The brainchild of Brandan Odums, a 23-year-old New Orleans native, 2-Cent is a collaborative effort of creative, frustrated, and comedic twenty-somethings. They all posses the innate ability to convey humor and urgency toward issues that plague not only New Orleans, but America in general. 2-Cent is a PBS documentary, an SNL skit and an In Living Color spoof all rolled into one. This series displays a wealth of information and gives a first-hand look at the issues Katrina exposed. Side-splitting laughter will overwhelm you even though relatively serious issues are tackled on the show, such as race, poverty, and sex.

Equipped with social consciousness, music as the backdrop, and the cold hard facts, they have gained a loyal following, and won coveted awards, including an FYI 2008 NAACP award, and FYI Silverdocs: AFI Discovery Channel Documentary Film Festival Award for documentary filmmaking excellence. Mostly web-based, the show wrapped up last season on air in local New Orleans with ABC proving that they are making big strides and praise-worthy “edutainment.”

“The goal is to build consciousness of young people not only in this city, but soon to be around the world” says Odums. Appearances by Common, Swizz Beats, New Orleans spoken-word artist Sunni Patterson, Mos Def, Tavis Smiley and Kirk Douglas. Yes, I said Kirk Douglas…which proves that this movement  is well on its way to stamping out generational ignorance on a world-wide scale.

www.2-Cent.com

Brittany

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The World Cultural Economic Forum is bringing the Far East to the Big Easy with its JapanFest celebration at NOMA.

According to organizers, this event will embrace both the ordinary and extraordinary aspects of Japan and its relationship with New Orleans.

When: Sunday, 10/19 11am-4pm
Where: New Orleans Museum of Art
For more information: www.wcefculture.org

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What’s the state of black society and culture in this 21st. century, Post-Katrina world?
Mark Anthony Neal, a visiting Pierce Butler Professor at Tulane University’s English Department, hopes to answer that question.
What: “Obama, Lil’ Weezy, Katrina-politans, and Other Markers of Black Moderness”
When: Tuesday, 10/14, 6:30pm
Where: Kendall Cram Lecture Hall (Lavin-Bernick Center) Tulane University
And then….
A grouping of professors, industry insiders, and students will take an in-depth look at hip-hop and its portrayal of women.
What: “There’s Misogyny in Hip Hop: So What?”
When: Thursday, 10/16 @ 6:30pm
Where: Kendall Cram Lecture Hall (Lavin-Bernick Center) Tulane University

Caegan Moore 

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The New Orleans Film Festival is now in its 19th year and kicked off last Friday.
It continues through Thursday and offers the best of the best in big budget, indie, short, and documentary films.
And what’s really awesome about this year’s festival is that it’s taking stock of the state’s contribution to the film industry by showcasing and highlighting films produced in Louisiana.
To get a list of films, show times, venues, and ticket prices, log onto the festival’s website @   www.neworleansfilmfest.com

Caegan Moore

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So I’m in Urban Outfitters, and I go straight to the book/ novelty/ toy department, if you want to call it that. I run across this book made by Nylon Magazine, entitled “Street: the Nylon Book of Global Style” from 2006.

It’s like a scaled-down coffee table book, small enough to fit in my purse (what isn’t?), and is fun enough to hold my attention while I sit next to “Bootleg DVD Man” and “Corporate Lady” on the train. My favorite is Raphael, a BMX rider, who says the best thing about Berlin is his girl, who is equally as fresh as he is. This book is a must-have, not necessarily to read, but simply to look at the cultural, physical, and social boundaries the desire to be fresh has crossed.

Enjoy,
Brittany

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