the dangers of social networking and #sxswi

[Marley Magaziner]

ok humpers,
austin update whuuuut.  So earlier today Stephen Elliott tracked us down using foursquare and just ambushed us at lunch ...aaaawkward.  (Hi Stephen if you've found out about this and have tracked down back issues of humpus...heeeeeh)

So, a guest entry from Humper Dana Trombly who was at SXSW Interactive (SXSWi).  A solid critique of the purpose, the goings on, the (white male) people, etc. Please enjoy and send her comments, especially praise: dana.t...@gmail.com (danatrombles on the twitters)...just dont get her fired, mmk?


Here's the deal: I really* hated *SXSWi and I have to say the reason was
summed up in Stephen Elliot's email for Daily Rumpus yesterday (tuesday Mar 16)--the language
of the whole thing is simply a language to justify greed. Greed and drunk
sexual advances from men who did not get laid in college because they were
busy being MIT grad students (especially on Tony Hsieh's party bus (see
photos). Oh and so much 1990s I was way into the Matrix clothing--black
vinyl, pink hair (SO MUCH PINK HAIR), cargo pants. ICK says the devout
reader of WWD (I'm an asshole too, but at least I'd well dressed).

USA Today reporters got a more simple conclusion out of it, but one that is
also true: "Make no mistake. The show is crowded, every event teeming with nerds —
mostly young, white males. They stand elbow to elbow, usually at the nearest
bar, trading war stories about how they eventually got funding for their
start up, schmoozing or working. Many a twenty something was pecking away at
their laptop while music blared at the Ustream party Friday night."

Yep. White. Straight (sort of I think they "developed late" as my mother
would say). In fact, aside from the publishing people I already knew, the
only people I liked there were the VERY few black people on panels--there
were some really awesome black people representing color in technology in
nerdville! Bartunde (who is pretty fun guy), a lady blogger who was like a
tech Angela Davis, and Paul Miller, aka Dj Spooky that Subliminal Kid (see
below) gave great show. One white person, a chick, was ok: danah boyd (yes,
she does not have caps in her name) of Harvard University gave a smart
keynote about privacy vs. public information and generational differences,
etc. etc. Still don't get the Dana with an H thing.

As you know the Twitter CEO's keynote was awful and
boring<http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-20000486-52.html>.

@Anywhere platform oh wow that's cool, yeah, great, now um, there's beer to
drink elsewhere now, thanks. Also this article links to GaryV's talk which
of course EVERYONE LOVED. I was at the poorly attending book publishing
panel across the street, of course. We did not have cheering there.

Oh and I went to a thing on Viral Video and it was the guy from OK GO! and
I'm like really, why is he telling me how to do a viral video. I know
everyone loves their videos but I HATE their music so much I can't get past
the whole goofy indie let's do weird 80s things bullshit of their
videos-viral phenoms or not. But ok, I'll admit I do like a good kitteh
video (they showecased those too--basically if you have treadmills or a
kitty you're like set to go for viraling!).

It should be noted, too, that the overarching sense of humor represented was
that of a 13 year old boy. My boss, whose son is a big fan of "That's what
she said" felt her son would fit in well. Like Yo Momma Jokes were discussed
in more than one panel.

The trade show really did kind of showcase the severity of the
recession--very little merch given away and the booths projected barebones
funding. My friend said to me "You know what is sad? A bunch of these will
not be here next year because they will go bankrupt and part of that is
cause they spent so much money having a booth here today." Big highlight of
trade show was 3DHDTV (how's that for rhyme!). I get sorta sick when I watch
things in 3D so I passed on it. Oh but we got photos in a photobooth for
free that was kinda cool.

I also spent some time with an old, old friend...what is tragic...is that he buys the language of greed
and really has changed. He's no longer an artist but a fat guy who wants to
get rich with tech startups and that's so, well heartbreaking. Luckily I've
moved on!

I also realized that I love books and music and those around those spheres
because we can't speak a language of greed anymore, even working for a
biggie mega book publisher like myself (we're all still getting sad salaries
compared to almost all other industries, except maybe uh, museum curating?).
I got into book publishing because I knew I needed to make money and if I
was gonna be a professional I would rather hawk books than anything else.
Also I should note I don't want to totally discount that [PUBLISHER EMPLOYER] did send
me to SXSWi and I did connect with authors, spread postcards, take notes,
and be bookish. So bookish in fact that I was pitched books constantly by
drunk geeks. Including the "Next Celestine Prophecy." Because we really need
another one (actually there are like 13 sequels to Celestine Prophecy--I
know cause I work for [PUBLISHER EMPLOYER] ).
.
The only panel at SXSWi that totally moved me like beyond all else was Paul
Miller, Sound Unbound author (AMAZING book with essays by Eno and other
people who make electronic music or at least bow to repetition) and also
oddly enough the first dj I ever saw do magic, when I was 14 (back when I
was obsessed with trip hop and my cousin took me to a day thing he did at
MOMA). He was great and invited me to his party. His party was at a museum
(see recommendations) and there was a raga over electro beats thing going on
in a room and lots of sound art. And fresh Kombucha. And fancy handmade
Vodka (Tito's Handmade Vodka is a big thing in Austin...it's not great, but
you'll get a lot of it free). Bought Chorizo for my boyfriend from a woman
who like made it herself. So, um, fuck, basically I found Brooklyn in
Austin.

Or at least someone not talking (rather slurring) about when they bought
their first company.

So there you have it.  Music updates to come... my phone and laptop are near dead so I'll either update you more later tonight or tomorrow or when I feel like it.  now it's effing taco time.