Issue 8: The King of Kong
Currently on breaking records, black boxes, art brains, and art games.
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đ Reviewing: The King of Kong (2007)
Hearing the recent news that a teenager from Oklahoma achieved the "kill screen" on Tetris, I felt inspired to revisit the documentary 'The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.' Directed by Seth Gordon, the film delves into the world of competitive gaming, focusing on the intense duel between Steve Wiebe and Billy Mitchell as they climb for the high score in the classic arcade game Donkey Kong.
While the film primarily follows the escalating rivalry between Wiebe, the underdog, and Mitchell, the villainous champion, we also get introduced to other key players such as the scorekeeper, referee, and a handful of fans whose passion for the hobby is bizarrely compelling.
Though it relies on classic tropes of David vs. Goliath and good vs. evil, 'The King of Kong' still unfolds with tension and surprise, imparting valuable lessons about what it means to be a true champion, discovering that you donât always need to win to be a winner. 'The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters' is available to rent or buy on Amazon.
đș Watching: The Black Box of the Art Business (2019)
âThe Black Box of the Art Businessâ is an intriguing documentary that explores the inner workings of the multi-billion dollar industry of storing and selling art. Most notably, it investigates the Geneva Freeport where artworks and other valuable assets (such as 3 million bottles of wine) can be stored in a tax-free environment. These facilities have been controversial, with concerns about potential misuse for money laundering and illegal transactions due to the confidentiality surrounding stored assets. âThe Black Box of the Art Businessâ is available to stream on YouTube and you can learn more about freeports on this Planet Money podcast.
đ§ Listening To: ReThinking - Your Brain on Art
Art experiences tend to be salient experiences that literally make new synapses in the brain. So I think being engaged in the arts not only gets you more in touch with yourself and self-expression, but it's also almost exercising that muscle of firing these new synapses because they're new experiences, which is helpful when you're trying to create breakthrough moments.
Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, authors of the New York Times bestseller âYour Brain on Artâ, examine how the act of observing art can improve cognitive abilities and foster a deeper understanding of the world around us. They recently joined podcast host and author Adam Grant to discuss the fascinating science of neuroaesthetics and how art can unlock creativity, enhance well-being, and enrich communities. âReThinkingâ is available to stream on Spotify.
đČ Playing: Art Society
$39.99 // 2-4 players // 30-60 minutes // competitive
In 'Art Society,' players take on the role of art connoisseurs, aiming to impress their peers by bidding on works of art, arranging them to curate the best gallery, and striving to build the most valuable collection. 'Art Society' is easy to learn and teach while offering considerable depth. It is excellently produced with high-quality components and features over 100 unique takes on famous works of art. I highly recommend it! Art Society is available on Amazon.
𧱠Building: Compiled
Iâm currently working with visual artist, Jenna Annunziato, to curate an art show that explores commonly discarded objects, experimenting with social context through narrative-driven installations and layered composition. Oranges, dollar bills, and crinkled cans are frequent subjects in the work that allude to feminism, poverty, and excess as seen through American iconography.
Thanks for being here.
â Justin