[SXSW 2016] Tumblr to Host Feminism-Themed Night
Tumblr is returning to SXSW 2016 Music with an entirely new Feminism-themed event this year that's certainly catching a lot of buzz. In effort to highlight gender inequality in the US Wage Gap, their event, 79 Cents, will headline Jhené Aiko, Tacocat, Little Simz, and Empress Of, a full lineup of almost entirely female musicians, "feminist art installations", and even a guest appearance from former Texas state senator Wendy Davis. (Davis shot to national renown in 2013 when she staged an 11-hour filibuster to block a bill heavily restricting abortion in the state.) A SXSW event filled with nothing but strong female voices, for sure.
At the 2015 festival, Tumblr occupied four full days of performances and collaborative visuals at the Ironwood Hall, not only bringing together an array of great musicians but creating an overall art filled experience. When asked about such a change in focus in this year's event, Tumblr’s head of music, Nate Auerbach, stated "We’re celebrating the female voice in many contexts.", leaving much to anticipate.
The event is being held on March 16th, at 9pm, at the Historic Scoot Inn, and you can RSVP here.
Tumblr to Scan Photos For Brand Information
More than a year ago, Yahoo! bought Tumblr for an astounding $1.1b. At the time, I speculated the deal would mean more ads would be displayed on the dashboard, which has come to pass, although not to the level I thought it would approach. New Yahoo! CEO Marissa Meyer kept to her word on not messing with what made Tumblr so popular, which is invigorating in this age of tech business acquisitions and maneuvering. Starting this week, however, some behind-the-scenes changes are being implemented to help brands better understand Tumblr and its users... and it's not as bad as you may think.
Tumblr is signing a deal with Ditto, a tech company that has created a system that can scan photos for brand-related data and logos to send to said brands. As an example, I used a header from the Ditto website that shows exactly what happens: Ditto scans photos for logos, then sends the photos to the proper brand to show popularity and affiliations amongst a demographic of people. Tumblr head of business development T.R. Newcomb has said the deal has nothing to do with ad-related content, stating, "If Coke wants to understand the nature of the conversation [about them on Tumblr] Ditto can sift through and deliver it to Coke." However, this doesn't mean targeted ads won't be implemented in the future.
As somebody that has dabbled more in the tech/ad side of things for the past year, I think the system is really cool and innovative. Why shouldn't companies know how their brands are being represented? At the same time, it could come at the cost of privacy invasion for users simply sharing their content with friends. It's a bit of a slippery moral slope; what do you think?
[via Mashable]
Emojis Made Real by Liza Nelson
Photos by Liza Nelson
Emojis are small digital images or icons used to express an idea, emotion, or provide commentary, in electronic communication. They are used far and wide around the world, and it's even noted that President Barack Obama, and pop sensation Beyonce, are in on the goofy fad. Because of all it's fun and popularity, Los Angeles-based artist Liza Nelson, set out on a creative quest for Emojis to be made real in her series titled, "EMOJI IRL.LOL".
To get this series accomplished, Nelson photographed vegetables, props, paper mache, and people to replicate emojis we all love/hate. There are even a few that she added her own spin to, like accessories, colorful backdrops and tattoos. She then published them on Tumblr with the replicating emoji accompanying it. The series is corky and fun, and her opinion of emojis are simultaneously low and high. Although she's appreciative, she shares the following on her Tumblr page, "Emojis mean everything and they mean nothing at the same time. They’re completely personal and completely universal. They’re really quite stupid. And they’re the best thing that ever happened to our generation. They deserve to be observed and worshiped individually. By finding, posing and sculpting emojis in real life I’ve created a set of shrines to the individual characters because somebody had to do it."
Check out some of our favorites and find more here.
[Via Refinery 29]
Iconic Celebrities Photoshopped with Tattoos by Cheyenne Randall
Photos by Cheyenne Randall
Imagine classic beauties like Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor fully inked with tattoos. In the popular Tumblr blog Shopped Tattoos, Seattle based artist Cheyenne Randall, features an extensive collection of celebrities, famous athletes, musicians and even world leaders, with very realistic looking tattoos, photoshopped onto their skin. The idea is done so well, and for some it genuinely suits them. There are even some that can change your personal opinion about them. Think about it, would Marilyn Monroe still be considered a iconically sexy while covered in ink? Would Barack Obama be President of the United States if he had full tatted sleeves?
Take a look at some of our favorites and be sure to check out the ongoing series here.
[Via Shopped Tattoos Tumblr]
Rappers & Cereal
We've all become accustomed to artists putting their name on a number of products and really showing us their entrepreneurial spirit, from the clothing brands to alcohol, headphones, restaurants and even clubs. Many do anything to make a dollar, and for whats it's worth, I respect that artists venture into the world of business. But like any business, some succeed and well... some are destined to fail. Now think of all the products that we've seen rappers put their name behind, then imagine if your favorite rappers branched off into the world of cereal. The minds over at Rappers & Cereal made it a reality by creating some awesome images with our favorite rappers on the boxes of some of our favorite cereals. Check out some of the hilarious images below, and for more visit Rappers & Cereal.
Photos by Rappers & Bread
Yahoo Buys Tumblr for $1.1 Billion
In an attempt to appeal to younger generations, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer confirmed the purchase of blogging service Tumblr for a startling $1.1 billion. Tumblr, a site known for its assortment of GIF-heavy blog posts, is popular amongst younger crowds. Mayer wrote a Tumblr post herself, promising "not to screw it up." A good sign of Yahoo's promise is retaining Tumblr founder David Karp in the same role as CEO. Karp also assured no major changes would be made, stating, "Our team isn't changing. Our roadmap isn't changing. Tumblr gets better faster with more resources to draw from."
However, what does the acquisition mean for both Yahoo visitors and Tumblr loyalists? Tumblr might see an increase in advertisements as a way for Yahoo to monetize the site. However, a huge problem potential advertisers face is the large number of Tumblr accounts sharing pornographic material. Yahoo might claim to act as transparent as possible, but I wouldn't be surprised if they begin to come down on the more adult-driven blogs. On the plus side, popular Tumblr blogs could be displayed on Yahoo's front page.
Only time will tell exactly how the acquisition will affect either party, but one thing's for sure: Yahoo's ready to jump back into the fray alongside Google. Who knows? Maybe we'll hear the classic "Yahooooo!" yodel from yesteryear once again.
[via CNN Money]