Community #2

It's okay to laugh. I promise. You wouldn't think so, given this is a video about child abuse and finding Jesus Christ through jump-roping. And I don't want any of you to think I take such topics lightly. It's just ... well, look at the video. I want to promise you that you will laugh, and maybe cry, but, as I understand it, this is a touchy subject. The real lesson to be learned here is this: in crossing the Pacific Ocean, always hide your gold under your tongue -- yup, in your mouth -- and that way the pirates cannot rob you. If you didn't laugh, tell us why, please. --RWK

Encounter #2

I really have nothing to offer in explanation at this point. But I think this should be the first item discussed in the course. I think it's an Aussie advertisement for a TGIF-style family restaurant, but it's also an Aussie advertisement for busy working moms. Oh, my bad, busy moms working as strippers. Right. Right? Right. View and discuss. --RWK

Encounter #1

Same idea as the "Community" series, except more positive. These are models of excellent encounters. This first one is a Looney Tune called Rabbit Seasoning. You may have seen it before. If not, please enjoy: it's pure dope. (Also, this idea was stolen from the model of Tom Supten's excellent blog, if charlie parker was a gunslinger there'd be a whole lot of dead copycats, which, as you can see, kills me. Just like this amazing, delectable encounter I simply cannot believe I'm now privy to here, at least, in a glimpsed capture. Guess I'll just have to see The Magus (1968)) --RWK

Community #1

As we hope to investigate the idea of communities, we will offer a series of models that show what it is we find so scary and silly and problematic about how the idea of community (and responsibility within the community) is perceived. This is our first example, the trailer for Robocop 3 (1993), a movie I barely remember but get the sense of as completely misreading what made the first Robocop good: at bottom it did not trust the community. --RWK

Mostly ridiculous but... looks like Carter III isn't droppin' in '07

I guess confronting the problem of arguably talented and clever rappers putting out terrible videos is quite the task. Maybe all the "Kanye shouldnt rap" rap is off slightly. I mean his "Throws some D's" remix is great, the video is better and he didnt have to steal a 10 year old Daft song. The attempt at making fun of itself is still hopeless because no matter how moral The Game wants to be and how much of a slut Kanye jokes to be, they still cant get away from the mirror. Check it out.


Plus, Kanye's D's

I dont think Fincher is comin back to music unless 3000 convinces him to. And Gondry should stick with Chapelle. Maybe Gore Verbinski ??? It could work. --CB

Kanye is not Stronger than Daft Punk, Madonna, or even Diddy, and especially not Kels.

I first heard about the possibility of this over at Palms Out. It's as annoying in reality as it was in theory. Not only is he "sampling" Daft Punk but he's "sampling" one of their biggest hits (from years past) and barely changing it. The production is cool, sure, but I'd rather listen to "Gold digger" to be honest.

And now this video? How many ideas are you trying to cram into this piece of shit? Just the other day a friend of mine asked, "What ever happened to the concept video?" Well, this is it. I mean, I'm not against appropriating old art for new art (d'uh) but I'm against lazy theft. Even a Madonna video like "Express Yourself" (dir. David Fincher, see below) made sense in its marriage of performance and storyline: everything worked together. Here, it's just one idea stumbling into another, which I think is why the song is so annoying, too. Kanye heard some hot new French electro shit and decided to thieve that for his next big thang. That's all well and cool as long as it's actually positioned as a remix, or it's using some new artist like the ever-accumulating avalanche that is Justice. At this level, "Stronger" is no better than everybody's least favorite tribute song, "I'll Be Missing You". But then, at least that video was kind of amusing in its fish eyed late-90s candy visuals. And, well, it was about Biggie. What is Kanye's song about? How he's the best, yet again. Get over yourself and actually make me believe it but actually making a song I like. Or, stop being so earnest about how much you love yourself. Take a lesson from these guys:


She was hot, and David Fincher's visual style is kind of great despite being because it's mostly ingratiating and ostentatious and plain silly.


I miss Biggie, too. And 112, kinda.


So unsexy it's unbelievably awesome.

Here's a Diplo remix of Kanye's song that is undoubtedly sloppy, as usual, and better than Kanye's because, well, Kanye isn't allowed an appearance: mofo's muted. --RWK

Kanye West - Stronger (Diplo's Work Is Never Over remix)

5 A community

see the blurb is perfect. the titles, while yes we find them hilarious, we may be demanding a bit much from a, yes curious, but more than often stoned de-cal searcher. we may need to agree on a title for suckin em in, then a quick change.

actually, i take that back. the last one is just right!!!!! what community? that may have to be the first episode shown anyway. Its the rental car one. With the definition of a "reservation." Elaine's 60ish boyfriend has a stroke when she is about to break up with him. George starts parking cars on Jerry's street while the regular is on vacation. Kramer gets a small part in a Woody Allen film which he of course blows. maybe a perfect introduction. classic Elaine. --CB

Test names for a DeCal

ENCOUNTER POLITICS: Shorties got no spatial recognition capabilities.

ENCOUNTER POLITICS: Throw some cheese on that bitch!

ENCOUNTER POLITICS: Apartment 5A with Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer

ENCOUNTER POLITICS: Raincoats and bros and stopping short.

ENCOUNTER POLITICS: Jon Voight? Damn, 28's!

ENCOUNTER POLITICS: What community?

We love Seinfeld. We are planning on teaching a DeCal on the subject. We know this subject well. We understand it, how it operates, what it says, why it's funny, why it's, um, true. We hope you do too, but if you don't, that's okay: we can learn you. We are into learning. We are into laughing. We are into current hip hop. We are into Seinfeld. We are into movies. We are into blogging. We are into discussion. We are not into communities. --RWK