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OVERWORLD:
-Twitch’s latest psychosis-

TWO BETWEENS:
-Watch out… We’re being “AI-washed”-
-Denim Tears almost made watermelon converse-

THE DEPTHS:
-The greatest Japanese film of all time-

”You gotta turn with the times, or the times gonna turn on you.”
— E-40

✦TREND PICKS✦

Media

Twitch’s latest problem is girls streaming Fortnite on their ass

Twitch has been fighting a crazy ass problem recently: girls streaming Fortnite on their green-screened butts.

As you may know, nudity is forbidden on Twitch. But cleavage and sexually suggestive outfits aren't. What that actually means is famously vague.

For years, female Twitch streamers have been making showbiz money by exploiting that vagueness.

✦The genius behind it all✦

The green-screen trend was ignited by Morgpie, a streamer famous for bending rules to gather money from her audience of soulless modern men.

(If you donate she'll do some jumping jacks for you. Blessed capitalism.)

You have to give it to Morgpie, she's a technical innovator. Yesterday, she wore a green-screen shirt making only her face and valley-sized cleavage visible.

But not all advertisers want their product showcased next to booty. Now, Twitch is banning people from doing the green-screen meta.

✦Where there's streaming, there’s always ass✦

Twitch wants to have the cake and eat it too (instead of cake, think ass). Sex sells, so these streamers bring in heaps of traffic for Twitch.

And so, Twitch is always toeing the line between satisfying advertisers and horny viewers.

In the past months, Twitch has been extra ambivalent:

Here's the thing though: These streamers will never stop trying to bend the rules. Morgpie will always Morgpie.

This means that Twitch is playing an endless game of whac-a-mole instead of being decidedly brutal. It's only a question of time before a new meta pops up, and Twitch has to tweak policies again.

✦QUICK HITS✦

Swedish researchers found that just two nights of poor sleep can significantly age individuals, making them feel years older.

A Japanese diaper company, has decided to stop making baby diapers and start making adult diapers. This is due to Japan's record-low birth rates. In contrast, 30% of the population is aged 65 or older - and they’re going to need diapers.

Diddy has reportedly sold his shares in Revolt TV to an unnamed buyer. Diddy co-founded the entertainment network with Andy Schuon in 2013, but… you know.

The UK is targeting social media influencers and the use of memes in marketing cryptocurrencies to combat the surge in financial scams.

H&M's shares surged 14% after the Swedish retailer surpassed profit expectations for its fiscal first quarter. Operating profit reached 2.08 billion Swedish kronor, significantly above the anticipated 1.43 billion kronor. Good for them.

Read: “Are We Living in The Roaring 20s?” Drawing parallels to the prosperity of the 1920s following the Great War, the article argues we're experiencing a modern "Roaring 2020s" amidst the aftermath of the pandemic. You be the judge of that.

 🤖 Watch out… We’re being “AI-washed”
There’s a whole lot of AI shit going on right now. A little bit too much AI shit.

Last month, SEC Chair Gary Gensler (AKA Big G) introduced the term "AI washing." It’s basically how some companies overhype their AI products, misleading investors about their capabilities or how they use AI.

This marketing phenomenon is rampant as companies strive to align with the latest tech trend. Actually, a record 36% of S&P 500 companies mentioned AI in their Q4 earnings reports, according to Business Insider.

As it often does, reality falls short of the promise with companies being vague about AI's integration into their operations or promoting a futuristic vision that may not materialize.

The consequences are real: the SEC recently fined two companies Delphia and Global Predictions $225K and $175K respectively for making false claims about their AI capabilities.

Despite AI's potential, the hype needs humbling. 

🍉 Tremaine Emory tried making watermelon Converse - but it was too racist.
Yes, Emory's vision for a watermelon-themed Converse was effectively canceled due to concerns over racial insensitivity.

Discussing the halted project on Tetragrammaton with Rick Rubin, Emory revealed Converse's reservations about the imagery. "They called me, they told me, they weren't down, they didn't wanna do it," Emory said.

Emory’s signature touch is all about creating edge taboo Black American themes. It’s good stuff, but hard for big corporations to vibe with.

Last year, he fell out with Supreme after not being allowed to portray Arthur Jafa’s artwork of black men being hanged on their clothes - resulting in him stepping down as creative director.

For his own brand, Denim Tears, there are no limits though. His latest collection titled “Kiss My Grits,” features watermelon polos, hoodies, and Levi’s. Omnomnom. 

THE DEPTHS

Film

Ran, the greatest Japanese film of all time

“Ran” (乱) is Japanese for madness, or chaos. For Akira Kurosawa, it was the perfect name for his 1985 magnum opus, “Ran”.

The name is so on the nose, that it makes the nose bleed.

That’s because Ran is Shakespeare's King Lear refitted into sixteenth-century feudal Japan. King Lear, if you didn’t know, is about an aging monarch who divides his kingdom among his daughters, leading to betrayal, madness, and the tragic downfall of his family and kingdom.

Kurosawa japanifies Shakespeare: In Ran, the aging Lord Hidetora decides to divide his kingdom among his three sons. And so, the chaos and madness starts. In their hands, Hidetora is thrown out, reduced to an insane hobo roaming his fallen kingdom.

We see, and feel, the "Ran," the literal chaos of the title: structure turns into dust and legacy into strangership.

✦A mind-boggling performance✦

Tatsuya Nakadai plays Lord Hidetora, and the performance is, in a word, sick.

He begins with a fierce composure - a regal king whose legend demands respect and fear.

But as he descends into madness, his eyes get red, his face deeply lined. By the end of it all, he is a hull of the grand leader he once was - no more useful than the dirt on the ground.

✦The making of✦

Kurosawa knew what he wanted to make. He needed lots of money, time, and attention. So, he spent 10 years preparing every detail and scoured the world for funding.

With a budget of $11–12 million, it was the most expensive film in the history of Japanese cinema upon its release. Everything had to be on point:

✦ 1,400 uniforms and suits of armor were handmade by master tailors over more than two years.

✦ 200 horses were used for the film.

✦ Kurosawa obtained rare permission to shoot at two of Japan’s most cherished landmarks: the ancient castles at Kumamoto and Himeji.

When it was done, Kurosawa was 75 years old - and his age showed no dullness. In fact, film perverts regard Ran as one of the greatest films ever made.