InTheRough comments on art that is everywhere in our society, be it music, fashion, entertainment, what have you. Our commentary often focuses on the aesthetic, the surface level beauty, the hype, and the culture behind the product highlighted. While we find these aspects interesting and necessary to speak on, time may be better spent examining why the art and why the designs we examine and appreciate are important. At the Daily Front Row's first annual Fashion Los Angeles Awards Kanye West expands upon this thought as he presented Mazdack Rassi with "Fashion Innovator of the Year". Kanye states, "I believe that the world can be changed; the world can be saved through design. Through design, through unselfish design, through unselfish creation." Design has power, power to evoke emotion and conversation that goes a very long way. We see it in sneaker culture today as Nike, Jordan Brand, adidas, New Balance, and Asiscs, just to name a few, at a personal level reach the experiences and lifestyles of people across the globe. Design is a form of self-expression, ask Stéphane Ashpool, who translates his love of basketball played on the blacktops of France into streetwear with Pigalle. Design presents a certain relatability that births narratives and shares stories that cause action. This is so eloquently summarized by Kanye as he says, "Design is the closest to truth, problem solving. Truth is the closest to love. Love is the closest thing to God, and God is love." While colorways, silhouettes, and the pop culture behind art are cool, current, and trendy, they mean nothing without design's holistic authenticity. Watch Kanye's speech at the Daily Front Row's Fashion Los Angeles Awards below.
Culture
SNL 40th Anniversary Special /
On Sunday, February 15 Saturday Night Live will have been making its audience laugh and smile for 40 years. For 40 years we have seen the stage Lorne Michaels created birth many a legends like Eddie Murphy and Chevy Chase to the more modern Amy Poehler and Tina Fey. To celebrate SNL's success and 40-year air time the show is planning a three-hour primetime special for the 15th that features a reunion of former cast members, hosts, and musical guests. It is an all-star lineup of sorts as Chris Rock, Tina Fey, Kanye West, Justin TImberlake, Maya Rudolph, Peyton Manning, Derek Jeter, Tom Hanks, Amy Poehler, and many more are slated to appear. Below we have provided two promos for SNL's 40th anniversary special that reveals more of the reunion cast. Be sure to tune in Sunday, February 15 at 8pm on NBC.
Street Etiquette talks "Style is Story" at TEDxNewYork /
Joshua Kissi, one half of Street Etiquette, a creative agency from the Bronx, New York, eloquently says, "Rewriting history with a passion to communicate strategically uses style as a narrative to not only create a new identity, but to also cover topics such as fashion, music art, culture, but also socioeconomic issues." With the platform he and Street Etiquette's other half, Travis Gumbs, have built both gentleman are sharing their own stories through an artistic and creative way using style as a reference point. On November 1, 2014 the duo blessed the stage at TEDxNewYork to deliver their "Style is Story" talk to their native audience, explaining how they draw on Black History as a vehicle to express modern aesthetics and questions needed to be addressed in our society today. Street Etiquette's TEDx Talk is available below.
California Inspires Me: An Animated Interview with Jack Black /
California is a unique place, but one must wonder what specifically about the Gold Coast makes it that way. It's mix of city, country, and beach topographies for certain, but most importantly the native people that have been shaped and inspired by the California lands. The California Sunday Magazine, along with Google Play, explores this by animating a series of interviews featuring California natives. First up is Jack Black, who reflects on his Hermosa, California upbringing and the influence nearby Hollywood had on his career path, while Anne-Lou Erambert and Nicolas Ménard animations accompany Black's stories. Check out the video below and find more visuals from The California Sunday Magazine and Google Play here.
Rhys Designs Sneaker Culture Pop Art /
Warhol, Lichtenstein, Hamilton and many more are noted for their keen yet creative observations on cultural landscapes throughout the decades. From Campbell's Soup ads to magnificently embellished comic drawings, these creatives have epitomized tastes, national sentiments, and even consumption habits. Adding to the list of pop art creatives is Rhys Archer Designs. Coming out of the United Kingdom, this graphic design firm has created numerous prints surrounding popular sneaker culture. Iconic models, such as the Air Jordan XI and Air Max 1 are some of the subjects for colorful prints that would complement any interior space. Head over to Rhys Designs' website to check out some of their iterations on this current urban landscape.