I love pranks as much as the next person, but to me, it seems that April Fools never ends well. There is always at least one big company that takes their prank a little bit too far. This year, Google and Aerie had some of the worst.
The Mic Drop Heard 'Round the World
Google added a "mic drop" feature to Gmail, which included a gif from the popular Minions film and muted subsequent replies. To use, there was an extra option next to the send button that allowed users to send a message ending with the gif. However, there was confusion as people accidentally clicked the mic drop option, not realizing what it was. It also had some bugs in the programming that caused the mic drop to be issued without permission. These bugs bled into the professional and personal lives of several Gmail users and wreaked havoc. Unable to see replies to the mic drop message, users did not have the opportunity to explain the gif or apologize if it had been used accidentally. There are horror stories of users getting in trouble with their employers and significant others because of a mic drop misunderstanding. Thankfully, Google gracefully alleviated the situation on their official blog by accepting full responsibility and apologizing for any harm done.
Aerie, on the other hand, blundered big time. I have always been fond of their brand because of their apparent sense of body positivity. Aerie is known for producing ads using models that have not been retouched in any way. Of course, they have the benefit of hiring exceptionally attractive models, using flattering lighting techniques and having hair and makeup crews (as "natural" as the finished products may be) on-hand, but the sentiment still stands. Recently, they announced that they were launching a campaign called #AerieMan which featured a plus-sized male model (unretouched, of course). Yesterday, they announced that the inclusion of a plus-sized model was intended as a joke.
This just in: men are sensitive about body image as well! What a concept!
Personally, I am extremely disappointed in Aerie's warped sense of humor. Rachel Champlin from Aerie spoke on the issue: "AerieMan was not a prank but rather an opportunity for us to raise awareness about body positivity." Somehow, I find it hard to believe that joking about using a plus-sized male model is an effective way to increase body positivity.
For this week's video project, I made a tutorial about changing a lamp in a Source Four lighting fixture. As intuitive as it may seem, most people do not know how to do it! In fact, most people have no idea what a Source Four lighting fixture is. Check out the video below to shed some light on the situation!
This is what Frank Warren, founder of PostSecret, asks the world. 11 years ago, Warren launched his ongoing community mail art project by inviting people to anonymously decorate a postcard to portray an unspoken secret. Every Sunday, he posts a handful of these secrets on his blog for people to read and react to. Since 2005, he has published several books of secrets, done cross-country tours, created a live performance based on the concept, been a guest in several art museums, raised millions for mental health awareness and more.
I have been following PostSecret since shortly after its inception and own all of the books. Reading the Sunday secrets is one of the highlights of my week. Yes, I have even sent in a few secrets of my own (none of which have been published so don't get too excited). Thus, when I found out Frank Warren was coming to ONU, I immediately reserved a ticket to see him. I also volunteered to work extra hours for his speech with the hopes of getting some one-on-one time with him.
One of my all-time favorite secrets, from March 2015.
PostSecret is a beautiful and deeply influential project. In the video above, one girl asks why she should tell her secret to someone she has never met. I say, who better to tell? Strangers can not pass judgement. You never have to see a stranger again, so your secret is safe with them. And with PostSecret, you have the unique opportunity of becoming a part of something larger than yourself. PostSecret has inspired a community of individuals who are caring and conscientious, people who will talk about the things that people will normally not say out loud and are deeply supportive of every individual's struggles and fears.
If you are not doing anything Wednesday evening, there is still a chance to register online to see Frank. My understanding is that he will be doing an interactive presentation based on his experiences with the project and giving some insight that relates to that. No matter your major or interests, this is the chance of a lifetime to relate to your peers on a deeply human level and to meet an incredible man with an inspiring story. I hope to see you there.
