonderful things going on and being given away for free after great amounts of work have been put in. Hopefully at some point in the future there will be a way to bring this into the future. 

Of course these problems can be easily solved. Dan Holloway discusses how Tao Lin’s ‘Taipei’ could be a game-changing. Indeed Dan uses the violent language of a stealth fighter plane emerging from the clouds to wreak havoc upon the hopeless outdated villages below filled with foolish fools clinging to books and religion. Alt Lit in general is a non-violent sort of movement. If anyone from Alt Lit were to simply emerge out of the sky and start bombing things it would be that young dashing rapscallion Andrea Coates. Perhaps Alt Lit will continue to grow up to a point where it can no longer be ignored. Will Alt Lit be forever confined to the internet or can it grow beyond being a mere phenomenon like ‘Weird Twitter’ or ‘Vapor Wave’. Only time will time. Even if Alt Lit never becomes popular never becomes critically successful it shall linger on, like a ghost, forever cached on the internet, for discovery.

raccoonsarenotafraidofpeople:

Raccoon Remix.  2012.

                Raccoons make amazing remixes. Few would guess a raccoon would be behind the greatest video remix of culture. Culture is all around up in this massively distorted video/audio project. At times completely incomprehensible it is a pulsing being of pure energy. More than a video the Raccoon Remix is the world viewer through the less of those smart enough to pull back and escape. Watching this video requires complete and full attention. Despite the amorphous nature of the video a few common themes appear again and again.

                Zachary German appears many times in this video. This is due to his blockbuster hit ‘Shitty Youth’ which came out fairly recently. Sure other alt lit writers appear: Tao Lin, Steve Roggenbuck, Megan Boyle and Jordan Castro make guest appearances. For some reason Zachary’s face interests the raccoon the most. Zachary’s face bleeds into and out of its surroundings. Does Zachary German’s face represent the end times? When the world ends will the final words be Zachary German’s infamous phrase of ‘Kill cops. Why not? Look at them. They’re horrible. I don’t know.’

                Law enforcement is shown more frequently however. Putting the bad guys away is what law enforcement does. Every time somebody is smoking up (and there’s a lot of footage of that in the video) law enforcement arrives to save the day. Whatever raccoon created this remix is clearly a fan of America’s hard working police force. Dangerous drug fiends litter the streets of America. It is up to America’s law enforcement to pick up the trash. Besides this there is real Manson footage, various evil doers and other assorted pieces of trash. 

                Speaking of trash politicians take up a large chunk of the footage. This includes the recent footage from the 2012 election along with earlier politicians. Bill Clinton makes his way into the infinitely growing jam. George W. Bush, America’s beloved former leader, makes a rare post-presidential appearance. Even older presidents wedge their way into this mega-mix. In fact there is a surprisingly calm moment where a speaker discusses how to be an intellectual. It is simple: just realize everything is hopeless. People laughed at him. But he was probably right or hopelessly pessimistic. 

                By the end of the video the graphics change dramatically. From the macro level of world events, drug busts, and bursts of violence is the micro world of cell biology. Here the cells take over. There is no stopping it. The end of the world will be full of evil micro biology perpetuated by raccoon remixes. Consider this remix a basic sample of what’s to come.

Muumuu House - Meta Knight

                One Postitbreakup, a fine internet lad, bequeathed to me the title of ‘Alt Lit’s Guardian Angel’. I promise to uphold the key principles of alt lit in my new position. He sent me a Tweet about the recent ‘Meta Knight/Muumuu House/Alt Lit Gossip controversy’. To reply with a 140 character explanation seems outright foolish. No tweet sized text can accurately capture the thrill and drama alongside this highly complicated course of events. Every key outlet of alt lit was involved: Meta Knight, Muumuu House, Tao Lin, crown prince of alt lit and ultimately the New York Times of alt lit, alt lit gossip.

                Meta Knight is an up and coming player in the alt lit scene. Recently he tweeted that Muumuu House was publishing his short story collection ‘School’. This created a veritable discussion thread the likes of which have never been seen on the ‘Alt Lit Gossip’ group page. Many congratulated Meta Knight for this accomplishment he did not accomplish. It was a lie. An inside joke that Meta Knight took to the outside via ‘Twitter’.

                Seeing the potentially ‘huge’ amount of clout surrounding the news, Meta Knight emailed Tao Lin about this development. Tao politely declines the invitation to publish said short story collection ‘School’. Meta Knight is informed his chances of being published in Muumuu House are less than 0%, indicating a negative level of interest in publishing. Meta Knight, true to his word of shaking things up, promises to email Tao Lin in 2014, after which Tao Lin will be enormously rich and successful probably. 

                People express dissatisfaction at this level of ‘fooling around’. Muumuu House is a serious endeavor. It serves as a way for Tao Lin to publish works that interest him. The way it works is Tao publishes things from people he likes and feels he doesn’t owe anything to. Pressure is a bad thing for a publishing house to run under. Unfortunately many do just that, soliciting submissions and ‘smacking down’ the respondents. Rejections are a natural part of any zine/publishing house/etc. For this very reason I can promise one thing: Beach Sloth will NEVER create an independent zine, lit journal, etc. Having to make that sort of judgment call would break my little heart. I want to support everybody. Rejection is something I just don’t do. So these ‘solicitations’ that Muumuu House, Pop Serial, and others engage in show a way of avoiding this level of disappointment by selecting a specific few. 

                Of course Alt Lit Gossip was discouraged by this ruse. Meta Knight published a piece on Alt Lit Gossip that was promptly removed. The piece stated that Meta Knight’s piece was definitely not going to be published. Alt Lit Gossip understandably might have been somewhat upset for having fallen victim to this literary hoax. However it is hoped by me and others that the rift between Meta Knight and Alt Lit Gossip will be repaired, bridged, and hugged (for good measure).

                How does this effect anything going on in alt lit? It shows to some degree how news can ‘go viral’ when a particularly large name (Muumuu House) is thrown in with a smaller, lesser known writer. Overall it shows the extreme level of what a tight-knit community looks like. Judging by Tao Lin’s response, Meta Knight’s behavior, and Alt Lit’s forgiveness, all appears to be well within the alt lit community. And this is a good thing. Perhaps this model can be used for future promotional material. Only time will tell.

Zac Zellers is the Where’s Waldo of Ann Arbor by Elizabeth Ellen

                Zac Zellers is an online enigma. Offline he is a legend. People claim nobody is as big of a Tao Lin fan as Zac Zellers. Few ever get to meet this thick-framed possibly fictitious fan boy. Or is Zac Zellers something more of a fan boy. After Elizabeth Ellen’s piece the case could be made that he is forever immortalized both on and offline. This is assuming people print out Muumuu House stories, something which is definitely possible. His twitter presence still exists. His Facebook profile still exists. The few who have met him (Marie Calloway and Elizabeth Ellen) have yet to understand what makes this Waldo weird. 

                Elizabeth Ellen met Zac Zellers in 2010. Hipsters were dying off back then. No great bands came about in 2010. For the most part it was a blank slate of a year. A few bands died off in 2010. Elizabeth had her first in real life sighting of Zac back in that troubled year. He stood in the crowd at a reading. She didn’t approach him but recognized him from afar. Right in the beginning she felt stupid being so anxious about Zac. The dude was only 19 at the time. Even now, at this precise moment, Zac cannot legally purchase or consume alcohol in his home state of Michigan. Within the story she claims she felt foolish feeling so much anxiety about this Zac fellow. Heck she even had a daughter. Yet there remained something peculiar about this character. 

                Tao Lin and Elizabeth met briefly, hence Zac’s appearance. Unfortunately Mike Young and Elizabeth were not invited to see the movie where Joaquin Phoenix tried to become a rapper. Zac went. Zac worked at the movie theater. At that place she saw him all the time selling candy with care, like some crazed animal earning minimum wage as idiots watched mind-numbing movies to help them forget the drudgery of their meaningless lives. Movies suck. 

                Elizabeth felt unsure about the internet life. She was unable to determine whether or not Zac and Marie Calloway met. Many still wonder if Marie Calloway exists in real life so Elizabeth is not alone. Those who have met Marie Calloway appear to have a similar feeling about ‘enigmatic online presence’ that Elizabeth has about Zac Zellers. She de-activates Facebook, a wise decision. Yet she claims to have not seen Zac online since then. This is odd as Zac maintains a relatively ‘open’ online presence complete with an acceptable twitter ratio and Facebook friends. 

                This is a story about what happens when online stalking happens too much. Normally those obsessed about do not care about the others people’s obsessions. It is a strange thing. Zac remains a mystery hiding in plain sight in Michigan just like Waldo.

Beach Sloth: The Rock Life

                Graffiti is an art. Few can produce graffiti of absolute beauty. Many are content to simply squiggle some lines and say ‘done’. Out of the billions of graffiti artists, a select few manage to do it properly. Subject matter is important too. A vision of a beautiful thing is necessary to accurately depict it in the real, from the dream. Usually a graffiti artist thinks ‘Oh cool, it is 4 am and I’m all messed up. Let me draw something incoherently and disrespect this lovely vinyl siding.’ Remember ‘Dick Chicken’? 

                Alt lit embraces graffiti. Several members of alt lit have gone to jail for their beliefs in the art form. Jail is a transformational experience for alt lit. One day they’re in jail, the next they have a story to tell the world. Depending on the energy of the artist this experience can be parlayed into a full-on novella. See Tao Lin’s work for further experience. Tao Lin sucks at shoplifting. However his portrayal of jail life is far better than any attempt to steal a shirt. 

                Tao Lin is also famous for his ‘hamster’ graffito. Anyone in Brooklyn can see it. Many have their picture taken next to it. Witnessing it firsthand is like seeing a Banksy. The only difference is everybody is completely and fully aware Tao Lin did that shit, back in the day when he was young and hungry. How many have tagged the sides of rocks with Tao Lin’s twitter handle? Answer: eight people.

                Well I am an eighth of the way there. For I see something beautiful. A relevant rock erodes in Sarah Lawrence. Take a look at it. Majestically the rock sits there, meditating. Yes it hides the smile quite well. On its bare backside it has my twitter handle. Someone put it there to last forever. Will there ever be a Mt. Rushmore of twitter handles? Only time will tell. 

                I need to change my policy about profile pictures. This is my new profile picture. Should I encourage graffito on the sides of rocks of people? I have no idea where this may lead. Regarding the last bit, of a tattoo of Beach Sloth, I’d recommend paypaling me money instead. Here I thought my main contribution to IRL was sending out chapbooks. How wrong. All I needed to do was embrace a rock. Hope to see more rock-based Beach Sloth art. Wish I could do it but I’m just a sloth. Tag pictures of your ‘@beach_sloth’ rock tags on Facebook. Give me new Facebook profile pictures.

(Source: liefplus)

Tao Lin and Megan Boyle Break Up :(

               There I was, in my matching plaid Pajamas, doing Math homework, when I saw it. A relationship status change which changed my life lay in front of me. Part of me couldn’t believe it. I know love is a never-ending math equation, where the numbers don’t add up, but I couldn’t grasp it. Megan Boyle and Tao Lin had split up. Confused I decided to use math to determine why this had happened, but nothing, not even linear regression or taking the second derivative of love helped me. 

                How did this happen? We’ll never know; that’s for sure. I felt sad seeing this relationship change. The two of them seemed so sweet and adorable together. I remember seeing them in all those MDMA films, which were little funny valentines, bathed in red light, mumbled but caring. Actually I even remember seeing them at one of the premiers of those films, specifically for “Bebe Zeva”. Part of me wanted to go up to them, to shake each one of their hands and thank them for being great writers. Instead I stood by myself, awkward, wondering if I should talk to people more internet famous than myself, which is everyone. 

                Now I can see the bloggers circling around the split up couple. Countless blog entries are going to be dedicated to taking sides. Some will take Tao Lin’s side; others will take Megan Boyle’s side. Foul comments will come out of each camp, dreadful words meant to hurt. They’ll question the other, berate the other, post of Facebook walls, and generally create an internet-based ruckus. 

                I’m going to do an unusual thing I say I like them both. Yes, I’m diplomatic. Sloths are known for being diplomats as we’re not really genetically pre-disposed to fighting due to our slow pace. Each writer has a specific style. Both of them have their own reasons for splitting up and it probably was for the best. Glad to see neither one has any plans for stopping the amazing output they’ve been putting out lately. 

                A number of breakups have been taking place recently. First those old people from Sonic Youth and now this breakup, which hurts more. Sonic Youth are far away from me; they don’t check their twitter nor link my site on their site. Tao Lin and Megan Boyle are responsive on the internet, liking posts and such. Despite having never introduced nor even met either one of them in real life, I feel they are my friends in a way which more meaningful than many people I know in real life. That’s because their work speaks to me and lets me know I’m not alone in feeling overwhelmed by this big old crazy world. At times their writing suggests they are in the room, trying to calm me down, trying to make me feel a little less nervous about my life. That’s probably why I’m a little sad about the breakup. Obviously they are too. 

                Sure, I know it was for the best for reasons I’ll never understand. Love is a mysterious thing. But now I know: if I ever bump into Megan or Tao of them in real life, I’ll give them a hug and buy them some ice cream.

MDMA Films: Mumblecore Preview Part II

               Monday, June 20^th the Mumblecore mayhem is released to the masses. You should be prepared. This is happening. Another tidbit from the upcoming movie “Mumblecore” has been presented online for your viewing pleasure. I am excited to see how much they managed to throw into a film with minimal money. This is the most heartfelt thing I’ve seen from Tao Lin and Megan Boyle. Let Mumblecore be as good as this whole trailer. I’d like that. 

                We begin with the gorgeous red color. For whatever reason, I respond well to the color. Perhaps it is intended to ‘color’ my experience or viewing of it by literally seeing the scene through rose colored glasses. Or it could just be the cheapness of the computer lighting. Whatever the reason it does alter my reaction to what Megan says.  As she says “Then the next few times we hung out we slept in the same bed” Tao’s head looks up at her at an affectionate angle. Tao gives a little nod and they move on to the next scene. “Aw” came out of my mouth involuntarily with this scene. Calling it adorable wouldn’t do it justice. 

                By using a stark editing technique called “reality” Mumblecore captivates me more than some set-up love story. They use real language. I find set-ups in most romantic films to be corny, cheesy, and pretty boring. With those mass-produced sorts of media they edit out any humanity to create a beautiful, empty glossy package. Here Tao and Megan do the exact opposite. Though the filming is oftentimes blurry the humanity is crystal clear. Humanity and love are the main focuses. After Tao says “I like just being around you” into his hand Megan responds with a simple “Me too.” Keeping it so focused and unencumbered by anything else allows you to connect with the mumbling lovers.

                You see them in the back of a car. Nothing happens. They talk. The red light makes a re-appearance. A song plays on the radio (the only song I hear in the entire trailer). Listening to the song their conversation appears to nearly fit the music. That might be accidental but if so it is a rather delightful accident and an example of what happens around us when we pay attention. 

                Paying attention is what Mumblecore is mainly about. Both of them limit the amount of information you’re given. You’re only given two characters. The limits are what define the movie, how you don’t know Tao’s or Megan’s internal thoughts. Considering what they write you probably could guess what they think or don’t think about. I know some people religiously digest everything either person comes out with or does. Lately Tao has been prolific with writing for “Vice Magazine” and selling some of his possessions on eBay. But knowing what they think isn’t important. You don’t even need to know them that well to feel the connection between the two. 

                I enjoyed the second trailer a lot. Even more than the first it makes me eagerly await its release on MDMA Films.

mdmafilms:

“TRAILER 1” RE MUMBLECORE (20 JUN 2011, PREORDERABLE HERE)

MDMA Films: Mumblecore Preview

               The darling duo of literary lovers Tao Lin and Megan Boyle have returned for the epic “Mumblecore” movie. Due to open in theaters on June 20^th, it is a bit different than their previous outings, meaning less drugs and no Bebe Zeva (sorry). In the preview we see what they did on a normal day. You get a ‘sneak peak’ into their relationship dynamic, something a small but vocal part of the internet wonders loudly about. And no, it isn’t a chill-ass publicity stunt, they are for real. Their love is real. 

                Neither Megan nor Tao are known for their enunciating skills. Personally, I can relate to this dilemma being a low-energy sloth. Since not everyone can understand the joy of mumbled delivery, they included subtitles. This is important. With the subtitles, you’re able to understand the true wit of these two. The mumbling gives the movie its title anyway. 

                Watching the teasingly brief trailer, we’re shown what they do. They read a book together, “Infinite Jest”. Going through Walmart at 2AM, they discover who won the National Book Award. Seeing what they see through their own eyes is great. As they carry their laptop around, you feel like a small child being introduced to a world of wonder. You learn what a “Chocolate Melter” is. Once you understand what the Chocolate Melter can do you realize America is the greatest country that God ever gave humanity. Sean Hannity was right. 

                MDMA Films has a purpose. It focuses on the minute details we overlook. Some people call it ‘boring’ or ‘gimmicky’. I disagree vehemently. Their work strips away all the nonsense we pour on top of stories, on top of Television shows and movies. Little silly details, pointless drama is cut out of the scenario. You’re given a pure, uncut depiction of the events. In a way their movies are extensions of the intensely-focused writing the two of them create.

                I enjoyed the sparseness of the trailer. At moments the trailer felt like a Valentine they made together. The one-minute mark confirms this for me. Seeing the two of them bathed in a red glow feels like their emotions have gained color. I know Tao is known for his famous ‘neutral expressions’ but here he is experiencing emotion. When he was asked on his Facebook profile if he felt emotions, he said he did. “Mumblecore” confirms that fact. Drenched in giddy silliness, you see how two starving artists are able to sustain themselves on love. At the very end of the trailer we see the two of them sitting in silence in a hotel room. That scene reminds me of “Stranger than Paradise” as Eva sits alone in the hotel room, bored. 

                Ultimately I hope they decide to have a premier for their movie. When the movie opens, I want to see Tao and Megan. As they greet people, I will not introduce myself for I am a shy sloth. Instead, I’ll find some non-descript part of the room to hide in, preferably an area with a tree for me to hang upside down on. Or perhaps I might muster all the confidence I can and shake both of their hands. The latter is less likely. 

                In either instance, I want to see Tao and Megan succeed. For too long they have been putting out quality products with little in the traditional definition of ‘money’ or ‘profit’. A rabid, internet-savvy and mostly impoverished fan-base bodes poorly for sales. They give and we take. It is high time we give them something back. On June 20^th, let’s make “Mumblecore” the highest-grossing film from MDMA films ever.

March 28^th, 2011

Dear Gawker,

Remember video games? You know the fun first person shooter ones. The ones where you’d be shot by your dorm roommate in a rather unflattering matter (you were sniping as they shot you in the back with a shotgun). In case this wasn’t enough, they proceeded to do a dance on your corpse. After this, they’d laugh and say “You got owned” over and over again, until the words lost their meaning.

Well, you got owned by Carles, of the popular weblog Hipster Runoff.

I’m sorry. Carles does this on occasion in order to gauge interest in his blog. Usually it garners enough advertising revenue from this event to help him purchase a new computer, wide screen TV, finance a vacation to the Apple Store, or just a wild reckless night out on the town. Apparently whoever at Gawker received the email might not have been aware of this gimmick, though Carles puts it into his own bio on his website.

No job with his uncle existed. When you saw the interest he had working for another blog that was a ruse. Though to be honest I could see him working for Gawker, he has a lot of affection for your site, doing interviews, winning Hipster of the Decade and whatnot. But I’m not sure if he could work in an office. Reading his older posts, he has reservations about office work, like so many creative twenty somethings. I mean, who wants to live under the glare of emotionless white bulbs. Nobody does.

This time he did act a little differently. By emailing you he wanted to heighten the sense of drama involving his periodic meltdown. People wouldn’t have gotten as upset had he not notified the authorities. According to Carles, you are the internet authorities of culture. I mean, look at all the coverage you give to other internet-based writers. 

Signs had been present which might have suggested Carles was at the end of his rope. Introducing the Museum of Modern Alt alongside the Mainstreamer might have hinted perhaps Carles was running out of ideas. Constant competitions for Hipster Runoff involving people’s submitted pictures gave the impression Carles was ‘running on empty’. The post he had on his own firsts policy could have lead you astray, I grant you that much. 

But really, I am trying to apply for a position as the new coverage man for Hipster Runoff. I know Gawker has some serious blog bucks. Honestly, I’m pretty poor right now. Your money would be put to good use in keeping a sleepy, poverty stricken part of the internet alive. Don’t worry, I won’t cover Hipster Runoff like HRO Exegesis, there’s already a guy doing it. Plus, as an added bonus, I’m a respected poster on the Hipster Runoff blog, if that means anything, which it doesn’t besides to show off what I read during my lunch break.

                Various other people from Hipster Runoff called Carles’ gimmick out as well. Claiming he’ll have some vaguely ridiculous, possibly hour-long Podcast explaining nothing in many words, they were validated. After being proven right, they got some sweet tweets thrown their way. Maybe one or two of them might like a cushy office blog job. 

                For all those who called out the hoax, there were far more who were deeply worried. Believing falsely Carles was serious since he’d never punk Gawker, they fell for it. Just like you. So don’t feel bad, plenty other Hipster Runoff watchers read this one wrong. 

                Really though, would you prefer he followed through on his idle threat? I guess occasionally Carles just wants some coaxing. He needs phone calls telling him how important he is in generating content we all consume. Whether or not we like it is no longer important. Instead, he deliberately stirs up the pot. If Gawker decided Beach Sloth would do a good job covering Hipster Runoff, I promise you I’d needlessly create blog beefs between Gawker and Carles. They’d be similar to Tao Lin, who you now adore, but the build-up and drama between the two of you kept things interesting. Hipster Runoff needs beefs (whether it is between him and Best Coast) so I feel an entire website versus him might result in something even better than him versus a perpetually stoned cat lady. 

                Carles I’m certain would be game for this beef. Anything which could drum up attention for his blog seems like a win-win. I promise I might do a better job of figuring out when Carles will quit his blog, which I know will be never. Blogging is a hell of a drug.  Forever and ever, he’ll stay in our hearts. Even when people hate Carles, they heart him deep down on the inside. They want to get vulnerable with him, via Facebook, via Twitter, via the comment section. So beloved was Carles they even started a relevancy funeral Tumblr to celebrate one of the fallen fearless few. 

                I hope this reaches you before you before you have to do some silly about-face on the internet. With me in charge of Hipster Runoff Relevancy coverage, I offer to do nothing but provoke the anonymous blogger. For we’re all a part of this great blog-o-sphere, constantly trying to outdo one another, and what could be better than a blog battle? 

                Sincerely,

                Beach Sloth

MDMA Films: Bebe Zeva Preview 2

   Usually a movie doesn’t get a second trailer. The first one ought to be enough. MDMA Films is no ordinary company. How many films companies decide an entire movie will feature the actors doing drugs the entire time, real drugs, not faking some response. I’ll tell you: precious few. Actors wait until after the filming has ended before acting in such a manner. Just ask Charlie Sheen, ask him how hot that’s working out for him.

                Bebe Zeva comes out March 20^th, 2011. Tao and Megan Lin tend to every one of Bebe’s needs, and not needs. Feeding her ice cream, using positive re-enforcement when she does a good job, it seems they are getting in touch with their kind selves. Playlists apparently seem to be a specialty of hers, a gift not all people are granted. I’m glad they came out with this second trailer, which upon first viewing seems pointless (names of people are tightly edited together) but actually makes quite a bit of sense.

                Names pass by, whirling in your mind. References are edited to become only references, perhaps a nod to our culture of constant referencing of other pieces of information. Sure, this did exist before the internet, like political satire, but I feel a lot of information has become ‘ghetto-ized’ meaning people can better and more effectively live inside their own interests with no interaction whatsoever of anything else. For examples, just see how writers cater to a particular crowd, TV caters to a crowd, and music you can hide yourself away in forever. Though I am partial to Tao Lin’s work, so I guess I do this to some degree.

Writers are mentioned besides Tao, Travis McFarland in particular. Carles of Hipster Runoff is mentioned multiple times. Whether or not this is deliberate or a conscious decision on her part is unclear. Editing it in that way shows how she originally started her online career at his infinitely ironic website. 

                Honestly, I get the impression Bebe would’ve been internet famous no matter who she met first, whether it was Carles or some other, possibly nicer blogger. Tao appear to be a far kinder person towards her than Hipster Runoff’s master ever was. Even though Carles is funny and provides occasional insight, keep in mind writers aren’t all kind. William S. Burroughs shot his wife in the head and neglected his son. Despite his failings, he managed to produce some fantastic work. Clearly Carles isn’t this bad, but his treatment of those he features on his blog show a certain callous mean streak. He wants you to ‘get vulnerable’ with him since that’s the easiest way he can break you down. Tao, on the other hand, is the natural friend of Bebe helping her along by doing legitimate work on her documentary. Critics of Tao’s books state his writing allows for a reader’s interpretation, it doesn’t enforce a particular emotion or way it wants you to feel. MDMA Films works in this interpretative vein. 

                All of MDMA Film’s other films lack multiple trailers. Watching this kind of trailer, with all its references, shows off exactly a specific type of culture. Each mention suggests a particular kind of haute indie taste, the kind that I obviously am more than partial to, I embrace it. References take up a larger and larger portion of our lives, allowing for people to sort of create their own universe where they can interact with others.                

                I’m not sure how many more trailers these guys are going to put out for Bebe. However many they are, they are worth it. She deserves it.