The red carpet of the millennial generation is not woven from cloth and yarn but instead with data and content, and the age of the internet celebrity is upon us. One of the first tumblr stars is the young Molly Soda, who’s internet presence is fastidiously followed by thousands of fans, and who’s aesthetic is an appropriate avatar for the culture of the virtual world writ large. Part artist, part curator, part provocateur, and always part tween, it’s easy to see why Molly has such a following.

Her boyfriend Nick Koenig, AKA Hot Sugar, embodies a similar novelty of artistic approach, but in the sphere of music. Using samples he records himself – using everything from a prostitute’s heartbeat, to a cracking human skull, to someone chanting on the sidewalk – Hot Sugar makes intricate songs both for his own releases and as a producer for artists like The Roots and Big Baby Gandhi. Both of them were nice enough to sit down with me for an interview.

***

Lets start with a hard one: how would you describe your current hair color?

MollySoda: Blueberry Creamsicle ;-)

Let’s talk Funyun. Let’s get an update on Funyun Soda-Koenig.

Nick Koenig: Like what he’s up to or what he is? Well, okay, I’m always off put by people who make Facebook profiles for their newborn children then update it as that child. I don’t know if you’re friends with any of them.

MS: I’m not. But I know they exist.

Did you just make this up?

NK: No, no, no! There’s a certain age range-

MS: 18 year old girls who just had babies.

NK: I’m from Jersey, I know a couple high school fellows that have kids and – I mean – people make Facebook profiles for their pets, so it’s not that surprising that they’re managing their own babies’ too. So I got friended by a baby. It was clearly updated by-

MS: By the parents? As opposed to what?

NK: Well then I started to friend other babies. Which is even creepier really. I haven’t been accepted by a single baby yet.

MS: Makes sense.

NK: Long story short: I felt left out. Well I thought it was super awful in general. To start an internet profile or buy into something that the kid doesn’t necessarily want to be a part of. So that’s how Funyun, me and Molly’s internet child, came about. But like most things that started as something I despise, it then slowly turned into an ironic love and then, of course, now it’s a true love.

MS: Is that what Funyun is?

NK: Funyun is true love. But on day one, at the 30 minute mark, he hated his parents.

MS: Yeah.

NK: He hates that we monitor his internet presence. So when he posts his ICP videos or whatever – he’s also really into Brokencyde-

MS: Funyun loves Brokencyde!

NK: Funyun is the biggest Bronkencyde fan there is. Because they get him. I also like when families have very awkward personal family interaction on public forums like Facebook or Twitter.

Speaking of which, Molly is it weird for you when people come at you with an already established intimacy when they don’t actually know you?

MS: It can definitely be weird. I’ve even had people call me. Like they get my number and they’ll call me. This happened to me a lot last year. Girls would call me like “Is this Molly Soda?” and I’d be half drunk and say yeah and then they’d just unleash all of these problems they have on me. And it’s so weird that they would just find my number and call me out of the blue for advice.

NK: Did you give her advice?

MS: I try to.

NK: Is it boy problems?

MS: Usually it’s boy problems. But they should know that I always say the same thing “You’re too good for him, snap your fingers and walk away.” But that’s the best advice, it really is. If someone is making you fucking miserable then what are you doing. Obviously they’re not what you want. But I get really flattered when 16 year old girls ask me for advice. I didn’t really have anyone to ask advice to when I was that age except for like my other 16 year old friends who knew as little as I did.

It is interesting, with the internet, that people have contactable role models.

MS: It’s weird. It’s good though. I used to do LiveJournal in high school and that was the best way for me to deal with anything that was a problem. If I was feeling particularly angsty I could blog about it and then you’d have all these comments like reassuring you. I feel like the internet is all about reassurance. Like “You’re okay!” It’s all about validating the things that happen to you.

I mean kids used to talk to posters on their wall of people they liked. But now you can actually talk to them, at least through their twitters.

MS: It’s the craziest thing.

NK: Bieber, followback!

MS: You have so much- I mean Kim Kardashian isn’t necessarily gonna respond to you, but the fact that she might read it is really strange and powerful.

NK: I like the online militias that defend the honor of internet celebrities. Like if you write something about Beyonce you’ll have team Beyonce on your back for three days tearing you up.

MS: That’s how you know you’ve made it though. I need a Team Molly Soda. I look at my mentions, I try not to search my name though. No one is going to @ you if they’re trying to diss you, and I don’t need to see that.

You don’t wanna respond to the haters?

MS: No, because that’s what they want.

NK: Team MollySoda does that!

When you started your tumblr did you ever think it would be as big a part of your life as it is?

MS: Not at all. I only started it because one of my good friends, Eric, was really into it when it first got big back in like 2009. He was like “Yo you should get a tumblr” but I sort of had a blogspot that I wasn’t really using. It was a transitional period from LiveJournal, and there were two years of my college life that I didn’t have documented on the internet in any way. So I started the tumblr. And somehow it picked up and I’m not really sure how.

I wonder when people will stop fucking with the internet. In terms of like being bloggers. I wonder when tumblr will become kind of irrelevant and all the people that were into tumblr just don’t move onto whatever the next cool thing is.

When you post do you think about how many people are reading?

MS: No. I definitely don’t think like “all these people are seeing this right now.” You can’t.

Do you have a name for the aesthetic you try to foster on your tumblr?

MS: I feel like I get this question a lot. I don’t think I can or want to describe it. Other people do a good job at labeling my aesthetic. I don’t necessarily agree with it but I don’t want to pigeonhole my tumblr/my work/what I’m going for since I think what I like/what inspires me is constantly evolving.

Do you think that the nature of reblogging on tumblr fosters a collective/communal environment, or does the ability to choose from seemingly endless content create many super-individualized environments?

MS: I think tumblr is such a collective environment. More so than other blogging platforms because it is less text based and is more about sharing photos/videos/ideas.

Hit the jump for the rest!

(more…)

Who is this man and where did he come from and why is he not the undisputed king of all the things? Is this James Ferraro or Cody Critcheloe secretly? Please don’t tell me if it is, I just want it to be real and wonderful. This is JR, he’s the self proclaimed (and universally confirmed) king of gay music and this is his video for “Killin U Fags” and that is erratically wobbling booty and that is his fingerless glove and this is his pond and that is his footbridge of dancers and… and… what’s happening where am I.

I guess he goes by Scandocious JR now (I’ve done some investigative journalism on this one and by that I mean like 10 minutes of googling so I guess by that I really did mean investigative journalism) and he’s got a new album called Un-D-Nyable. Why? Why the fuck not! That includes such amazing tracks as “Your’e Swagg Owes My Swagg”, which might be the truest statement of this young decade. Keep doing what you’re (or “your’e” I should say) doing JR. You truly are the king.

Whoa, a PBS documentary about GIFs!! Entitled, Animated Gifs: The Birth of a Medium. GIFs are turning 25 years old folks. 25 years of memetastic goodness! Well they weren’t created for generating memes, but that’s what we all associate them with at this point and some are even pushing for GIFs to be considered high art.

In a new episode of the fantastic PBS series Off Book, get updated on Gif history, GIF culture on Tumblr, and meet teams of GIF artists who are pushing the boundaries of the medium. Holy fuck. With music by Mindthings, Space Frequencies, Casanelli and many more, check out the video and see photographs that move, and that are alive!

As a transitional post between end of year lists (the endless, endless lists) and just regular lists (sweet, sweet regular lists) I’m gonna take one look back at 2011 to close the door on it by breaking down the most obviously important thing of any 12 months: its memes. There sure were a lot of memes this year. Some good. Many terrible. And there are new ones popping up every day.

With every passing year, memes become more interesting as their originators move further and further away from 4chan and into, well, everywhere. The proliferation of meme-ing software for smartphones let even the most unmotivated troller create custom memes within minutes, making things (as idiots like to say) “go viral.” So, without further adieu, let’s look at my favorite memes from 2011.

Honorable Mention: Planking

Fuck planking.

—–

5. Bin Laden Situation Room

In a move that surprised exactly zero people, the internet took an image that captured a profound, complex, and deadly serious moment and instantaneously memed it. The rapid spread and unabashed popularity of this meme really became, for me, a big part of the discussion about America’s reaction to the death of Osama Bin Laden. Because, let’s be honest, it wasn’t the instantaneous grief panacea that perhaps we were hoping for.

But what it was was a really funny meme. It was risque enough (considering what they’re watching) that you could feel nicely taboo for looking at it, but not so much so (like the large amount of 9/11 memes) that you truly felt shitty for chuckling. Whether it be the many Obamas, a classic meme-tactic, the Obama w/ Playstation controller, Sad Keanu in the mix, and more, there were many a lolz derived from the situation room.

—–

4. [10] Guy (Really High Guy)

Already written about on the Bloglin by our quite tickled Elbows, [10] Guy came in at the very tail end of 2011 and charmed us with just its classic meme-ness. It’s just your standard image macro style, with a particularly good picture, a theme that everyone on the internet can relate to, and some pretty above average execution.

This meme didn’t have baggage, required no cultural reference, seemed to pop out of nowhere, and was endlessly digestible en masse. Especially since most people who troll chan and the like smoke a lot of weed, the pleasure of [10] Guy was the triumvirate of laughing at him, laughing with him, and then also laughing at yourself for doing the same shit.

—–

3. Steve Buscemeyes/Michelle Bachmann Eyes

Hands down the creepiest and most nightmare inducing meme of 2011, the “__”-eyes craze started off simply enough: take the beloved Steve Buscemi’s pretty objectively disgusting eyes (sorry Steve!) and throw them onto anyone and everyone. There had been head swaps that got big in the past (people holding babies, etc…) but this shit took off because it’s the most like watching a terrible car wreck. You just can’t look away.

The situation became even more interesting after Newsweek’s pretty fucked up “The Queen Of Rage” Michele Bachmann cover story that featured her impossibly shaped demon eyes. That became a meme two ways, one with the eye switching, the other replacing the headline on the magazine (e.g. “Michele Bachmann Will Fucking Cut You”). Then someone crossed the streams and we got the image above. Thanks internet. Goodbye sleep.

—–

2. Arrow In The Knee

I like this meme for a couple reasons. First, of course, that it was initially funny. For those who haven’t played Skyrim, there’s a repeated speech that many characters in the game will give you about having once been an adventurer like your character, until they “took an arrow in the knee.” Someone noticed that everyone says it, it’s a dumb thing to say, meme is born. Lolz are had. But, much like Skyrim was a crossover “hardcore” video game for a lot of people who quickly found themselves out of their nerdery depth when talking to true blue fantasy fans about the game, “arrow in the knee” got your average internet folk involved too deeply with trolls and /b/-tards.

The rapid expansion and perceived overuse of the meme started a massive flame war that I don’t think either side was ready for. It got to that wonderful level where you can’t even tell who’s trolling and who’s a noob and it kind of ceases to matter. “Arrow In The Knee” is a surprisingly interesting case study in the glorious birth and violent death of a meme.

—–

1. Pepper Spray Cop

Oh Officer John Pike, you ignorant fuck. In another case of ostensibly terrible things that are destined for meme-dom, this mustachioed shithead decided to throw on the most casual face possible while laying down a torrent of neon-orange pepper spray on some sitting students. It’s funny for many reasons: It’s bizarre. He looks like the pigs from angry birds.

He was transplanted onto every other meme imaginable. By inadvertently becoming part of the largely internet based #Occupy movement, John Pike and his fat smug face became one of the most enduring and striking images of 2011. And we memed his ass. Go internet. Go America.

There’s a new meme on the scene and he’s possibly the funniest one yet. We first brought you Good Guy Greg and Decelerated Drake, and now meet Really High Guy, also known as 10 Guy.

He’s a picture of a guy who’s baked out of his mind, paired with captions that, as you’ll see, are extremely reminiscent of things your buddy says when he’s high. My favorite is the seatbelt one. Check out more here, and if you happen to be high right now then props. That’s some great timing.

After our recent tryst into the world of internet memes with the creation of some special Bloglin Good Guy Gregs, we’re back now with some Drake memes. Featuring an image of pre-Drake Aubrey Graham as Jimmy Brooks on Degrassi: The Next Generation, these memes are emblazoned with some of Drake-the-rapper’s most famous lines. Enjoy.

J-Pop is a strange beast.  Anyone who has even glanced at it knows one has to be crazy otaku to even comprehend its enormity. The genre has enough subgenres, artists and songs to make the legions of Witch House artists give up and go dubstep. Like Japanese youth culture itself, it seems mired in transient trend and fast fashion. So what is it about this one little snowflake of sound and color that makes it stand out so?

Released in July, by August Kyary Pamyu Pamyu’s “PonPonPon” started to steal the hearts and bandwidths international underground music fiends across the interwebs. Color saturated and super kawaii, it has rolled up more fans than a katamari and is fastly becoming a YouTube favorite that beckons to be meme worthy. The song seems secondary. It is the video that sucks you in. With its playful quirkiness and quasi-witch housian overlays, the imagery is so saccharine it is truly subversive. The first comparison that came to mind was the psychedelia of Pee Wee’s Playhouse.  “PonPonPon” seems to operate on the same sort of dizzying sapience. An even odder and more abstract comparison came to mind, as I was immediately reminded of the vulgar and often terroristic prop art of Actionist Paul McCarthy. There really is very little in common, but perhaps it is just the concept that this video represent the future of acktion. To paraphrase Tina Forbis of How I Quit Crack, YouTube is the greatest gallery for outsider artists and sheer brut expression.

Turns out Ms. Paymu X 2 may know exactly what she is doing.  As well as being famous as a Harijuku girl and model, Kyary also blogs about her life and culture. Whatever she is doing, I surely hope she keeps doing it. There is a nightmarish charm to the information overload. Exactly the type of stimulation that this blogger craves.

Hey, so, this is weird. We’re being followed on Twitter by one Bart Simson Yugoslav. That’s right, Simson. No “P”. There’s a lot of bizarre, not-too-funny Twitter characters out there, but Bart Simson Yugoslav is in a league of his own, and kind of funny, too. I mean, check out his bio:

THE SIMSONS. IM BART, OFFICAL BART. REAL. MY DAD HOMTRE AND MAM IS MAGRE. BABY AND GIRL SITSER ARE OTHERS. BART SIMSON. OFFICAL YUGOSLAVIA SIMSON. THE SUMSONS.

Like, I don’t even know what to say about this. It’s sweet though; definitely sweet. Yugoslav Bart tweets things like,

ETE MY SHORTS. HOMTRE.” and, “:;CRUST CLOWN GET CANCÊR;: CUEST STORES:/// BETTY »MIDLE,,, JOHN CARS» SON,,, LUC;K PARRE,,, GABBO GABBO HELL PÛPPPET.. ¤¤ SIMSONS?

Which, what can you even respond to that? “For sure, dude”? For sure, dude. So, in conclusion, follow this guy. Who is Bart Simson Yugoslav? No idea. But I like him. He’s weird.

Much has been made over the newest repackaging and alterations being made to the Star Wars films as it they get ready to hit Blu-Ray. One such issue was a new pained bit of dialogue from Vader as The Emperor electrocutes Luke in the throne room during Return of the Jedi.

But you know what? This is one scene changed for the better, watch it and I bet none of you will disagree.

This is Good Guy Greg. The bright ray among an internet full of mean, negative shit, Good Guy Greg is a meme that surfaced near the end of April and has since gone on to brighten days and incite smiles everywhere. Internet memes are not subject matter that I typically think twice about or find blogworthy, but Greg is just such an unusual example of kindness that he must be shared.

While Good Guy Greg’s identity was initially unknown, it has since been revealed that he is, I think, a fisherman. At the beginning of August (the tenth, to be exact) someone posted somewhere on the internet a picture of the real Good Guy Greg and said, “Reddit, I passed the 6 week challenge and crewed along side Good Guy Greg. Iama a commercial fisherman, ama.” As far as I can tell that means Greg is a fisherman. I also just don’t care too much, though.

Greg was initially intended to be the antithesis of fellow internet meme, Scumbag Steve. In fact, he’s still intended to be the antithesis. Scumbag Steve, besides being a great alliteration, is not that funny, so I’m not going to provide any pics of him, just Greg. Greg’s a good guy, after all.

The picture seen up top, reading, “Tells you ‘cool story bro’…means it.” is my favorite. It’s brilliant. We’ve all told an underwhelming story and received the crass, “Cool story, bro.” Well, actually, I never have, but perhaps you have so you should appreciate that one. And below, check out some funny Good Guy Gregs that I made myself, if you would so please. As a matter of fact, Reader, you should make some too and post them in the comments section. That would be the Good Guy Greg thing to do; “Sees a funny meme…makes his own up.” Hop to it, Good Reader.

Via KnowYourMeme