Digital Void Podcast

How do YouTube influencers neg their audiences into taking lifestyle advice?Internet culture writer Steffi Cao joins Jamie to discuss how influencers undermine audiences with video titles that are not what they seem. The two discuss authenticity on social media platforms, why clickbait titles still reign supreme, and if there's anything positive to come of this trend.

What is the true potential of AI text-to-video generation?Director of Curiouser Institute and award-winning AI games designer Reed Berkowitz discusses OpenAI's Sora, an AI text-to-image model that will soon be made available to the public. As Hollywood rolls back studio investments and executives project up to 90% loss in animation jobs, how can we separate hype from reality in the space? And what are the best ways to use AI text-to-video generation today?Show notes:OpenAI's SoraJeffrey Katzenberg claims 90% of artist animation jobs will be lost due to AITyler Perry stops $800 million studio investment after OpenAI's SoraBill Peebles alien generationBlaine Brown alien remixAnimateDiffAbout Reed Berkowitz:Reed Berkowitz is the Director of Curiouser Institute, who has more than 25 years of experience designing, writing, and researching award-winning interactive experiences for companies including Universal Studios, Paramount, Cartoon Network, Peanuts, Sanrio, and many more. He formerly served as the Creative Director of New Games at Latitude, an AI-powered games company.Follow Reed BerkowitzTwitter | Website Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will creators and tech companies grapple with the decline of journalism?On this week's episode, Jamie and Josh discuss the relationship between creators, platforms, and journalists, the ongoing shift from legacy news sources to platforms like TikTok and YouTube for news consumption, and how venture-backed outlets built on the promise of digital advertising contributed to journalism's current crisis. Additionally, they highlight what gives them hope about journalism's future – and how you can help contribute to it.Show NotesMore than half of U.S. counties have no access or very limited access to local news - NorthwesternMore Americans are getting news on TikTok, bucking the trend seen on most other social media sites - Pew Research CenterS&P 500 Closes at Record High as Wall Street Bulls Run Wild - AxiosIn a Pennsylvania town, a Facebook group fills the local news void - Brandy ZadroznyCarol's Journey - Brandy Zadrozny404 MediaDefectorCreditsHosted by Dr. Jamie Cohen and Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we separate hype from hallucination in AI games?Award-winning games designer and Director of Curiouser Institute Reed Berkowitz discusses why it's so difficult for mid-to-large studios to create AI NPCs, the brand safety risks associated with AI in games, and why AI games might require more writers rather than fewer.

Where can creators turn after they've been cancelled? Internet culture writer Steffi Cao discusses why cancelled creators turn to right-wing values to grow their businesses, the difficulty audiences have determining authenticity, and why it all matters – from economics to real-world action.

How did Palantir develop a meme-obsessed fanbase of retail traders — and what does it mean?Business Insider senior correspondent Katie Notopoulos discusses the livestreaming, meme-making community behind Palantir's stock and the company's CEO Alex Karp.

How can we explore visions for a better internet as it undergoes a monumental evolution?Media literacy influencer Kelsey Russell, award-winning journalist Kat Tenbarge, digital culture journalist Steffi Cao, and moderator Rachel E. Greenspan explore the role of surveillance and the rise of panopticontent, the importance of trust and safety on healthy platforms, and why youth voices need to be included in conversations about social media platform development. This panel was recorded live from Digital Void's The Meme in the Moment Festival 2023 at Caveat in New York City on December 14, 2024.About Kat TenbargeKat Tenbarge is an award-winning tech and culture reporter for NBC News Digital. Her coverage includes platforms, influencers, celebrities, and online culture. She also investigates sexual assault allegations.About Kelsey RussellKelsey Russell is a content creator and full time graduate student at Teachers College, Columbia University. Kelsey Russell believes education should be entertaining and entertainment should be educational. This mantra comes to life on her TikTok page of almost 100K followers where she dynamically reads different forms of print media to her audience. By promoting an approach to new information from a state of curiosity and nostalgia, she hopes to make generations fall back in love with learning. Russell graduated from Boston University with a BA in sociology and is originally from Atlanta, Georgia.About Steffi CaoSteffi Cao is an internet culture writer, most recently reporting at BuzzFeed News and Forbes as its inaugural creator economy staff writer. Her work has appeared in Teen Vogue, The Washington Post, Bustle, and MTV News. Her work, including her eponymous newsletter, it's steffi, was featured on NPR and The View this year. She resides in Brooklyn, and her favorite berry is the blueberry.About Rachel E. GreenspanRachel E. Greenspan is a writer and social media strategist in New York. Previously, she was a reporter and editor on Insider's Digital Culture desk, where she focused on right-wing extremism and its spread on social platforms. Her coverage of the QAnon conspiracy theory won the inaugural Best Debunking of Fake News award from NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. Her writing has also been published in Time Magazine and MSNBC.CreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do reboots and IP fueled universes prevent us from ever feeling nostalgia?Author of Foreverism Grafton Tanner discusses how the practice of keeping things alive prevents us from ever feeling nostalgia.

How does creative misuse of social media platforms inform the future of social media at large?Director of Curiouser Institute Reed Berkowitz highlights five popular ways people are engaging, interacting, and using social platforms - ranging from Life360 to Roblox - and what it means for how we imagine and create a social media future that enhances our social capacities.

Washington Post tech columnist and author of Extremely Online: The Untold Story of Fame, Influence, and Power on the Internet Taylor Lorenz explores the social history of the internet. How did Mommy Bloggers shape the creator economy? What is Vine's influence on today's social media ecosystem – and how can its demise be a lesson for creators and platforms? Plus, why is it important to remain optimistic about social media platforms and technology?

Cores are everywhere. From the film-inspired Barbiecore to Cottagecore – but how does a new core threaten to surveil everyday people?On today's episode, Jamie provides us with a dispatch about the differences between Cores and aesthetics, the ways Cores present themselves online and offline, and why #humancore should be viewed with a critical eye.Show Notes & Resources:Once upon a time, there was cottagecore - Rebecca JenningsTaylor Lorenz on living life extremely online - The Digi FairyPanopticontent - Buzzfeed NewsWhy women of color are missing from TikTok's 'stay-at-home girlfriend' trend - InsiderCreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did an early YouTube vlog style return to popularity after a generation of TikTok and YouTube creators including Emma Chamberlain and Charli D'amelio went mainstream? On today's episode, Jamie and Josh discuss how early YouTube creators like Tyler Oakley pivoted from creating content for family and friends to developing a public personality that came to define influencer culture at-large – and how a new generation of creators are documenting the banal and mundane in their content.Show notes and resourcesVlog Like Nobody's Watching - Kate Fowlersunday in edinburgh - WhatzaralovesRaindrop - Tyler OakleyInfluencer Culture is Everywher – Even in Academia - Brooke Erin DuffyThe Presentation of Self in Everyday Life - Erving GoffmanFollow Digital VoidSubstack: https://substack.com/@digitalvoidTwitter: https://twitter.com/digivoidmediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoid.mediaPress: hello at digitalvoid dot mediaCreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will AI, algorithms, creators, and data transparency shape the future of Hollywood?On today's episode, Jamie and Josh dive into the key issues behind the SAG-AFTRA strike. How do major studios plan to use AI – and how can they come to an agreement with unions to ensure actors and writers are fairly compensated? How does a lack of data transparency from streamers and studios influence residual structures and the development of future projects? Why are non-union creators and influencers standing in solidarity with the unions – and what is their role in the evolving digital ecosystem?Show notes and resourcesWhat Happened the Last Time SAG and the WGA Went on Strike Together - TIMEBackground Actors Sound Off on Alarming AI Future and What's At Stake In The Actors Strike - HuffPostChristopher Nolan: Companies Don't Want To Take Responsibility For Whatever That Algorithm Does - DeadlineFAQs For Influencers - SAG-AFTRASAG-AFTRA issues strike guidance specifically for influencers amid confusion - NBC News5 Predictions for the Future of Digital Media - BuzzFeedFollow Digital VoidSubstack: https://substack.com/@digitalvoidTwitter: https://twitter.com/digivoidmediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoid.mediaPress: hello at digitalvoid dot mediaCreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did Barbie and Oppenheimer become a highly anticipated double feature audiences have named Barbenheimer? This week, Josh and Jamie explore the history behind one of the summer's most anticipated box office weekends. How did a falling out between Christopher Nolan and WBD lead to this weekend's double feature? How have studios done an effective job allowing audiences to be creative and have fun with the film releases – and why shouldn't studios use this weekend as a blueprint?Show Notes & Resources:DiscussingFilm's viral tweet@ULTRAGLOSS/ Trish's tweetAirbnb Malibu Barbie Dream HouseOver 20,000 people buy tickets to BarbenheimerMargot Robie signs a fan's Barbenheimer shirtCillian Murphy endorses BarnenheimerEntertainment Tonight asks: What should you wear to Barbenheimer?CreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta's primary Twitter competitor Threads earned more than 100 million downloads in its first five days - but what are the three key components required for the platform's long-term success?On today's episode, Jamie and Josh discuss the factors that led to the platform's successful launch, how trust and safety protocols gave it an edge, and if Threads will allow Meta to shake off some of its negative reputation.This episode was recorded on Thursday, July 6, 2023.Show NotesTwitter's US Ad Sales Plunge 59% as Woes Continue - NYTInstagram's Threads bursts out of the gate with more than 30 million sign-ups - NBC NewsCreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can we be critical of fear-based AI hype cycles? OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently made headlines when he issued a 22-word statement warning of extinction due to the threats posed by AI - but what is Altman referring to, and what did he omit from his argument?This week, Jamie and Josh offer a critical discourse about the current AI hype cycle, the push for regulation by the most influential tech companies, and how the public's cynicism about emerging technology might support regulatory efforts.Show Notes22-word statementGartner Hype CycleTech leaders call for a six-month pauseCreditsHosted by Josh ChapdelaineAudio edited and mixed by Josh ChapdelaineDigital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void, LLC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does it mean to be a rebel in a digital age? PEN Award-winning author Mitch Horowitz provides us with three strategies to move forward. Recorded live at Digital Void's Meme in the Moment Festival in New York City on Wednesday, October 26, 2022.

How did one of Broadway's newest shows become a cringeworthy TikTok trend that earned tens of millions of views?Rolling Stone internet culture reporter CT Jones discusses how Bad Cinderella became an ironic trend for audiences. How did the show's development and debut on London's West End hurt the Andrew Lloyd Weber production? What does cringe mean in the context of trends and why does it drive discourse? How can we differentiate between genuine enthusiasm and ironic enthusiasm from fans on social media?About CT JonesCT Jones is an internet culture reporter for Rolling Stone focused on creator culture and LGBTQ+ news.Keep up with CT JonesTwitter | Linktree | Rolling Stone ArticlesShow Notes and Resources:Even TikTok Couldn't Save Broadway's ‘Bad Cinerella' - Rolling StoneLinedy Genao spray paint video - TikTokMorbius gets resurrected by memes, flops on its first day back in theatres - The VergeSpitgate

How can creators avoid being creatively trapped by the audiences they worked to build? Where is there space for creators to take risks?Zine writer Matt Klein discusses his first-ever printed edition: Audience Capture. Klein explains the social theory behind the phenomenon, what happens to creators and audiences when audience capture is taken to its extreme, and how creators can resist becoming stuck. Klein's insights help to empower creators and audiences to create a healthier landscape between creators and audiences.

How has a Type 2 diabetes drug become a go-to for celebrities and influencers looking to lose weight — and what are the damaging effects of its popularity?This week, we invited Buzzfeed reporter Kelsey Weekman to discusses her article, The Oscars Were a Nightmare For Fat People at Every Turn,. Weekman discusses how this year's Academy Awards highlighted the stigmas fat people face in Hollywood and influencer culture — and why she decided to speak out. Further, Weekman explains the rise of Type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic for weight loss. Why is the drug more popular than ever? What can tech companies and influencers do to promote more inclusive spaces?About Kelsey WeekmanKelsey Weekman is a journalist specializing in internet culture and Gen Z. She is currently a social news reporter for BuzzFeed News. On the side, she writes a newsletter about online youth culture called okay zoomer.Keep up Kelsey WeekmanTwitter | Instagram | Buzzfeed Articles | okay zoomerShow Notes and Resources:The Oscars Were A Nightmare For Fat People At Every Turn - Kelsey WeekmanMaintenance Phase -Aubrey Gordon

Show Summary:Why do black TikTok creators struggle to earn credit for their original work?This week, TIME staff writer Moises Mendez II explains how TikTok creator Jordyn Williams is fighting for credit after her #NoLove dance went viral. How is Williams' struggle symptomatic of the struggles black creators encounter on the platform? Further, Mendez outlines the key struggles creators face, from monetization to harassment, and shares his vision of a better social media landscape.About Moises Mendez IIMoises Mendez II is a staff writer at TIME. He covers internet culture, movies, books, TV, podcasts, and music. His work can be seen in the Atlantic, Rolling Stone, Fast Company, HuffPost, and more.Keep up with Moises Mendez IITwitter | Instagram | TIME Magazine

How can we learn more about AI's design and development to better understand its emergence? Director of Curiouser Institute and AI games designer Reed Berkowitz explains what really happened when New York Times columnist Kevin Roose talked to Bing's Syndey chatbot – and how mainstream media outlets can consider different ways of discussing AI. Further, Berkowitz helps us understand the realities of AI game design and development. What role do artists play in working with developers? How does a recent US copyright ruling stand to impact AI developers, artists, and designers? Berkowitz explains it all – and leaves us with his vision of an ideal AI future.About Reed Berkowitz:Reed Berkowitz is the Director of Curiouser LLC, who has more than 25 years of experience designing, writing, and researching award-winning interactive experiences for companies including Universal Studios, Paramount, Cartoon Network, Peanuts, Sanrio, and many more. He formerly served as the Creative Director of New Games at Latitude, an AI-powered games company.Follow Reed BerkowitzTwitter | WebsiteShow Notes and Resources:CleverbotLatitude's LoomTwitter teaches Microsoft's AI chatbot to be racist in less than a day - The VergeLatitudeGather.townStable DiffusionAI Copyright Battle over Zarya the DawnControlNetAstropulseEnder's GameReplika Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does an activist Instagram account help bring attention - and change - to New Orleans' streets? On this week's episode, we welcome Digital Void collaborator, PhD student, and researcher Alex Turvy to discuss Look at This Fuckin' Street: an Instagram account that highlights hazardous roads, potholes, and crumbling infrastructure to put pressure on city government to improve long-ignored conditions.This conversation was recorded on February 27, 2023About Alex Turvy:Alex Turvy is a PhD student and researcher focused on digital culture and memes. Currently, he is working on a few different threads of research: how identity and authenticity are performed on social media, niche meme pages on Instagram and memetic literacy, and how boundaries and deviance are managed by communities on TikTok. What ties these together is an interest in understanding how practices on social media are woven through everyday life -- despite what you hear sometimes, social media is very much real life. Prior to this, he spent ten years working in public schools, spending five years as an early elementary teacher and five years as Director of Operations. He lives in New Orleans with his partner Devon and their daughter June.Keep up with Alex Turvy:Twitter | InstagramShow Notes:Look at This Fuckin' Street Instagram12:47 - Critical Discourse Analysis20:26 - Decorated pothole, Another Decorated Pothole31:00 - MCM Wholesale Instagram32:15 - Digital DualismEditorial note: Turvy's paper is not yet available to the public. This conversation was recorded to bring attention to a digital activist cause in New Orleans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will Elon Musk's purchase of Twitter reshape the landscape of social media?Creator and host of the award-winning podcast There Are No Girls on the Internet Bridget Todd explains where people can go to find alternatives to mainstream social media platforms, her vision for a more equitable social media future, and how Musk's Twitter purchase stands to reshape the way we communicate on the platform. How can we best align our values with our digital platforms?This conversation was recorded on October 5, 2022.About Bridget Todd:Bridget Todd is the Director of Communications at UltraViolet, the creator and host of the award-winning podcast There Are No Girls On The Internet, and co-host of City Cast DC. Todd got her start teaching courses on writing and social change at Howard University. Since then, she's trained human rights activists in Australia, coordinated digital strategy for organizations like Planned Parenthood, the Women's March, and MSNBC. She's the founder and CEO of Unbossed Creative, a mission driven creative studio that makes podcasts and other digital content to push the needle on social change and public good. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Jamie takes a deep dive into why civil rights groups are pushing back against Amazon's new television show, Ring Nation.You can read a written version of this week's episode, Why Civil Rights Groups Are Pushing Back Against Amazon's New Show, on Medium.Show notes and resources:Letter Calling on MGM to Cancel Ring Nation Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we're joined by author of Rabbits, CEO of Minnow Beats Whale, and co-creator of The Black Tapes, Terry Miles. Miles explains the origins of The Black Tapes, the playful interactivity fictional podcasts afford creators and audiences, and the worldbuilding required for people to become fully immersed in a story. How do people respond to a paranormal version of Serial? In what ways does it mirror audience's first interactions with Orson Welles' 1938 War of the Worlds radio broadcast?Then, Miles discusses Rabbits: Why do alternate reality games feel appropriate for our digital moment? When experience and time flatten, why can the world feel like an ARG, itself?About Terry Miles:Terry Miles is an award-winning Writer/Director/Producer who was born among the wheat fields in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, raised in the plains beneath the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, and forged by rain in the deep emerald gloom of the Pacific Northwest. He's a novelist, filmmaker, podcaster and the CEO and founder of Minnow Beats Whale. As Writer/Director/Producer, Terry's had three feature films premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, and has been nominated for ten Leo Awards (Producing, Writing, Directing, Editing, and Cinematography). Terry created his first few podcasts in 2006, but soon movies took over. Just about a decade later, he founded The Public Radio Alliance which features the hit podcasts: TANIS, RABBITS, and The Last Movie. He also co-created The Black Tapes Podcast and directed a western starring Donald Sutherland and Christian Slater, an action movie starring Steve Austin, Danny Trejo and Serinda Swan, and more. He's also written and directed numerous award-winning short films, web series, and alternate reality games.Show Notes and Resources:The Black TapesTanisRabbitsWar of the Worlds - Orson Welles (1938)Strand InstituteCicada 3301Gravity's RainbowThe GameThe New Hollywood Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this week's episode, Jamie and Josh discuss the history and context behind Dark Brandon memes. How did Joe Biden become featured in memes with laser eyes and dark aesthetics? How we can make sense of the trend's influence on culture and media narratives? What is its true influence?Show Notes and Resources:Laser EyesStage One Memes: lolspeakStage Two Memes: LOLcats Stage Three Memes: Breakdown of StructureStage Four Memes: Deep Fried EraVince McMahon memeGalaxy Brain MemeDark MAGABased memesBiden calls Trump's philosophy Semi-FascismUmberto Eco's 14 guidelines of fascismBiden and Trump Covid memeBiden Neutralized memeBrandon Eyepatch MemeJoe Biden Speech Photo (Sept. 1)Biden IRS MemeBiden Star Wars MemeTrump calls democrats fascists Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What can the history of virtual reality development teach us about its path forward?On this week's episode, Jamie and Josh look back 30 years to the first attempt to mainstream commercial virtual reality. Why didn't haptics and headsets earn mass adoption?Further, they discuss the other uses for the metaverse and virtual reality. What do corporations stand to gain if VR goes mainstream? What are the risks associated with a centralized VR ecosystem?Show Notes and Resources:Nick BostromDifferentialVRChatJaron LanierGraphical User Interface (GUI)Englebart Mouse DeviceSensoramaSword of Damocles VR (video)VideoplaceSENSE8Palmer LuckeyRoad to Nowhere - Paris MarxPalantirVirtual Reality Is Missing Its Moment...Again - Jamie CohenMoore's LawReady Player OneMicrosoft HoloLensGoogle Glass Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can memes encoded with aesthetics, nuance, and meta text become accessible to everyone?This week, Jamie and Josh discuss memes, algospeak, and access: How can meme creators and platforms utilize alt-text to help the vision impaired? Why is alt-text essential to help everyone access and understand the rapidly evolving memetic moment?Show notes & resources:Digital DualismJamie Cohen on CBC SparkAlgospeakTikTok Moderators Are Being Trained Using Graphic Images of Child Sexual AbuseThe Secret Lives on Facebook moderators in AmericaSay My Meme Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Summary:How can humans determine if an Artificial Intelligence is sentient when sentience is what AI is designed to imitate?This week, we're joined by Artificial Intelligence games designer Reed Berkowitz.Berkowitz discusses former Google Responsible AI team member Blake Lemoine's claim that Google's AI chatbot LaMDA is sentient. What made Lemoine believe this? How can we come to understand Lemoine's belief?To help us, Berkowitz delivers an AI primer: From AI games to the most popular use cases of the technology, he gives a brief explanation of the terms we need to understand. Then, he discusses an experiment he conducted with an open-source AI chatbot to learn if he can achieve the same results as Lemoine.Does Lemoine have a case? If not, where did Lemoine go wrong?About Reed Berkowitz:Reed Berkowitz is the Director of Curiouser LLC, who has more than 25 years of experience designing, writing, and researching award-winning interactive experiences for companies including Universal Studios, Paramount, Cartoon Network, Peanuts, Sanrio, and many more. He formerly served as the Creative Director of New Games at Latitude, an AI-powered games company.Follow Reed BerkowitzTwitter | WebsiteShow Notes and Resources:How to talk with an AI: A Deep Dive Into “Is LaMDA Sentient?” - Reed BerkowitzOpenAI/GPT-3May be Fired Soon for Doing AI Ethics Work - Blake LemoineThe Google engineer who thinks the company's AI has become sentient - The Washington PostIs LaMDA Sentient? - Blake Lemoine Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How can nostalgia inspire memes that motivate and mobilize communities?Last week, Jamie and Josh discussed how the term “meme culture” is in jeopardy of being co-opted by extremists. This week, they welcome back Grafton Tanner to take a deeper dive into the topic.What is vaporwave, and what characteristics of its aesthetic that afford itself to be used by these communities? How do aesthetics and fandoms intertwine? How can corporations grapple with feelings of nostalgia in intensely devoted fandoms?About Grafton Tanner:Grafton Tanner is the author of The Hours Have Lost Their Clock: The Politics of Nostalgia (Repeater Books, 2021), The Circle of the Snake: Nostalgia and Utopia in the Age of Big Tech (Zer0 Books, 2020), and Babbling Corpse: Vaporwave and the Commodification of Ghosts (Zer0 Books, 2016).Follow Grafton Tanner:Twitter | WebsiteShow Notes:Babbling Corpse - Vaporwave and the Commodification of Ghosts - Grafton TannerMuzakSynthwaveDawnFMChord Progression of Boys of SummerPersistent Storytelling - Kathleen KennedyOutrunTradCathFauxtomation - Astra TaylorGhost Work - Mary L. GraySan JuniperoThe Hours Have Lost Their Clock - Grafton TannerMasters of the Userverse - Grafton Tanner, Real Life Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We need to talk about meme culture.How are the aesthetics and vibes of memes turning into an action language? Jamie and Josh explore the ways memes inspire action: From #Gentleminions to extremist movements.Further, they explore how people outside of in-group communities can understand intent when nothing is explicitly being said. Is the term meme culture in jeopardy of being entirely co-opted?Show Notes & Resources:The Case for Anonymity Online - Chris Poole (TED Talk)OwlingTebowingPlankingMinions: Rise of GruHow Minions Destroyed the Internet - Brian FeldmanSummer of Morbius - Garbage DayDeep Fried MemesElad Nehorai Tweet2014 Isla Vista KillingsThe Fat JewishThe Harlem ShakeLimor ShifmanGrafton TannerWestern ChauvinismThe Moog SynthesizerVaporwaveVaporwave memesMuzakLo-Fi Beats to Study ToA Haircut Returns From the 1930s - NYTFashWaveNeoliberalism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Digital Void Podcast is a weekly exploration of digital culture, media, technology, and memes, featuring critical conversations with experts at the forefront of our digital transformation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why do Silicon Valley's promises about the future of transportation never seem to work out?Paris Marx, author of The Road to Nowhere: What Silicon Valley Gets Wrong About the Future of Transportation and Host of Tech Won't Save Us dives into the reality underpinning the promises made by Silicon Valley entrepreneurs like Elon Musk. Why can't electric vehicles address the problems created by the automobile industry? To push back against Silicon Valley's promises, Marx helps us imagine a more accessible and equitable transportation future.About Paris Marx:Paris Marx is a Canadian technology writer whose work has been published by NBC News, CBC News, Jacobin, and Tribune, among many others. Paris is also a PhD candidate at the University of Auckland and the host of the critical technology podcast Tech Won't Save Us.Follow Paris Marx:Twitter | Tech Won't Save UsShow Notes:From Counterculture to Cyberculture - Fred TurnerWhole Earth Catalog - Stewart BrandJarrett Walker - Elite ProjectThe Facebook Papers - Francis HaugenFor more on Peter Thiel's philosophy, read here: From Zero to One, New Yorker profileTechlashIt's Time to Build - Andreesen Horowitz essayUber FilesSocial Reconstruction - Peter NortonAn Inconvenient Truth - Al GoreWho Killed the Electric Car?Musk's leaked text messages to Bill GatesThe Bird AppFort Lauderdale Boring Company TunnelThe Carrier Theory of Fiction - Ursula LeGuin Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie and Josh dive into a brief history of how war and conflict play out in cyberspace, ranging from 9/11 and Syria to how Ukraine is using Twitter in its fight against Russia.We're coming to Washington DC! Join us for Our Connected Future on Wednesday, March 23, at Union Stage. Join Jamie in conversation with DC Bureau Chief Ryan Grim, a live taping of Bridget Todd's award-winning podcast There Are No Girls on the Internet featuring journalist Amanda Moore, and a panel by All Tech is Human:https://www.unionstage.com/shows/digital-void-presents-our-connected-future/Digital Void is hosted by Jamie Cohen (@newanddigital) and Josh Chapdelaine (@joshchapdelaine). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jamie Cohen dives into the debate Wikipedia editors are having about how artworks are categorized on the website — and what it means for NFTs.

Daily Beast reporter and author of Off The Edge: Flat Earthers, Conspiracy Culture, and Why People Will Believe Anything Kelly Weill explores how we arrived at our polarized and conspiratorial moment, ranging from the origins of flat earth theory to the tragic effects of contemporary believers.

Resident Fellow at Atlantic Council's Digital Forensics Research Lab and host of SH!TPOST Jared Holt explains the ways domestic extremists adapted and evolved after the January 6 attack, shares how we can avoid being bystanders in the face of fascism, and explores the real-world effects of posting and media martyrdom.

Author of The Palmer Hotel Rick Paulas shares how his book became a meme through his reply guy tweets, how his Twitter ban created a Barbara Streisand effect for his book, and why Twitter should be entirely eradicated if humans stand a chance for a better future.Paulas will be signing copies of the Palmer Hotel at Digital Void's Meme in the Moment Festival: Make it Spoopy. Live from Caveat NYC on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00 PM ET.

Insider digital culture editor and writer Rachel E. Greenspan explores her career path to the disinformation beat, how the insurrection showed us that it's too dangerous to ignore what happens online, and right-wing media's continued attacks on Taylor Lorenz and other journalists.Greenspan will be a speaker at Digital Void's Meme in the Moment Festival: Make it Spoopy. Live from Caveat NYC on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00 PM ET.

⏳ Author of The Hours Have Lost Their Clock Grafton Tanner explains how nostalgia is the emotion of our time. Tanner explores nostalgia from its roots as an illness that was once considered a cause of death to how nostalgia is affected by climate change and species extinction. From endless sequels and franchises to early-pandemic nostalgia, Tanner provides a detailed overview of nostalgia — and shares how we can be more mindful of its existence.

Freelance culture writer Moises Mendez II discusses the path he took to become a journalist, controversies surrounding queerbaiting in mainstream culture, the importance of TikTok Star Tally Dilbert's influence on young Afro-Latinos, and the connection between Gabby Petito and Couch Guy. Plus, Mendez reveals his favorite meme of all-time.Mendez will be a speaker at Digital Void's Meme in the Moment Festival: Make it Spoopy. Live from Caveat NYC on Wednesday, October 27, at 7:00 PM ET.

2017 College Jeopardy winner, author of How to Survive a Public Faming: “Understanding “The Spiciest Memelord” via the Temporal Dynamics of Involuntary Celebrification and graduate student at MIT Lilly Chin shares the story of how she became "The Spiciest Memelord", the structural issues and lack of institutional support associated with overnight fame, and strategies to properly respond to online harassment and trolls.Follow Digital VoidTwitter: https://twitter.com/digivoidmediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWoac3SIfsUg6Xl0X1GS8AFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/digivoidmediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoid.media/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/34894594Use #DigitalVoid #DigitalVoidPodcast to join the conversation-----CreditsHosted by Josh Chapdelaine and Dr. Jamie CohenAudio edited and mixed by Josh Chapdelaine-----Digital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void Media.Contact Digital Void:Email: digivoidmedia@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Founder of the Meme Studies Research Network (MSRN) and doctoral researcher in sociology Idil Galip explains how she started an international and interdisciplinary research network for scholars who study memes to collaborate and organize. Further, she explains how Turkey's Gezi Park Protests inspired her memetic research, explores how memes are generation artifacts, and the dangers of assuming people engage with memes in good faith. Follow Digital VoidTwitter: https://twitter.com/digivoidmediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWoac3SIfsUg6Xl0X1GS8AFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/digivoidmediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoid.media/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/34894594Use #DigitalVoid #DigitalVoidPodcast to join the conversation-----CreditsHosted by Josh Chapdelaine and Dr. Jamie CohenAudio edited and mixed by Josh Chapdelaine-----Digital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void Media.Contact Digital Void:Email: digivoidmedia@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author of TikTok Boom and journalist Chris Stokel-Walker explores the strategy behind TikTok's explosive rise in the west, the differences between Silicon Valley and Chinese technology, and how the features of TikTok are designed to mirror people's performances back onto themselves, allowing them to feel like they are part of a community.Follow Digital VoidTwitter: https://twitter.com/digivoidmediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWoac3SIfsUg6Xl0X1GS8AFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/digivoidmediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoid.media/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/34894594Use #DigitalVoid #DigitalVoidPodcast to join the conversation-----CreditsHosted by Josh Chapdelaine and Dr. Jamie CohenAudio edited and mixed by Josh Chapdelaine-----Digital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void Media.Contact Digital Void:Email: digivoidmedia@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer for Uprising: A Guide from Portland and Bellingcat and a researcher for Behind the Bastards and Worst Year Ever, Garrison Davis explains the evolution of “White Boy Summer” from Chet Hanks music video to white supremacist meme. Davis shares the story of how “White Boy Summer” was discussed amongst 4Chan message board users and far-right Telegram channels and, ultimately, how the meme ended up becoming commodified. Further, Davis explains how the vaporwave aesthetic is used by fascists and the most common aesthetics of far-right memes. As far-right groups attempt to incite violence and organize in-person rallies, Davis discusses how the likeness of mainstream figures like Tucker Carlson and Mark McCloskey are used by far-right groups to help radicalize people. What can people do to stay vigilant of extremism, and why should we listen to experts?You can read Robert Evans' and Davis' White Boy Summer, Nazi Memes, and the Mainstreaming of White Supremacist Violence on Bellingcat.Follow Garrison Davis:Twitter | YouTubeResources mentioned on this episode:Ali Breland - Twitter Finally Bans Nick FuentesChet Hanks - White Boy SummerDigital Void Podcast: Grafton Tanner “The Circle of the Snake”Grafton Tanner - Babbling CorpseFollow Digital VoidTwitter: https://twitter.com/digivoidmediaYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKWoac3SIfsUg6Xl0X1GS8AFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/digivoidmediaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/digitalvoid.media/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/34894594Use #DigitalVoid #DigitalVoidPodcast to join the conversation-----CreditsHosted by Josh Chapdelaine and Dr. Jamie CohenAudio edited and mixed by Josh Chapdelaine-----Digital Void Podcast is a production of Digital Void Media.Contact Digital Void:Email: digivoidmedia@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PhD Candidate in Cultural Analysis & Theory, artist, educator, and founder of Vital Thought, Emily Gillcrist, shows us how the 2008 recession led to universities devaluing the humanities — and how Vital Thought is working to make the critical humanities accessible to everyone. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the second of a special three-part series, Jamie and Josh explore how the rise of citizen journalism combined with toxic troll culture gave rise to reaction reactionaries: The people who profit most from reacting to other people's reactions. Rooted in digital technology's infrastructure and libertarian ideology, they explore how identity, language, and irony were leveraged to create an army of culture warriors. From Chan culture to John Perry Barlow's Declaration of the Independence of Cyberspace, they explore how we arrived in an environment where targeted harassment campaigns have become the norm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host of the Tech Won't Save Us Podcast and writer Paris Marx joins us to critically examine Silicon Valley's approach to the gig economy and labor, what California's Prop 22 could mean for the future of work, the outsourced, exploited, and hidden labor behind new robots and surveillance technologies, and approaches to worker solidarity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of a special three-part series, Jamie and Josh explore how "mainstream media" became a pejorative term through the convergence of the narrative structure of reality television, early-YouTube web series, Gamergate, professional wrestling, and the false victimhood narratives created by influencers with millions of followers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feels Good Man filmmakers Arthur Jones and Giorgio Angelini discuss how they told the story of Pepe The Frog from Boys Club to misappropriation by the far-right after the 2016 election, what it meant for Pepe the Frog to enter the U.S. Capitol building, and why we need to broaden the scope of our conversations around NFTs and digital art. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.