field notes only 🍄⚡️
algorithmic historicity, bleat for Cannes, labubu hype and more
HAPPY SUNDAY.
Just field notes today! I feel like I’m getting dumber, my brain is rotting as we speak. And the only way I can think to combat this, is by engaging more with things, writing more, and thinking more about the things we see around us. So I’ll be dropping more field notes alongside my monthly field tests.
I saw a clip of this short film by Iranian Abbas Kiarostami, The Colors, and couldn’t really stop looking at it. Obviously, I was immediately drawn to the vivid colors and then I learned that it was made as way to teach children about different colors. “It’s also a testament to the broader cultural investment Iran made in children’s education and arts during that era, particularly through Kanun.”
Ooh I think this madness but DAZED Middle East, reported on Algorithmic Historicity. “What does it mean to consume history as it happens? What does it mean to manufacture history for consumption?” When we consume history and news through black box algorithms are we aware of how its changing our perception of things? Are we thinking critically about whether its a good thing to consume history? Putting history aside, what about how we are currently watching historic events unfold? Garbage day even pointed out about how we’ve come to a point where the politicians are meme-ing about wars, and you’ve got to think about what that does to our understanding and perception of things?
Bleat! A Malaysian short film about a Tamil couple’s ethical dilemma, is being screened in Cannes. We have very few international wins in the way of film, some include Michelle Yeoh, and my personal favourite, director Yasmin Ahmad. This is the first time that a Malaysian film will be competing in the short film category.
THIS is something I have thought a lot about ever since I’ve learned more about the F1. Poor Liam Lawson was replaced by the Red Bull team, after only TWO races at the start of the year. His performance during the first two races saw him “crashing out in the former amid treacherous conditions”. It makes you really consider what mental pressure these drivers are under, after the already intense pressure of physically blasting yourself in a vehicle that is going at least 100mph. As this carousel asks, who is responsible for that?
A little follow up from the 057 - tariffs, #tradewartok, trinket girlies Field Test I posted last month, a creator made this zine about “Trinkets as Identity Markers”. Also relevant as a couple weeks ago Labubu was sold in Amsterdam and people lined up for hours for the trinket. also read Your labubu is my sleep paralysis demon.
xoxo.