Chris Hardwick's Blog, page 2069

A Harvard Student’s Final Thesis Was a Rap Album, He Got An A

Harvard University isn’t exactly the first place you think of when hip-hop comes to mind, but the 381-year-old Ivy League school is making waves in the rap community thanks to a student named Obasi Shaw. For the first time in school history, he submitted a rap album, titled Liminal Minds, as his English department thesis, and it worked out pretty well for him, since he got an A (via AOL).

In an Instagram post, the school described the album as combining “elements of Middle English poetry with issues of racial identity in America,” and quoted Shaw as saying of the record, “[African-Americans are] free, but the effects of slavery still exist. Each song is an exploration of that state between slavery and freedom.”

Despite his early hip-hop success, Shaw will begin a software engineering internship after graduation, but will keep rapping as a hobby: “Rap is a genre in which I can say everything I want to say,” he said. “I’ve been writing in different capacities, but I never felt that I found my art form until I started rapping.”

This achievement is a step forward for hip-hop heads who want to see rap lyrics appreciated as a real and socially relevant art form, and it’s also a pleasure for fans of A Tribe Called Quest, because musically, Liminal Minds is very much inspired by the legendary group’s jazz-influenced sound.

Listen to Liminal Minds above, and let us know in the comments what you think about this academic piece of hip-hop history.

Obasi Shaw ’17 submitted Harvard’s first rap thesis, “Liminal Minds,” which combines elements of Middle English poetry with issues of racial identity in America. “[African-Americans are] free, but the effects of slavery still exist,” says Shaw. “Each song is an exploration of that state between slavery and freedom.”⠀ ⠀ After graduation, Shaw will move to Seattle for a one-year internship in software engineering. As for rap, he’ll keep it as a treasured hobby. “Rap is a genre in which I can say everything I want to say,” Shaw said. “I’ve been writing in different capacities, but I never felt that I found my art form until I started rapping.”⠀ ⠀ #Harvard #Harvard17

A post shared by Harvard University (@harvard) on May 18, 2017 at 1:11pm PDT

 

Featured image: Obasi Shaw/Soundcloud

DC Collectibles Gets Some Indie Style with “Artist Alley” Statue Line

There are only so many ways you can draw and sculpt the likes of Superman and Batman in a realistic style, before, sooner or later, somebody’s going to want to shake things up. While other companies often let outside third-parties create designer vinyl-style caricature art of their characters (Kidrobot has practically made a business model out of this), DC Collectibles are actually doing their own. At the recent Five Points festival, celebrating designer toys and comics, they announced the new Artist Alley line of PVC statues.

As anybody who has attended a comics convention knows, Artist Alley is generally the part of the room reserved for artists selling their wares and offering custom sketches, and while you do see creative types showcasing their own characters, like, say, Rob Liefeld drawing multiple Deadpools, artists with lower profile names often attract business by showcasing their interpretations of famous characters.

Three artists DC describes as visionaries will kick of the new line, with three characters each (five of which are revealed so far):

Designs will include illustrator Chris Uminga’s offbeat interpretations of Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman, Barcelonian-bred artist, Sho Murase’s stylish designs for Catwoman, Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn, and HaiNaNu “Nooligan” Saulque’s exaggerated designs on The Joker, Batman, and Harley Quinn. Each figure will also be accompanied by a print showcasing its original artwork.

In the images above, and our gallery below, you can see Saulque’s Harley and Joker, Uminga’s Batman and Superman, and Murase’s Catwoman. There’s something of a classic marionette style to Saulque’s pieces that feels very true to the archetypes those characters represent, while Uminga’s Supes and Bats look so cute, like they’re ready to hug it out for Martha’s Day.

Are these statues…dare we say it…up your alley? Litter the comments section with your thoughts!

Images: DC Collectibles

Nintendo’s Response to a Blind RHYTHM HEAVEN Fan’s Letter is Heartwarming

Part of what makes video games great is the medium’s ability to appeal to a variety of audiences. Hardcore gamers can spend 200 hours trying to collect everything in The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild, or you can give an iPad to a 5-year-old and watch them pop bubbles or whatever kids do in iPad games. Still, it’s impossible to please everybody, and unfortunately, some gamers are underserved.

For instance, you might imagine that blind or otherwise visually impaired players have a hard time interacting with most games in a meaningful way. Japanese fifth grader Hibiki Sakai is a huge fan of the Rhythm Heaven series, since he’s blind and the gameplay is based on responding to audio cues. The thankful youngster decided to write a letter to Nintendo, and the interaction was all sorts of aww (via Kotaku).

全盲の長男が唯一楽しめる#リズム天国

シリーズを全てパーフェクトでクリアした長男が#任天堂

さんへ手紙を書いた所、返信の手紙がたった1人の為に誠実に対応でまさに神対応です

任天堂さん、全シリーズ音楽監修のつんくさん是非とも新作をお待ちしてます#nintendo pic.twitter.com/LPOLfboJIT

— けんたろー (@kentarock1020) May 17, 2017

“That’s the only game I can enjoy with everyone else, and I’ve never lost to anyone,” he wrote. “I’ve gotten perfect scores on the Game Boy Advance version, the DS version, the Wii version, and the 3DS version.” In response to his letter, Nintendo wrote back (with one copy of their response in written Japanese and another in braille) and thanked Sakai for his support and saying they’ll continue making games that everybody can enjoy.

As some Kotaku commenters noted, the Switch is very approachable for visually impaired players, saying that the HD Rumble feature has a lot of potential to help blind players keep up with their sighted peers. They also mentioned 1-2 Switch, since the minigames in don’t require a lot of looking at the screen and are more sound- and input-based.

Besides Rhythm Heaven and 1-2 Switch, what other games could be fun for visually impaired players? Give your suggestions in the comments below!

Featured image: Nintendo/YouTube

THE KING OF KONG is Becoming a Stage Musical

Ten years ago, director Seth Gordon‘s The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters chronicled the unexpectedly compelling rivalry between two of the best Donkey Kong players in the world. The King of Kong also led Gordon to become a successful feature film director, with Four Christmases, Horrible Bosses, and the upcoming Baywatch movie to his credit. But Gordon is far from done with The King of Kong, and its next incarnation is going to be a musical

While speaking with IGN, Gordon revealed that “we’re actually working on a musical right now, which is pretty great…I think it lends itself to [the stage] – there’s such a melodrama, and so many of the characters are actually musicians, and the music of the games, too, is a thing.” The report notes that Gordon actually left the Baywatch press junket early to listen to demos of songs from The King of Kong musical.

Gordon also noted that one of the songs in the musical will be “Museum of Your Heart,” an original tune by Twin Galaxies founder Walter Day, who had a significant role in the documentary. In the film, the primary focus was on Steve Wiebe, a high school teacher and musician who chased the world record for a high score in Donkey Kong. Wiebe’s rival was Billy Mitchell, one of the greatest arcade video game players of all-time.

For years, Gordon has attempted to bring Wiebe and Mitchell’s story back to the big screen as a fictionalized retelling. In the new report, Gordon noted that if the cinematic remake happens, he wants to put the focus on Mitchell, who was portrayed in a more villainous light in the original.

“I always thought it’d be cool to flip the point of view and do it from Billy’s perspective, sort of see the whole thing from his point of view,” said Gordon. “Because at least he believed in his version, very much, so try to see what that’d be like.”

It should be noted that the race to become the best Donkey Kong player in the world has greatly expanded since The King of Kong was released in 2007, but it’s still one of our favorite video game documentaries. If it really does become a musical or a new film, we’ll be the first ones in line!

Are you excited to see The King of Kong become a musical? Unleash a video game inspired song in the comment section below!

Images: Picturehouse

Zack Snyder Departs JUSTICE LEAGUE in Wake of Family Tragedy

It is with a deeply heavy heart that we report the news that director Zack Snyder is stepping away from his work on Justice League following the revelation that his 20-year-old daughter, Autumn Snyder, died by suicide in March of this year. Joss Whedon will step in to finish post-production and directing a few remaining scenes. Our thoughts and deepest condolences go out to the Snyder family.

In a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Snyder details the tragic circumstances that led to leaving the project and his decision to exit the remaining post-production process after an initial attempt to continue business as usual.

“In my mind, I thought it was a cathartic thing to go back to work, to just bury myself and see if that was way through it,” explained Snyder to THR. “The demands of this job are pretty intense. It is all consuming. And in the last two months I’ve come to the realization …I’ve decided to take a step back from the movie to be with my family, be with my kids, who really need me. They are all having a hard time. I’m having a hard time.”

The admission that Snyder is having a hard time is a powerful one, given our nation’s fear and anxiety when it comes to talking about mental healthcare. The shame that comes from feeling the effects of mental illness is so powerful that it often keeps these discussions in the dark, making a solitary pain all the more isolating. The simple act of declaring the reality of his situation paves the way for further, more public conversation regarding how we look at mental health in this country, and the seriousness with which it should be handled. We commend Snyder for his bravery in the midst of a tragic and life-changing occurrence.

While Snyder and his family are taking time away to care for themselves and their other children, it’s important to note that help is out there for people who feel lost in their own depression and mental health issues. If you or someone you know are feeling this way, there are people you can talk to, a few of which we’ve listed below:

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline  is a 24-hour, toll-free, confidential suicide prevention hotline (1-800-273-8255) available to anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. There is also a 24-hour an Online Chat option available.
Crisis Text Line  is a 24/7, nationwide crisis-intervention text-message hotline. Text TALK to 741-741.
HopeLine is a suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline that can be called or texted. They operate by using active listening to support and reflect through any kind of crisis, even if not suicide related.
The Trevor Project is a nationwide organization that provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth.

It’s important to remember that you are not alone, and there are people out here who want to help.

Image: Warner Bros.

HELLBOY Receives His Own Hell Water Cinnamon Whiskey

Almost every superhero worth their salt has various product tie-ins, from t-shirts to surfboards to you name it. But only one superhero has not one, not two, but three alcoholic beverages named after him: Mike Mignola’s demonic superhero Hellboy.

Last year, we told you about a new brand of Hellboy wine that was hitting stores, and before that, a draft ale with his name on it was also produced. Now, Big Red is also getting his own brand of Hellboy Hell Water Cinnamon Whiskey. So take that, Wolverine.

Officially announced by Dark Horse Comics, XXX Distillery LLC and Prestige Imports LLC, this is the first ever whiskey based on Mike Mignola’s legendary comic book hero Hellboy. Hell Water Cinnamon Whiskey is a craft distilled, small batch, naturally flavored cinnamon corn whiskey retailing for $19.99 for a 750ml bottle. The 66.6 proof (heh) Hellboy Hell Water Cinnamon Whiskey is available nationally and can be ordered at www.hellboyhellwater.com.

In a statement, Dark Horse Comics Publisher Mike Richardson said, “At 66.6 proof, Hellboy Hell Water packs a punch worthy of Mike Mignola’s iconic creation. It’s appropriate that Hellboy Hell Water Cinnamon Whiskey was made in the Smokey Mountains.” Teddy Jones of XXX Distillery added, “We’re very excited about the success and potential of our hand crafted whiskeys, especially that of Hellboy Hell Water Cinnamon Whiskey.”

With a new movie reboot on the way with Stranger Things‘ own David Harbour playing Hellboy, the heroic demon spawn certainly has plenty of reasons to celebrate with a nice bottle of whiskey this year.

Will you be getting the latest Hellboy branded alcoholic beverage? Be sure to let us know down below in the comments.

Images: Dark Horse Comics

Will Tom Holland’s Spider-Man Exist in Sony’s Marvel Universe?

In just a few weeks, Tom Holland‘s Peter Parker will make his solo debut in Spider-Man: Homecoming as part of a previously unprecedented deal between Marvel Studios and Sony Pictures to share custody of the fan-favorite superhero. But just because Sony and Marvel are playing nice with Spidey doesn’t mean that Sony is giving up on making its own Marvel movies. Last week, the long-rumored Venom movie took a big step forward when Tom Hardy was attached to the title role. But is this a Venom who may never meet a Spider-Man? Check your Spider-Sense at the door, today’s Nerdist News is on the case!

Join host and the only person immune to radioactive spiders, Jessica Chobot, as she examines the implications of a Spider-verse without Spider-Man. Apparently, the deal between Marvel and Sony didn’t extend to all of Spidey’s ancillary characters. (That’s why we’re getting a Venom movie, and why the Black Cat and Silver Sable may share a film in the spotlight.) Spider-Man really does have a rich cast of characters, villains, and supporting heroes, but Peter Parker is the glue that holds them all together. It’s going to be very difficult to establish these heroes and villains without a Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man.

The deal between Marvel and Sony only extends for six movies, including Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War, and its currently untitled sequel, as well as three Spidey solo films. There were already rumors that Sony was potentially pulling Spider-Man back out of the MCU when the deal comes to a conclusion, and that would be the only way to get Holland’s Spidey onscreen with his greatest villains.

Alternatively, Sony could go with a different Spider-Man altogether and reboot the character for the fourth time, but that may not go over well. It’s also possible that keeping Spider-Man and the spin-off films separate will also allow Sony to go much darker than they ordinarily would have. Logan and Deadpool have proven that there is an audience for R-rated superhero films, and we wouldn’t be surprised at all if Venom follows in their footsteps and goes full horror film when it hits theaters in October 2018.

Should Spider-Man stay in the MCU or join his villains in Sony’s Marvel Universe? Spin a web, any size, and let’s discuss in the comment section below!

First Look At Daisy Ridley in the Title Role of OPHELIA

Prior to landing the role of Rey in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Daisy Ridley was largely unknown to cinema fans. Naturally, the film’s release dramatically changed that, and Ridley is beginning to emerge as a star outside of the famous space opera franchise. Now that The Last Jedi has wrapped, Ridley has moved on to the title role of Ophelia, which offers a modern take on the classic character from William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

The Hollywood Reporter has debuted the first image of Ridley as Ophelia from director Claire McCarthy’s adaptation Lisa Klein’s novel of the same name. Klein’s story offers a retelling of Ophelia’s doomed romance with Hamlet during the 14th century. But this time, the focus is on Ophelia herself, rather than the prince of Denmark.

Exclusive first look: Daisy Ridley is Hamlet’s forbidden lover in ‘Ophelia’ https://t.co/NsOr8gv051 #Cannes pic.twitter.com/TUGXVdXVUt

— Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 21, 2017

According to THR, Ophelia will maintain “a contemporary voice” rather than stylized dialogue in the vein of Shakespeare. Within the film, Ridley’s character is the lady-in-waiting for Queen Gertrude (Naomi Watts) before she unexpectedly enters into a forbidden romance with the queen’s son, Hamlet (George MacKay). Clive Owen will portray Ophelia’s father, Claudius, with Devon Terrell as Hamlet’s friend, Horatio, and Tom Felton as Ophelia’s brother, Laertes.

Ophelia is currently in production, and it is expected to be released in 2018. But fans of Ridley will be able to catch her in the remake of  Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express later this year.

What do you think about the first glimpse of Ridley as Ophelia? Respond in the form of a sonnet in our comment section below!

Images: Omaze/Covert Media/THR

Here Are the New TWIN PEAKS Opening Credits

If you haven’t had a chance to watch the new Twin Peaks yet–and as of this writing it just aired on the east coast, so odds are you may not have yet–we’re not going to spoil it. Just know that it was amazing! That, and it has new opening credits that are already online. Via Vulture, here they are, and no, they won’t spoil the plot at all:

Water. Nature. Red curtains. That carpet. It’s more abstract than the original lumber mill-centric network credits, to be sure, but then, freed from the constraints of the FCC and network ratings, so is the show. Also, these credits don’t run at the very beginning…and that’s all we’ll say about that.

Here, for comparison, is the original title sequence:

I feel like I know it, but sometimes my arms bend back.

Unfortunately, since Michael J. Anderson and David Lynch had a falling out way back, we’re not likely to see a new mystery man dance, but we can certainly hope for the classic music to show up in other semi-familiar places. And new Angelo Badalamenti-David Lynch score will certainly be a treat.

Ah, memories. Give me back my garmonbozia.

Also, if you watched the episode and wondered what the song on the end credits was, it just got uploaded to YouTube:

Did you do as I did and order Showtime just for the run of the series? What musical moments are you hoping to find along the way? Did I drink enough damn fine coffee while watching the new pilot to keep rambling on? What’s the deal with the owls? How’s Annie? What kind of gum did he like that’s coming back in style, anyway?

Please leave us your answers in comments, if they exist.

 

Images: Showtime/CBS

AMERICAN GODS History Primer: Anubis, a.k.a. Mr. Jacquel

The Old Gods in American Gods have roots in the past and in mythology. While we might know the ins and outs of the New Gods, like Media and Technical Boy, there’s probably a lot we can still learn about their predecessors. For those of you hoping to get a better understanding of these characters before you continue on with American Gods, we have you covered. Get to know the history that inspires the characters in our American Gods History Primer series.

Who

Anubis, a.k.a. Mr. Jacquel (in American Gods), a.k.a. Anpu or Inpu

In the Series

As another Old God trying to make an honest living, Anubis has carved out an existence as Mr. Jacquel. He runs a funeral home, Ibis and Jacquel Funeral Parlor in Cairo, Illinois, with his partner Mr. Ibis. He’s found a practical, modern way to adapt his ancient responsibilities. Though he spends his days embalming and transporting bodies, he still makes time for his godly role. He accompanied both Mrs. Fadil and Laura Moon to an in-between worlds desert location to measure each woman’s worth.

Anubis used scales to see what kind of balance (or imbalance) he could find between the good and bad each of them did in life. He used the heart for this, removing it by hand and placing it on the scale to see if it was used well. The results determine whether a person is allowed to proceed to the afterlife.

We also saw him appear in dog/jackal form to Mr. Wednesday and Shadow Moon. Get it, Jacquel and jackal?

Of the Old Gods we’ve encountered so far, Anubis/Jacquel is the most calm and measured personality. I can imagine him approaching the impending battle with nothing but rational analysis.

In Mythology

Anubis (or a priest dressed like him) performing the Opening of the Mouth ritual, Book of the Dead of Hunefer

Simply put, the Egyptian god Anubis is the god of mummification and the afterlife–American Gods nods to both of these specialties. Anubis was also known as the guardian of the dead and a patron of lost souls. His resume was stacked, y’all. You’ve likely heard of Anubis, but when you think of the Egyptian god of death, Osiris might come to mind first. Anubis was known before Osiris, an OG god of the afterlife. He was often depicted as a human with the head of a black dog (that resembles a jackal). Egyptians associated the color black with decay, and that’s what the name “Anpu” means–to decay. Black also represents rebirth and fertility (because of the banks of the Nile), which is sort of what Anubis does as he leads souls into the afterlife.

When he served as guide to get freshly dead individuals out of the world of the living and into the afterlife, he weighed the hearts. He balanced them against Ma’at, the Egyptian concept of truth and order, which was represented as an ostrich feather. If the soul in question was heavier than a feather, it would be devoured by Ammit–who by the way, is a female demon soul eater with a body comprised of lion, hippopotamus, and crocodile parts. That sounds like nothing I ever want to run into. Ever. If the soul was lighter than the feather, the bearer was allowed to pass into the underworld, Duat.

Reading the scales isn’t a precise system. It’s not like Anubis’ gear had digital readouts to ensure accuracy. If the scale showed close results, Anubis was responsible for making the call. Checks and balances and second opinions weren’t a thing.

In Other Stories

Anubis is another god often referenced in pop culture. I want to share a couple of highlights. In Stargate SG-1, Anubis was a parasitic Goa’uld claiming to be a god. In Overwatch, one of the maps unfolds in the Temple of Anubis.

Images: Starz, Tumblr/Laura’s Puppy