Attack Mode: David Wolinsky looks at the Gamergate scandal and internet culture in "The Hivemind Swarmed" and a panel discussion at AADL
Gamergate debuted in 2014 when a video-game designer's former boyfriend falsely accused her of having relations with a journalist to score a good review.
But Gamergate exploded when trolls at 4chan used the story as a jumping-off point to start attacking women and minorities over various things—from gaming to politics—with the results spilling out on Twitter, other social-media sites, and message boards, then eventually into mainstream news.
Internet harassment wasn't new when Gamergate hit, but the speed and size of the attacks were at a new scale, offering a playbook for the kind of bad actors who often dominate the web now. Disinformation campaigns are the norm, lies are truth, and weaponized anti-social media is the default mode for many who engage with these websites and platforms.
David Wolinsky has covered Gamergate for 11 years as a freelance journalist and author of The Hivemind Swarmed: Conversations on Gamergate, the Aftermath, and the Quest for a Safer Internet, whose paperback edition comes out in August. Wolinsky is also a dedicated archivist whose Don't Die project features more than 600 interviews with people from the gaming industry, the media, commentators, and more about the state of the internet in the wake of Gamergate.
For a deeper understanding of Gamergate, Wolinsky and Caitlin Dewey's Links I Would GChat You If We Were Friends Substack compiled "The Links x Hivemind Swarmed Reading Guide to Gamergate." This collection of articles will get you up to speed on the pervasive influence of Gamergate ahead of Wolinsky's visit to the Ann Arbor District Library's Downtown branch on Friday, April 25, from 6-7 pm for a panel discussion: "Swarmed: Gaming and the Social Internet’s Impact on Culture and Identity":
Friday Five: Doogatron, Mickey Richard, simulatent, Klobur, Suburbo
Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features electronica by Doogatron, instrumental rock by Mickey Richard, tribal hypnosis by simulatent, outsider music by Klobur, and classic college rock by Suburbo.
The Band Abides: The Dude Revue, a musical tribute to "The Big Lebowski," returns to The Blind Pig
When film auteurs Joel and Ethan Coen were writing the script for the 1998 caper comedy The Big Lebowski, they listened to the sort of groovy artists they imagined would be adored by the main character, The Dude: Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, The Eagles, and Creedence Clearwater Revival in particular.
Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, as played by Jeff Bridges, is a slacker with the same name as a millionaire, and this case of mistaken identity plays out across Los Angeles and a bowling alley. With his long locks and penchant for robes, The Dude looks like the sort of chilled-out guy who knows all the great tunes.
When producer T Bone Burnett was asked to suggest more artists for The Big Lebowski soundtrack, he kept one thing in mind: “Since the Dude was high all the time, he would have to have incredible taste in music," the music archivist told Rolling Stone in 1998.
Rootsy music by Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, and Nina Simone sits next to avant-garde songcraft by Meredith Monk, Captain Beefheart, and Moondog, which dances alongside exotica from Yma Sumac and Henry Mancini. Those initial inspirations of Kenny Rogers and The First Edition, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Gipsy Kings' cover of "Hotel California" also appear. Carter Burwell, who did the original soundtrack music, added his noir-inspired compositions to flesh out the ambiance, and there are many more songs in the movie that didn't make the official album by the likes of ZZ Top, Santana, Booker T. & the MGs, Eagles, The Monks, and more.
The Dude Revue is a now-annual sonic tribute to The Big Lebowski, with core members James Bourland, Jordan Otto, and Connor Otto bringing together friends to perform music featured throughout the movie as well as act out scenes. This second edition takes place on Saturday, April 26, at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.
I asked guitarist-singer Bourland about how The Dude Revue came together to honor this cult classic.
iFFY the Filmsters: The Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti returns for its sixth edition
When the Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti (iFFY) was announced in January 2020, it was scheduled to take place at the Riverside Arts Center that April. A big worldwide something happened the month before, however, and the iFFY crew had to improvise, and the festival was held online and as a drive-in screening in a parking lot.
In other words, iFFY is malleable, and for this year's edition—which will run at the Riverside Arts Center, April 17-19—the festival welcomed changing things up a bit.
“Transformation and germination is really central to the festival this year," said iFFY co-director Micah Vanderhoof in a press release. "As the festival moves into its sixth year, we’re aiming to cultivate those elements which have resonated with the community and fostered a sense of connection, and incorporate new ideas and suggestions as we go. We hope to provide a space to share new perspectives, become inspired, and grow as artists, while remaining uniquely reflective of our Ypsilanti community.”
While iFFY brings in films from around the world, it also highlights some creatives here at home by kicking off the fest with Michigan-ish (April 17, 7:30 pm), a selection of short films made in our state—three of which were shot entirely or partially in Washtenaw County:
Friday Five: French Ship, Racing Mount Pleasant, The Missing Cats, J-Classic, Sacha
Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features a Kraftwerk-like electronic tune by French Ship, orchestral indie by Racing Mount Pleasant, jazzy fusion by The Missing Cats, rap by J-Classic, and soulful emo-tronica by Sacha.
Chelsea's Midwest Literary Walk returns with Sarah Vowell, Angie Kim & Shelby Van Pelt
Three-band bills are common in the concert world.
But three back-to-back-ish author talks split between churches within a strollable distance?
That's the working model for the Chelsea District Library's annual Midwest Literary Walk, which happens on Saturday, April 12.
Shelby Van Pelt (Remarkably Bright Creatures), Angie Kim (Happiness Falls), and Sarah Vowell (Lafayette in the Somewhat United States) are this year's writers.
The Midwest Literary Walk started in 2008, and like SculptureWalk Chelsea, it takes advantage of the small city's charming and easily navigable downtown to present big-time talent—all for free.
Here's the schedule and a selection of interviews with the authors:
Friday Five: Louise Toppin and Darryl Taylor, Gifts of Art compilation, Latimer Rogland, Matt McCleskey, Lauren Blackford
Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features art songs by Black composers courtesy of Louise Toppin and Darryl Taylor, a meditative Gifts of Art compilation, experimental organ/keyboard/electronics by Latimer Rogland, Americana by Matt McCleskey, and singer-songwriter tunes by Lauren Blackford.
Dedicated Followers of Fashion: Gutman Gallery's "In Style" exhibit highlights wearable design
The Guild of Artists & Artisans' Gutman Gallery is a fashion-forward exhibition space—at least from April 4 to May 17 when the glam squad comes to town.
The Ann Arbor gallery is hosting In Style: Fashion + Wearables, which features 26 designers and artists working in a variety of media. These dedicated followers of fashion were selected by guest juror Cheryl Zemke, proprietor of the Wyandotte boutique that bears her name.
There's an opening reception at Gutman Gallery on Friday, April 4 from 6-8 pm, with The Guild of Artists & Artisans inviting you to this free event with a simple request: "dress to impress." (In my case, that means my finest sweatpants.) DJ Batz will spin jams, the South African winemaker Babylonstoren will pour the vino, and Sweet Heather Anne cakes and TeaHaus will provide some nosh and drinkables. (There's also a "live mannequin fashion show," which sounds like nightmare material—but if things get hairy, I'll be wearing my sweatpants and can dash away tout suite because I love depeche mode.)
Some of the works in In Style: Fashion + Wearables include:
Friday Five: Elliot McConnell, Punto de Fuga, Maddy Ringo, Dick Texas, AGN7
Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features big band prog-jazz fusion by Elliot McConnell, jazz-rock by Punto de Fuga, country-folk jazz by Maddy Ringo, moody indie by Dick Texas, and two new drum 'n' bass releases on the AGN7 label.
Friday Five: Babak Soleimani, Broomway, Blaine Nash, Jeff Karoub, Same Eyes
Friday Five highlights music by Washtenaw County-associated artists and labels.
This edition features Persian fusion by Babak Soleimani, electronica by Broomway, hip-hop by Blaine Nash, singer-songwriter soul by Jeff Karoub, and synth-pop by Same Eyes.