Author

Liam Wamba

EventsLifestyleThe Latest

HYPNOWORLD Launches at The Palace

by Liam Wamba
written by Liam Wamba

Hypno launched Hypno World, May 18th at The Palace. Hypno World looks to merge web3 with in person communities. Hypno began with its NFT camera which captures pixelated portraits like a photo booth. Hypno World mints these photos into PFP NFTs that give the purchaser access to the live events. Hypno World uses the Hypno technology to mint NFTs at the event. Hypno World collaborates with other brands and other communities to help put on live events. Already, they’ve worked with Tom Ford and Prada to do events with their Hypno NFT camera. This NFT pass grants access to events that partner with different brands, where the user can mint NFTs with the Hypno camera.

PFP NFTs (Pictures For Proof) are profile pictures for web3 communities. They serve to connect NFTs, which are still largely speculative art commodities, to growing web3 communities. Although MetaMask, the portal through which NFTs are purchased, is still difficult to access without crypto, I spoke to MetaMask users at the event about developments to connect MetaMask with users’ debit cards. 

Hypno World uses NFTs to create something that looks like social media on web3. The Hypno portraits let the members capture events, friends, and even brands. The portraits live in web3, where a whole community can view and share them. In addition to being photos, they retain a speculative aspect as NFTs. By creating events and partnering with brands, Hypno World looks to create spaces worth memorializing.

Its hard to downplay the ambition of the project. It’s exciting because the scope spans almost everything we consider entertainment in the modern world. The test will be taste. Can Hypno World create unique and inspiring events? Can they attract users who will use the technology to create narratives? Will Hypno World give rise to personalities? The technology is already fertile for interesting stories, memorable moments, and captivating characters. If all of those characteristics emerged on IG and Twitter, platforms where you get a photo and a few words, they can certainly emerge on a platform as layered and nuanced as Hypno World. Hopefully the right taste makers will find the technology useful for telling novel stories. 

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Review: The Revolution Generation

by Liam Wamba
written by Liam Wamba

The Revolution Generation is a documentary about political involvement amongst young people. The film uses the word Millennial but seems to be talking about Gen-Z along with Millennials. It relies on a lot of well known actors and politicians to make the message more relatable. It runs for about an hour and a half and has the expressed goal of encouraging left-wing political involvement. This goal gives the piece a feeling more akin to a long form commercial than an inquisitive documentary. It starts by trying to grapple with negative stereotypes about Millennials, as self-absorbed, lazy, snowflakes. The documentary contextualizes the experience of Millennials/Gen-Z through the background of the internet, 9/11, and less financial security. Usually resulting in a choice between participation in the gig economy and exorbitant student loans. Partially as a result, our generation is largely left leaning and increasingly cares about social justice. 

An interesting theory that the documentary introduces is the Strauss-Howe rotational generation theory. The theory eschews that a crisis tends to happen every eighty years, an average lifespan. Each generation is about twenty years, thus a crisis begins and ends each cycle and somewhat defines each generation. The theory believes there are four different archetypes that are defined by four different turnings, a high, a time of institutional strength. An awakening where these institutions are attacked on the basis of individual and spiritual freedom. An unraveling where individualism, pessimism, and laissez-faire are prominent, followed by a crisis, an era of destruction or revolution. At its basis the theory provokes us to think that generations evolve in reaction to the previous and in response to major events. The theory believes that these evolutions prompt a cycle of four generations: the prophet, the nomad, the hero, the artist, repeat. 

The documentary explains that millennials are in the hero category, arguably the first cycle. They grow up overprotected by parents during an unraveling and reach young adulthood during a crisis, followed by a high during our midlife. Essentially as a generation we can expect to enter our young adulthood and mature during a crisis. Mid-life is the dominant point of most generations and the generation that comes of age after our crisis will critique our restructuring of society. This millennium began with two “forever wars” in Iraq and Afghanistan, a global pandemic, climate change, and currently a conflict in Ukraine, the breadbasket of the world. The revolution generation seems to be an imperative in this context. The documentary highlights that our generation came of age in an unsafe world, a world worthy of revolution. 

Perhaps due to my place in the aforementioned generation, the documentary shines when it introduces potential structural changes. A multi party system, cumulative voting, and even adding legislation to the ballot box are all impactful steps that go beyond supporting a candidate. The documentary introduces these potential changes when it tries to explain the lack of political involvement amongst young people in our last election. If our generation is to meet the crises of this millenium political involvement will be important and if we are in alignment with the rotational theory of generations our strategy should be one of total overhaul. An overhaul that does feel brewing in the zeitgeist.

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

On The Scene: ‘Navalny’ NY Premiere

by Liam Wamba
written by Liam Wamba

The new CNN documentary Navalny is about Putin’s main opposition figure in Russia. Possibly the world’s most dangerous job. Alexei Navalny is a powerfully charismatic lawyer, who has garnered worldwide support through his masterful digital presence and his fearless criticism of Putin. Navalny founded the Anti-Corruption foundation with the dogged aim of identifying corruption in Putin’s regime. Up until the middle of the film, when Navalny puts international eyes on Russia, Putin wouldn’t even say his name.

In a dark wooden building, at the end of the film, Navalny tells his supporters that In case of death, he wants them to know how powerful they are. If the pressure he’s put on Putin, the Kremlin, and the Russian system of oligarchy is enough to end his life, they have to keep going. Navalny ends in the same dark wooden building with the same question it began with. Director Daniel Roher sits behind the camera and asks Alexei Navalny the question he knows he’ll “probably hate.” The In-case-of-death question. Navalny laughs it off.

“Come on Daniel… I thought this film was going to be a thriller and then if they kill me we can make a boring movie about memories.” The film lives in this tension to the very end. 

During Alexei’s poisoning, his wife and daughter change this political documentary into something more visceral. The film follows Alexei’s poisoning, his recovery in Germany, the investigation into the crime, and his return to Russia. Christo Grozev, investigative journalist and head of Bellingcat, was the investigator who discovered the evidence of Putin’s assassination attempt on Alexei Navalny. His character gives the film its thriller element. Christo and producer Maria Pevchik both feature in the highlight scene of the film where Navalny “prank calls” his assassins. This scene, which was uploaded to Youtube in 2020, wouldn’t be believable if it was in a Jason Bourne film, it’s incredible. Unfortunately they’ve been unable to contact the scientist they tricked into divulging secrets of the poisoning on camera. During the scene they unanimously agree that the Russian government will kill him. 

Christo explains to us that he can discover this information because he’s investigating a “moscow4” regime. The story of moscow4 is the story of a dysfunctional government. Apparently a high security Kremlin hack occurred because an official’s password was moscow1. Once he was hacked he changed his password to moscow2. This password was subsequently hacked. He changed this password… to moscow3. I hope this explains the origin of moscow4. Information about the Russian government is widely available on the dark web, which Christo used for large portions of his investigation. The genius of Christo’s work, along with Navalny’s mastery of social media embarrassed an authoritarian government, which hasn’t quite figured out how to deal with the internet. 

Christo, Maria, and Navalny’s wife and daughter, were all at the premiere of Navalny. These were Navalny’s close confidants and characters in the documentary. The combination gave the excitement of the film a feeling of brevity. One of the most difficult scenes was watching Navalny’s wife Yulia being physically restrained while trying to get into the hospital after Navalny is poisoned. Yulia and Navalny are a natural duo and the documentary wordlessly captures it. She is strikingly beautiful and is Navalny’s perfect equal in determination and fearlessness, if not his equal in English and laissez-faire. Her character seems more at home facing down Russian police than feeding donkeys in a German field. Everyone knows that Navalny’s work carries with it the risk of violence against his family When his wife was introduced at the end of the Q&A she was the only person to receive a standing ovation. 

The cost of this danger to Navalny, the man, and his family, is reaped by Navalny the politician. Nobody will ask you to explain your policy differences with the boogeyman. Sailing by his policies, It’s easy to forget that Navalny is running for office. On examination, Navalny’s political positions are troubling. He is a nationalist who has spoken out against immigration. The documentary plays a of clip of him speaking at an ultra nationalist rally, Nazi symbols flying on the flags behind him. Navalny tiredly answers the question when the director asks about it. He says that when you’re fighting a dictator you can’t be picky with your allies. He adds that Russia is fighting for simpler goals like democracy, freedom of speech and the press, anti-corruption etc. Although a political coalition is necessary, it’s hard to see Nazis being stalwart defenders of democracy and individual rights in the long run. 

This film was released in the context of a major escalation in the new cold war between Russia and the United States. The U.S is currently fighting a diplomatic and information war against Russia. A lot of this war has been directed against Putin, the same place the film Navalny directs its attention. The war that the United States is waging is an attempt to capture the hearts and minds of the international community and ideally the Russian people. Navalny doesn’t galvanize the public behind concrete social goals; it galvanizes them against Putin. A film about a politician’s story and political objectives should lead with his policies. Alexei Navalny is willing to work with anyone who is anti-Putin but should we follow suit? Like every great power, the United States has its specialities when it comes to taking influence. All across the globe the United States has shown itself to be a specialist in coups. Selecting a leader, demonizing them, and forcing the international community to support the lesser of two evils is a well worn strategy. The Forever Wars of the 21st century have been about cleaning up the results of this strategy. The Mujahideen in Afghanistan and Saddam Hussein, both received support from the United States in proxy wars for regional dominance, and ultimately cost us trillions of dollars and millions of lives. We have to learn from the past and take international policy in a different direction this century. 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EntertainmentEventsThe Latest

Review: ‘On & Coppin’

by Liam Wamba
written by Liam Wamba

On & Coppin is a documentary about an HBCU basketball team at Coppin State University. It is shot with a collection of old footage, pictures, sketches, and interviews. The documentary is a celebration of Ron “Fang” Mitchell who transformed the school’s basketball team, leading them to unlikely success in the 1997 NCAA tournament. Coppin State is located in a majority black and impoverished part of Baltimore. During the documentary an assistant coach noted how difficult it was to get students to come to Coppin once they saw North Avenue. An ex-player described the poor conditions of the dorms which were located off campus. The narrator brushes it off, pointing out that most of these kids were from south Jersey or Philly so rampant poverty and violence couldnt be too off-putting. Coach Fang nonchalantly adds, “Yale is in a tough neighborhood.” 

Today Fang proudly owns his reputation as a “tough man.” A few seconds of team footage show him screaming and berating his players on the bench. An ex-player, Antoine Brockington, explains by saying he felt Fang “knew how to get the best out of his players.” Anger and toughness were apparently a palpable force behind the team. When describing the 1993 team that took him to greatness he uses the word tough to describe all of the (Black) men on his team. Star player Terquin Mott said, “I was angry before every game, like I’m going to rip someone’s head off.” In his words he was told by Fang, “I’m bringing you here to fucking dominate, dominate the opposition.” 

One of the most useful functions of Coppin State basketball was their road tours. Fang would take his team on the road to play larger universities who would foot the bill. Coppin coaches recall how Fang’s success bankrolled other Coppin teams. “If I was going to be a prostitute I want the big money” Fang says with his hands up almost innocently. Considering the conversations surrounding minorities and sports the pimping analogy is apt. The documentary concludes with Coppin’s NCAA tournament performance in 1997. During one of the games there was an altercation between Coppin State and Howard University, instigated by Terquin Mott. They allude to the fact that Coppin, or rather Terquin, won the fight. The documentary treats us to some sketches of black men with basketball heads punching each other.

Coach Fang uses the word respect constantly when talking about his players’ motivation. He wanted this small impoverished school to be recognized and accepted in the world of college sports. He believed that if he worked hard and accepted nothing less than victory he could achieve his goals. In an emotional speech at the end of the documentary, Fang says he’s happy his players are role models who have felt some degree of success and recognition. At the very end he even says he loves them. This comes close to convincing us that this is simply a story about true grit.

On & Coppin is a story about men of color who were denied respect from birth and fought tooth and nail for it. During reconstruction Booker T. Washington and W.E.B Dubois debated whether it would benefit Black people to push for systemic change or if they should work hard to fit into American society and succeed. Washington believed that if you work hard enough in your marginalized caste you can achieve the respect this country denied you. But when you try to endure exploitation enthusiastically you just get more abuse. You get a black man berating his “tough” unpaid black students about “going brain dead” on camera. In the end you’re still the tough, angry, violent black boy they always knew you were. Maybe with a little extra time in the spotlight and a pat on the back for the entertainment. 

A lot of Fang’s behavior seems like American sports as usual, but when directed towards young men of color it just looks like an emotional minstrel show. Especially if it’s hard to point out how the players benefited in the long run. Despite the damage our elders may have done, despite the damage done to them, their success ensured a place for us in the future. Ron “Fang” Mitchell was a key part of one of those success stories.

 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
EntertainmentFilmThe Latest

Film Review: ‘Jeen-Yuhs’

by Liam Wamba
written by Liam Wamba

 

Abstract and iconic, Jeen-Yuhs begins with the current Kanye freestyling beneath a concrete gazebo in blue shorts, flip flops, and a military vest. Coodie, the creator and videographer of Jeen-Yuhs, along with another are tucked into the second frame behind the boards. While dictating the day to an assistant, an innocuous camera zooms in on Kanye’s phone. Twitter fingers at the ready.

“Should I tweet this? ‘Cause you know I be needin’ a translator.” Thus begins the three part Netflix special. Kanye West’s life, narrated and translated by Coodie. He explains to us he met Kanye West in Chicago and after being played the beat that would become “H to the Izzo” he began to film him. Coodie uses his narration, himself as a character, and this footage, decades in the making, to tell Kanye’s story.. 

Along with his narration, the time stamped footage attempts to take us through Kanye’s move from NYC to Chicago in search of a deal. The footage reminds us of a time when a younger Kanye felt trapped by the reigning trend of gangsta rap in Hip-Hop. Kanye fights on all fronts to be taken seriously as a rapper at Roc-A-Fella records. With a very uncleish arm draped over his shoulder, Dame-Dash tells us that Kanye is a, “Sweet, well-guided, religious guy.” Kanye frowns. 

“Damn, he just hit me with the he-wouldnt-hurt-a-fly shit.” he says. While playing Jesus Walks for Scarface he chooses to take out his retainer, to the shock of Scarface who asks for its immediate removal from his vicinity. Scarface loves “Jesus Walks” and Kanye leaves his retainer where it is till the exact moment Scarface leaves. Watching a future multi-millionaire fight for his respect as a creative and a kind human being, is undoubtedly heart warming. 

The camera follows him into his mothers home, through teary-eyed conversations with idols turned rivals, and his unwavering battle to break out of the countless boxes he finds himself in. Faith, prophecy, and genius are at the heart of the documentary’s strength. While visiting his mother Kanye tells us that whenever she heard one of his particular ideas she told him, “That’s a million dollars.” She may have been literally correct. Along the way we’re introduced to Coodie’s family. While watching his fathers family footage, we’re told that Coodie feels his background is very similar to the home Donda provided for Kanye.  

Some might think this humbling portrayal, through intimate amateur film, is exactly what Kanye needs. But none of us know what Kanye needs, including the film Jeen-Yuhs. There was some controversy between Coodie and Kanye in the lead up to the film’s release. Kanye has said a few different things about the documentary that make a lot more sense after seeing it. This footage is priceless to any fan of hip hop, African-American culture, and maybe to Kanye himself. The footage is incredible because young Kanye’s words have a time capsule quality, but it’s unclear for who. His reaction will undoubtedly be another interesting chapter in his own story. 

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail