INFINITE DIGGING
Vol.1 -- On A.I., William S. Burroughs, Triple 5 Soul, and the Whole Earth Index
INFINITE DIGGING
Over the years, I’ve compiled a group of friends who enjoy internet theories, rabbit holes, tech talk, and anything/everything in between just as much as I do, and for years, I’ve attempted (and failed) to find a platform that can easily host this online, but I’ve always come up short. During the pandemic, this took the form of a private Twitter DM group where a group discussed social topics, long-form essays, opinion pieces, and more but, I eventually closed it as it didn’t pan out as I would have liked it to be. I had group chats here and there but the effort of sharing was often reduced to individually texting friends articles, 28-page PDFs, marketing trend data, and interviews amidst our busy schedules in hopes that they would remember to read it later. It’s not efficient for either of the parties involved :( I often forget a lot of people in the process, too…
But, I’ve realized now that I’m a silly rabbit - the answer was in front of me this entire time. SUBSTACK DUH. Subscribe for more. Let’s get into it.
1.Artificial Intelligence
There’s so much to be said about AI that even when in rooms with people who actively work with/in AI, no one really knows where to begin. There’s so much room to cover!
Last week, I was invited to (the first of many I hope) A.I. & Brands, a breakfast gathering to discuss the future of retail, brand, and business by my dear friend/boss/mentor/business-owner/writer/(thislistcouldgoonforever), Bobby Kim. The breakfast was co-hosted by the CEO of El Camino Travel, Katalina Mayorga, and co-founder of AI research company HEARD by Elis, Kene Anoliefo. I was joined by brand builders, owners, and creatives from across industries from cannabis to skincare, all fascinated and equally cautious of AI. Two things remain consistent across these rooms and panels: Everybody likes AI when it cuts down the time spent on tasks. Nobody likes AI for the looming questions that surround the topic:
Is AI going to end itself? (See point #3)
Do we really trust developers in building this delicate machine when the output and its impact are still unknown despite being proven that tech CEOs can unintentionally cause harm with their products?
Or, do they already know the answers through that because they’ve seen it play through a simulation created on Nvidia’s new GPUs (none of the footage in those videos is real, all a simulation!! Insane)
What about the people falling in love with a digital companion?
Is AI safe?
Despite our feelings about it, AI is being integrated regardless, and its trajectory has been exponential so far. The main discussion that seems both safe and complicated is, “What do you think about digital companions?” I like to be hopeful but I know it’s not all sunshine and daisies. In my optimistic view, I hope AI can provide teachers with tools to adapt lesson plans to fit individual students' learning styles, especially in an age where ADHD and stunted learning are prevalent in Gen A. I also hope it can make medical care and therapy available at a fraction of the national average price. Additionally, I wish that for our anxious generation, AI can help people learn how to talk to others and serve as practice. Wishful thinking, maybe. We’ll revisit more AI talk at a later time, but also curious to hear what points of AI you’ve been obsessing over!
2.William S. Burroughs
There’s a saying that goes, "When you feel least inspired to write, read a book.". I just finished Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin and wasn’t quite mentally ready to dive into the hefty The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky just yet, so I opted for the next best thing: great screenwriting. I oscillated between Wong Kar-Wai’s oeuvre (streaming available on Max) and Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown (also streaming on Max) before settling on Bourdain’s episode about Tangier, Morocco, a port and trade city more infamously known for its accessibility to drugs and debauchery. At least, that’s what writer and visual artist William S. Burroughs experienced during his travels to Tangier, which he documented in his surrealist narrative, Naked Lunch.
There’s much to delve into with Burroughs: he came from a wealthy family, fell into drugs, sex, and addiction, and posthumously became one of the primary figures of the Beat Generation and Beatnik social movement. He also accidentally killed his second wife and escaped to Mexico, then wrote about it all. Along with other literary works, Burroughs left behind a plethora of essays, autobiographies, photography, and visual art. His work was adored by the late Anthony Bourdain. Incidentally, today is Bourdain’s birthday. Happy Birthday, Anthony!
“Shotgun Art” by William S. Burroughs
I can’t remember how I first landed on this site but I’m glad that I stumbled across it. It’s self-described as “a vast resource of emotional and practical guidance.” Within the website, you’ll find interviews, guides, tips, and more to help with creative thinking. Everything about the website is great, the content is even better. I’ll leave the digging to you. Here are my favorites from the week:
On Finding Inspiration in Limitations with musician and filmmaker Nina Ljeti
How to Balance Full-Time Work with Creative Projects with Jeffrey Silverstein
4.Camella Ehkle of Triple 5 Soul
News broke that the late ‘80s/early ‘90s brand Triple 5 Soul is making a comeback, with their Summer 2024 Collection launching just last week. The brand remains under the vision of Camella Ehkle, a pioneer in early streetwear as a woman designing for men’s street fashion. Starting in New York, the brand gained notoriety with NY rappers and artists, with its brand profile following suit. Their ads occasionally featured Mos Def and De La Soul. Last year, Ehlke relaunched the brand, explaining that traditional Triple 5 Soul styles and concepts would be present but under a modern interpretation. So far, the lookbooks appear quite different from the brand's '90s image, but I guess that’s expected with changing times.
Funny enough, I often think about how closely 2024 streetwear parallels '90s and '00s streetwear trends. The fashion and streetwear industry as we know it now is amid continuous quarterly hardship within the 2024 slowing economy (side podcast for those interested in American spending), but there’s a silver lining in creativity for those experimenting with technology and creativity, like Ehkle (see the limitations interview with Nina Ljeti from above). Some of my favorite campaigns lately have been shot on iPhone. I’m excited to see what Camella’s and Triple 6 Soul’s year will look like.
We love counter-culture!!! The Whole Earth Catalog (WEC) originally started as a counter-culture magazine in the ‘60s leading up until the ‘70s and occasional releases in the ‘90s. The editorial focus was on “self-sufficiency, ecology, alternative education, DIY, and holism.” Now there’s an online database with magazines and catalogs for all of your nerding out. Also, great website design.
