Out of Creative Ideas? Try Exploitation...

When I say "exploitation," I of course refer to the academic parlance of Quentin Tarantino, Sam Raimi and Russ Meyer, who have launched -- and sustained -- careers from low-budget celebrations of gore, girls and racial stereotypes. Now I'm no film buff, but frankly, I am increasingly convinced that a well-done exploitation film can fulfill artistic license like no other genre. There are just no rules... the cinematic universe is 100% a work of creative whimsy. As when "Django Unchained's" Jamie Foxx goads his horse into a triumphant crip-walk after blowing the hell out of Candyland, the absurdity of these films channels genuine genius, and commentary. As ridiculous as the Rick Ross song was in the middle of "Django," is there really any more appropriate soundtrack for a slavery revenge flick then a 21st-century, 300-pound Miami "drug bawse," dripping in gold?

To the same extent, James' Franco's incarnation of RiFF RAFF -- of whom I have long been a fan -- in the upcoming "Spring Breakers" movie is pitch-perfect. For media-addicted rap nerds such as myself, the persona RiFF RAFF has constructed is at once a send-up and a genuine indictment of pop culture -- he's damn impossible to stop watching, not to mention that he can croon a real nice hook. As L.A. Times' Jeff Weiss notes:  "In a novelty-thirsty, camera-happy world, it was inevitable that a Riff Raff would emerge."

So seeing Franco gleefully embody RiFF as a villain -- or he is the hero? -- of "Spring Breakers" makes the movie worth watching in my book. "You can change who you are..." Franco cum RiFF shouts on stage in the above trailer...a bald-faced declaration for cut-and-paste 2013 verge culture, to be sure. And then there's Gucci Mane as drug lord -- "Ya'all wanna die tonight?!" O yeah, I'm definitely seeing this movie.

Greg Selkoe -- Too Cool to be a CEO?

The query in this post's title may be my own personal grudge against any buff-dude who rocks a purple v-neck better then myself, but legitimately -- who the hell is this guy? And why does he have a graduate degree from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government? And why can't I find any information about Karmaloop cable ratings?

Turns out that Selkoe -- and his "creative director" Pharrell Williams -- were counting their eggs a little too early in the above Bloomberg interview, which is from 2011. Their efforts to start their own cable network were stymied by the bureaucratic, old-world "TV Guide" system, to the point that Selkoe abandoned plans for the network and instead doubled-down on the online TV efforts. Ever the victorious Boston Bro, Selkoe noted in July 2012 that Karmaloop videos "received 70 million video views in 2011, and is projecting 350 million views in 2012." They also were planning a scripted comedy, as well as advertising deals with Red Bull and Burton Snowboards.

Selkoe may look like a 19th-century Irish prizefighter, but damn if his steadfast support for creative content isn't inspiring. I, for one, am a huge fan of Karmaloop's content -- especially "That Life" with Carissa Rossi. Rossi has "America's Sweetheart" potential -- like an ethnic Katie Couric for the 21st Century.

Two Questions:
a) How much ad revenue do the videos generate? Or are the videos primarily to draw traffic to the Karmaloop Store?
b) What is someone like Carissa Rossi's salary? i.e. What's the market valuation of a well-liked Internet personality at a successful online retail start-up?

Guess Who's Back...

After metaphysically tearing Dwight Garner limb from limb in my last post, I decided to leave this blog to the history books. Things were nice for a while..I started going out to bars again, stopped dreaming of trolls....had some adventures out in the Far East...

Now, with less than 4 months to go in my India experience, I've decided to resuscitate the greatest expat India blog ever to never break 1000 total views.

What to expect from the new "Of Bombay and B.Doyle?" Well for one thing, I plan to change the name...might change the layout a bit...maybe figure out how to do SEO stuff so I'm not writing futilely into the ever-expanding vacuum of cyber space.

Or maybe I'll just trash talk New York Times' columnists, since that is clearly where my passions lie.

Stay tuned!

Behold! It is I, B.Doyle the Grey, returned from the wilderness as B.Deezy the White!

Dwight Garner: The Pride of West Virginia

The Times' published a whimsical little essay by Dwight Garner this week, supposedly about his soul-searching trip to West-Virginia. Of course Mr. Garner couldn't have just hopped in his car for a good ol' fashioned doobie ride, he had to undergo a "cultural cleanse" on Interstate 79-- and then write about it.

Two things struck me about this essay:

1) The short film clips at the top of the essay -- I'm pretty sure these are just GIFs. I understand why the editors thought a constantly looping five-second shot of a nameless highway would be cool, but I personally think it looks pretty amateurish and a bit choppy. Shoulda gone with a full video, Timesmen.

2) Unless I missed an entire extra page to the essay, the only thing Garner talks about is how much he loves music when he travels. That's cool man, I guess only a lucky few can get paid to write about how "music is ridiculously important to me." You must feel very unique in that regard, Garner...I would've been interested to hear about what you actually "found" on your journey, since the title clearly stated you are "in search of" yourself, but I guess providing any sort of legitimate analysis or fact is anathema to you metaphysically mysterious essayists.

John Denver be not proud of you, Mr. Garner

First off, I acknowledge I'm the fool for clicking on the Times' "Arts" section and expecting to find hardcore analytical arguments. But before this blog turns into a twice-weekly hate letter to the NYTimes, I should explain what boils my bean about essays like Mr. Garner's. All too often, the writers churning out the most self-serious, self-pitying lifestyle essays are also penning mournful dirges about America's income inequality, corporate structure, lack of business ethics, etc. I agree Wall Street's contributions to the economy appear increasingly dubious. However, if you receive an upper-middle-class paycheck every month for doing no actual research or fact-digging, but for just relating anecdotes to your readers that you think prove why America sucks (a la Ta-Nehisi Coates) -- or maybe explaining why I should buy a totally sweet Paul Motian CD (natch Dwight Garner) -- please spare me your opinions on why the economy is no good. Think about how lucky you are that you get paid more then 90% of Americans for writing about whatever makes your heart bleed at the moment, and then reconsider whether you really have the knowledge to critique positions as complex and fact-based as economic policy.

Alright, I think I got all the Times-hate out of my system. My next post will be about how I gave an elephant money on its trunk the other day! Stay tuned.

Everyone Watch H+...

I think EVERYONE who's ANYONE knows that the classic model of watching television -- waiting around like a chump for the cable channels to feed you your daily dose of content and hope they play your favorite episodes -- is long over. Free web-isodes or die, baby. 

Hence, it's good to see ol' media giant Warner Brothers taking a stab at legitimate web video entertainment with their new Youtube series "H+." Naturally, the show portrays "an apocalyptic future where technology has begun to spiral out of control." I was decently intrigued by a perusal of the first episode -- it's like The Jetsons meets Blade Runner. Minus The Jetsons.

Next 'Jetsons' -- Rosie the Robot totally freaks out.

I'm struggling to connect this post to India in some way...I donno, just watch the video and support Warner Brothers as they play the role of plucky Web upstart. 

Apparently "Panic" is "Radiating" From India

...at least according to the New York Times' Jim Yardley. Intercultural conflicts between Muslims and the Bodo tribes of northeast India have led to an "exodus" of Muslims from the region, an issue exacerbated by wild rumors circulating around social media regarding planned attacks on Muslims. The situation is especially dire in the state of Assam, where 78 people have been killed and 300,000 have fled.

The closest I have come to experiencing this crisis myself was last weekend, when an expat acquaintance who was crashing on our couch for the day (for no apparent reason) looked up from his iPhone and said, "Whoa, dude...I think there's, like, some terrorist stuff going on." "Yeah, probably," I replied. "Hey, howza bout you get off our couch and go back to your own apartment?"

He didn't leave -- not then, at least -- and proceeded to read me the lurid details. Turns out the "terrorist stuff" was a riot in Azad Maidan in South Mumbai, which left two dead. The Azad Maidan violence was a response to the violence in Assam -- and police say the chaos was pre-planned.

I've found Mumbai to be a very safe city for the average pedestrian at any time of day (except for the occasional "pariah dog" ruffin' at you). This sort of report reminds me there is still a ton of political and cultural contexts I have to fully understand before forming my ultimate opinions on this country.

On that note...I need to find a more consistent source of India news besides the New York Times and the occasional Business Insider slideshow. Any suggestions? Besides the actual Mumbai newspapers...

The Campaign: India Edition

My most vivid memory of the 2008 election is parading through campus with my freshman year dorm-mates, and a few hundred other wild and crazy library rats, "lettin' loose" to celebrate Obama's victory. That bright-eyed, strictly PG-rated election riot is missed, to be sure. However, my greatest hope for this campaign season is for Mumbai NOT to erupt in any sort of celebration following November's campaign results. After witnessing today's India Independence Day parade/concert, I just don't think I can stomach anymore loud, grainy celebration music or mass gatherings outside my apartment.

That said, I'm excited for the election, and excited to experience all the political drama from a different culture's perspective. From my view, here is what this election season promises:

a) Lots of Facebookers sharing twee photos of Obama interacting with lil' tykes ever-so-smoothly. Seriously, this guy looks so natural with children, I'm starting to question whether it's a good thing. I like my politicians starched-shirt and grim-faced, thank you very much.

Oh gosh he's just so adorable, let's re-elect him!

b) Mitt Romney completely bombing his inevitable Saturday Night Live appearance (seriously, I'm looking forward to the awkwardness...)

and finally...

c) Racks on racks on racks of New York Times' Opinion writers smugly condemning Romney over and over while simply recycling each other's arguments -- or just declaring completely presumptuous conclusions. Am I the only one who was confused by Ta-Nehisi Coates' guest column the other day? You're filling in for Paul Krugman, dude, you can't just make some half-baked analysis of why you used to gorge yourself at "nice dinners" as an explanation for what you claim is the Republican Party's "culture of ignorance."

I of course would like to hear other people's opinions on the election...particularly my former college roommates...come on guys, give me something to argue with here!