Issue 114 (2013-2014)

Issue 114 (March 4, 2014)

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TUESDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Articles

Things to Know About Pharrell Williams

By: Nessa Garcia

Pharrell Williams finally seems to be getting the recognition he deserves. A spunky 40-year old who really looks 25 (Google him—this is 100% accurate), Pharrell has been dabbling in all parts of today’s music industry. Last summer, he was responsible for and participatory in the top two songs of the season, as he is both a producer and an artist. Yet, Pharrell has even made a reputation for himself in the film industry. At the Oscars, he performed a song that he wrote for Despicable Me 2, and the song was nominated for Most Original Song. But, before I bore you with any more facts that you could easily find yourself, here’s a fangirl list of things that I think you should know about this unique figure in pop culture:

·         His style is legendary. You may think this is an insignificant detail, but Pharrell truly stands out from the rest. Most recently, he has sported a ridiculously-tall, brown Buffalo hat that he has shamelessly worn to both the Grammy’s and the Oscar’s. Already, there is a Twitter account for this hat with 22k followers. And yes, I do mean for the hat.

·         He named his son Rocket Man Williams. For any other celebrity we would have scoffed, but it’s okay because he’s Pharrell Williams.

·         His next upcoming album, entitled G I R L, is dedicated to women…in a good way. To be honest, I haven’t listened to it because it hasn’t dropped yet, but it’s most likely about his appreciation. Disclaimer: I mean all kinds of appreciation towards women. This is a pop album, people. Think Beyoncé feminism. Think Partition (NSFW, though).

·         He started a company called i am OTHER. Essentially, it just celebrates how weird we are, because we are all pretty weird. Seriously.

·         Throughout all of this, he has done random collabs with Louis Vuitton and exhibitionist artists to make pretty and artsy things. Just ‘cause he felt like it.

Well, now you know! Hopefully, with this brief collection of my favorite things about Pharrell you can take more interest in what he does later on, because right now, it’s only upwards for him. Long live Skateboard P.

A Mankey on a Typewriter

By: Austin Quinn

                Probability states that a monkey sitting at a typewriter, pecking away at the keys for an infinite amount of time, will eventually produce all of Shakespeare’s plays. Unlikely, but possible. Now imagine seventy thousand people playing Pokemon Red Version, one button at a time, and you have a real-life equivalent to the infinite monkey theorem. Except all seventy thousand struggle and bicker to control the same typewriter. Welcome to “Twitch Plays Pokemon.”

                This social phenomenon, started by an anonymous Australian programmer, manages to interpret thousands of chat comments per minute from viewers around the world as they watch the game streamed live on Twitch. Viewers type simple commands such as “left,” or “right,” and the player character, acting in real time, will take a step in that direction. With such a massive quantity of chat inputs, the player character spasms about in chaotic, random movement, constantly checking his team and inventory while stumbling into walls and over ledges. Fitting how "Twitch" hosts the stream.
                One would not expect the game to progress very far, as thousands of players must coordinate their actions to achieve simple goals. Cutting down a tree took six hours. Passing the dreaded ledge took twenty-six. Somehow, with sheer determination and relentless perseverance, the character has actually made it to Victory Road. Praise the Helix.

                What makes this social experiment such an enthralling, hilarious event worthy of the devotion and attention of thousands of viewers? Simply put, the community. The unpredictable hivemind – as the players have been deemed – have transcribed their bizarre journey into an epic tale through fan art, gifs, memes. In a way, the stream has become more of a television series than a game.

                Like American Idol or Biggest Loser or similar shows which allow the audience to vote for their favorites, Twitch Plays Pokemon has managed to involve its audience in a critical way. The viewer feels significant, and even the smallest action - pressing A, for example - makes the viewer feel included. They feel like they play a role in the evolving story, as their favorite characters - Bird Jesus, All Terrain Venomoth, the Fonz, Air Jordan, Double A Jay, and of course our Lord and Savior the Helix - progress and defeat new challenges. Like many denizens of the internet, this community adores inside jokes and nonsensical memes. Praise the Helix.