Things Connected

Trend Hunting or...Swagger Jacking?

A lot of people in advertising and marketing make a living by knowing what's popping.  The cultural anthropology part of that is cool to me...


Think about David LaChapelle's documentary Rize (a story about the creation of Clowning and Krumping) and compare to MTV's Dances from tha Hood (a show that teaches viewers all the newest street dances).

Big business exploits culture - or takes culture, waters it down and serves it up to the masses without giving anything back (MTV wants to get mad at YouTube, but is it paying any licensing fees to the people who created these dances?)...

There's a Nas lyric in Kanye's "We Major":

And it hurts to see these companies be stealing the life
And I love to give my blood sweat and tears to the mic

It's frustrating to see people's lives turned into a fad...their passions used to increase profit margins.  At the same time, these sponsorships & partnerships help creative people continue to pursue their passions.

How can we make sure that corporations invest in creative cultures and partner with artists/movements/endeavors instead of hijacking and exploiting them?

Anime + Foreign Affiars...The Way of the Samurai

50 years after Akira Kurosawa made the 1954 classic film,  "Seven Samurai", an anime version was produced by Gonzo called "Samurai 7."  This 26 episode series follows the original's storyline, features the same characters, and similarly examines the ways of the samurai - Bushido - and the difficulties connected with this way of life.

My favorite part of "Samurai 7" is the character development, especially with Kambei, the group's leader.

He is 'battle worn' and wise, pragmatic and stoic.  Just as his companions, we come to respect and admire Kambei's fearless and honest demeanor in the face of adversity.  The group of seven samurai are the lowest in the warrior class (ronin), yet they overcome huge adversity to save a village of farmers.  Most of them die in the battle, and those who survive live on with heavy burdens and little thanks from the village they've saved. 

In 2003, Hiro Aida wrote an article for the Foreign Service Journal titled, Secretary Powell: An American Samurai?...in this short piece Aida compares the character Kambei (from the Kurosawa original) to  Secretary of State Colin Powell. 

To Aida, Kambei and Powell share:                                                                                                 

1.  Similar cultures: chaotic, post-war, fear-ridden times; for Kambei, it's the medieval Sengoku Period of Warring
States.  For Powell, the post-9/11 attack period in the US.

2.  A personal background that's survived through tough times and wearily prevailed in battle

3.  Personality traits such as stoicism, prudence, restraint, pragmatism and grace

4.  And finally, both men are doomed to be famous, somewhat thankless heroes who've still 'lost' the larger battle.   The Guardian article, Colin Powell's Lonely War, gives much insight into Powell's final days (in disgrace) at the White House.

What are those of us who want to be change agents willing to sacrifice  for our cause?

What does it mean to 'win'?  To live?  To prosper?  To have the respect of others?  To achieve goals?