An Interview with Christian Lander of Stuff White People Like

by Fiona Killackey

From a casual comedic conversation to a website boasting more than 30 miliion hits, PhD dropout and social commentary writer Christian Lander (pictured below) made rambling about stuff white people like into a full-time (not to mention lucrative) job. CH recently caught up with Lander to discuss the website, his new book and the sarcasm behind the stereotypes.

When and why did you start up Stuff White People Like?
On January 18th of this year, my friend Myles and I were having an instant messenger conversation about the TV show "The Wire." Myles, who is Filipino, said he didn't trust any white person who didn't watch the show and from there we started talking about what white people were doing instead of watching the show. We came up with things like going to plays, going to therapy and getting divorced. I thought it was a hilarious idea and started a blog with no intention of it being successful. It was really just a side project for fun.

Do you have any idea of the demographic of your audience. Is it mainly white people laughing at themselves?
The only idea I get is from my seven book readings and mostly it's made up of white people who are there to laugh at themselves or their friends. Though that is not to say it's ALL white people, there are always a solid delegation from other races who find the book hilarious.

Your observations are funny and, in many cases, utterly true. Do you sieve or monitor what you write so that it gets close to the edge but doesn't completely offend?
I spent four years in graduate school studying English Literature and Film, and in that environment you can offend people by using a pen—too phallocentric—so I learned to strike a balance of making an argument without offending. On this site, my goal is just to keep the tone light and not sound too aggressive or cruel.

What has the feedback from non-Caucasians been?
Amazingly positive. This is mostly because anyone who is not white but grew up in the class that I'm talking about has been accused of 'acting white.' All of the activities that I list are inherently branded as white in the society as a whole.

Have you had negative feedback from any particular sectors of society?
Mostly from morons who unfortunately make up a rather large sector of society. They generally make failed arguments about how the site isn't about ALL white people (obviously) or that any stereotypes—even if true and directed at white people—are evil and so forth.

Why did you decide to put out a book when everyone can just go online?
Well, the book (Stuff White People Like, Random House) is 1/2 all new content. So if you enjoy the site and want more of the same with some really fun charts and graphs (i.e. how to name a white child), pick up the book.

What's your day job?
I actually had to quit my day job to finish the book and do the tour. But, prior to that, I was an Associate Manager of Corporate Communications at an ad agency named Schematic.

Why do you think the site/book has been so successful?
I started it so I could have a chance to write something funny but I never expected this. I think the success is due to the fact that people can relate to the entries either on a personal level or they know someone who is being described. Also, since it's in a list form it's a great conversation starter as people can talk about what is missing. Lastly, to toot my own horn, it's funny.

What's next?
I'm still figuring that out, but hoping to move onto more comedy writing, hopefully in television.

Giles Round at ICA

by Brian Fichtner

Native Londoner Giles Round creates sculptures and assemblages that resemble the confounding models of a minimalist stage set designer and his work is currently being shown at London's Institute of Contemporary Arts. Rectilinear frames evoke the woodwork of Donald Judd, twisting in space to create volumes into which he introduces monochromatic panels, lights and typographic studies. Like other minimalist artists before him, Round appropriates the language of design for artistic expression. These mise-en-scènes call to mind the rigorous formalism of the modern interior while at the same time highlighting its deficiencies.

Round's work is featured in the ICA's Nought to Sixty program, which highlights the work of 60 emerging artists from Britain and Ireland through the beginning of November. His latest project for Nought to Sixty makes reference to the relationship between religious idealism and corruption through a phrase lifted from the diary of British sculptor and printmaker Eric Gill (1882-1940), which reads: "Strange days and nights of mystery and fear mixed with excitement and wonder strange days and nights strange months and years." Gill was notable for his commitment to the arts and crafts as well as his religious devotion, qualities that were sullied when his personal diaries revealed routine bouts of adultery, incest and experimentation with bestiality.

Throughout the exhibit, Round introduces Gill's diary entry with a series of fonts that mirror the line and volume of his own formal structures (click image above for detail), though drift toward incoherence through an adherence to a grid-like presentation. As the ICA notes of this latest work, "Round's three-dimensional compositions are totems of authority, but also reveal the tendency to excess within the heart of idealism."

Giles Round can be viewed on the Upper Galleries of ICA through 8 September 2008.

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Levi's x Damien Hirst Fall 08

by Doug Black

Damien Hirst's fascination with skulls may be outdone only by his love of jeans. On his latest project for a collaboration with the Levi's brand he's incorporated both, and we're happy to bring you the first look. Like his line from earlier this year, the British artist has teamed with the iconic jeans company to release a limited-edition run of what Hirst describes as "art you can wear."

Hirst worked closely on the project with designer Adrian Nyman, who previously made a collection of Levi's imprinted with Andy Warhol's art. The current Fall 08 line focuses on three common themes from only Hirst's work—skulls, spots and tropical butterflies. The images are emblazoned on black and blue jeans, as well as white, black and purple t-shirts. Some of the skull images feature the splattered paint of his "spin paintings" and one shirt has the black and white portrait of the artist and a skull. The line is rounded out with a signature denim and leather jacket.

There is no word yet on pricing, but since Hirst sees the project as a "way a lot of people get to own my stuff," it will likely fall short of the $80,000 price tag on the last pair of jeans he made with Levi's. The Levi's x Damien Hirst line will be hitting stores like Barney's New York, Fred Segal and Union (NYC) by mid-September. We're sure it'll go fast so get ready.

Calu Fontes Porcelain

by Phuong-Cac Nguyen

Distinctly and wonderfully Brazilian, Calu Fontes' painted, one-of-a-kind porcelain accessories are influenced by the lively Bahia region in northern Brazil, from where her family hails. The mix of colors with patterns — on trays, teapots, vases, plates, tiered platters, carafes and cups — reflects the cultural heart of the country.

Each handmade piece is the result of a method that involves burning the painted images (like references to gods from the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomble, flowers, fruits, sea life and other things from nature) onto surfaces resulting in richly collaged layers.

Presented together, heedless of matching and in all their neo-baroque glory, captures the essence of diverse Brazil.

Lama Designs carries only some of her work, so contact Fontes to see how you can access her full collection, more of which you can see on her Flickr and after the jump.

PureSport Performance Drinks

by Evan Orensten

PureSport makes two sports drinks: PureSport Workout and PureSport Recovery. The drinks were created by Dr. John Ivy, the Chairman of Health and Kinesiology at the University of Texas at Austin, based on extensive research he has performed.

Simply put, Dr. Ivy found that delivering the right balance of carbohydrates to protein and maintaining proper hydration during and after your workout allows your body to perform better and recover more quickly.

We found the science behind PureSport intriguing so a few of us tried it out over a few months and were surprised at the results: We really did feel that we performed better during—and less sore after—our workouts.

The drinks are available as single use packets of powder (just add water) or in pre-made bottles and come in several flavors. They are available exclusively on the PureSport site, where you can learn all about the scientific details of the products, the athletes and trainers who use them, and the team behind their creation.