The Top 10 Culture Brats Posts Of 2013

Like we've done in the past, we're recapping everything you loved the most during 2013 at Culture Brats. Yesterday, we featured our ten most popular interviews of 2013. Today, here are the ten most popular non-interview posts published in the past year:

A Beginner's Guide To The Films Of Harmony Korine, Part 1
We take a look at some of Harmony Korine's films.

The Donna Martin Fashion Retrospective
We look back at some of the fashion choices of Beverly Hills 90210's Donna Martin.

The Evolution Of Nicolas Cage
We feature one of the amazing works of the talented Jeff Victor.

Pixies, Bowery Ballroom
Our review of a Pixies show.

Top 10 Albums of 2013
We share our ten favorite albums of 2013.

Top 10 Bruce Willis Roles
We share our ten favorite Bruce Willis roles.

Top 10 High School TV Shows
We share our ten favorite TV shows about television.

Top 20 High School Movies
We share our twenty favorite high school movies.

Top 20 Television Neighbors
We share our twenty favorite television neighbors.

World Premiere Video: Jay Kill & The Hustle Standard, "Never Seen Runaway"
We hosted the premiere of the "Never Seen Runaway" music video.

The History of the Trapper Keeper

Since I'm both an office supply junkie and a child of the '80s I found the recent Mental Floss article about the history of the Trapper Keeper to be fairly fantastic. For instance, I had no idea that the folders were called Trappers, hence the name. I thought they were called, you know, folders.

Back in the day I had a plain green Trapper Keeper and then this fabulous Lisa Frank model:

I tried finding one a few years ago on eBay and the article is correct, the market is nuts. There were some unopened models retailing for upwards of $100. I did manage to score a used (but in great shape) one with a pink Cadillac on it though.

Any of you all have Trapper Keepers? Weren't the multiplication tables on them the best?

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Ranked!: Top 15 Old School Games

For this week's Ranked!, we decided to take a look at our favorite games where you didn't need batteries, a computer, or a television (although many have made the electronic jump since) to have a good time.

15. Mousetrap

Before there were OK Go videos, there was Mousetrap. Like an intricately choreographed domino arrangement, players carefully assemble the Rube Goldberg machine in hopes that they can maneuver an opponent under the mouse cage. How was it assembled? I can't remember. How did you get your opponent under the cage? Couldn't tell you. Why? Because the whole marvelous point of the game was the machine, a spectacularly fun contraption with boots kicking over barrels, which deposit marbles onto ramps, which eventually trigger a diver to jump off a see-saw into a tub (if you were lucky... it wasn't the most foolproof machine) which would shake the cage off a pole (or halfway down the pole... again, not the most foolproof machine). Hours could be spent analyzing, constructing, and deconstructing the device without a thought to the game itself, which for my parents meant it was a game I could play alone. And THAT, as all parents know, is worth its weight in gold.--CroutonBoy

14. Cranium

You know what makes Cranium a great game? It combines elements from other games, namely Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit, and Scrabble. So basically, it's got something for everyone. This is a game that's fun for both creative and non-creative people. Are you a geek who's all about trivia? You're in luck, but there's a good chance you might have to mold something out of clay later.

Plus, I always loved the odd little mascots on the game's box.--Chris

13. Sorry!

In the years following my college graduation, my buddies and I hung out and played a lot of Sorry! Why would a bunch of young adults with the world at their fingers spend so much time on a board game designed for kids, you might ask? It's because Sorry! is a deceptively simple game that brought out our competitive spirit. For the uninitiated, the goal is to get your four pieces around the board to your safe zone before your opponents. Sorry! is more than just a game of chance. There's a bit of strategy as well as a social aspect. Players can sometimes send an opponent's piece back to the start. So it pays not to make enemies around the board. I've played a lot of Sorry! in my days and have recently introduced it to my kids. It's one of those games that has stood the test of time and literally proven to be fun for all ages.--Daddy Geek Boy

12. Life

One of the things that I always liked about the game of Life is that it has a finite end, unlike Monopoly, which you can play for days. It's a fun but simple premise: spin a wheel, move your car, get to the end. There's some light decision making, but nothing too taxing. Some of the outcomes are kind of funny. It's a good game to play with your family as it encompasses all kinds of age ranges. And it translated well to a game on my iPhone, which I really dig.--Archphoenix

11. Scrabble

Every game on our top 15 list is a game that I've played, some more than others. I've been playing all of them since I was a kid. Some fell by the wayside along the way (I was probably six the last time I played Mousetrap). Most of them have a lot of staying power, though--but no game more than Scrabble. I've always loved the game and, thanks to Facebook and Electronic Arts, it's the one game I play every single day. In fact, I usually have at least three games going at any given time. For someone who ostensibly writes for a living, I'm not very good at it--I lose about twice as often as I win. I guess I've never really gotten good at the strategy of the game. But that doesn't stop me from playing. It's a great game and it's the perfect board game for online play.

Which reminds me... I haven't played my turns today.--Dave

Pod-Fascination: The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show And The Thrilling Adventure Hour

Last week, I talked about how podcasts have changed my life. Each week, I will bring you two podcasts that are worth a listen and will hopefully change your life, even just a little bit. And each week I will continue to plug my own podcast.

The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin Show
A funny person interviewing another funny person is not a wildly original concept in the world of comedy podcasts, but Jeff Rubin brings enough variety and people of interest to do the format justice. Rubin himself is enjoyable intelligent in his humor, and if I had to make up a story about him, it's that he was the nerdy misunderstood kid in high school but parlayed his intelligence and quick wit into a successful career. He currently works for College Humor, whose brand of humor is actually more sophisticated than the name implies. That may not actually be his story, but I like to think it is.

Rubin has large interests in all things intellectual, academic, comedy, and pop culture based, so it seems this show is perfect for me. Recent shows have included his friends bringing in interesting facts to discuss, an interview with the editor of The A.V. Club (my dream job, natch), a look behind the scenes of the game You Don't Know Jack, and an interview with the filmmakers of porn paradies of well-known shows. I'd call The Jeff Rubin Jeff Rubin show a less serious, more quirky Fresh Air with Terry Gross.

Confessions Of A Street Fartist: Our Interview With Hanksy

Hanksy is a street artist and a master with a pun. He first gained fame via satirical mash-ups of Tom Hanks superimposed on Banksy's work. Since then, he has moved onto other celebrities and has become more well known as people like us anxiously await each newly found Hanksy piece.

As he was getting ready for his November 1st show at Krause Gallery in NYC, we were lucky enough to speak with him about his art, the process, anonymity, art shows, what he hopes people get out of his work, and how boners always win.

How did you become Hanksy?
Despite having dabbled in street art throughout the last decade, I didn't really take it seriously until I became very unserious. And I've always been a big fan of the easy joke, wordplay and puns and whatnot, so the idea of "Hanksy" just sort of happened.

On your website, you refer to yourself as a street fartist. Care to elaborate?
I don't take myself too serious. My pieces are so incredibly lighthearted that I'd feel guilty to call myself a real "artist." Hence the term fartist. And human gas will forever be comedy gold.

Can you tell us about the process? How long does it take you to create the stencil? How long do you case out a location?
The process isn't terribly complicated. Depending on the detail and size, the drawing and stencil itself take about 6-7 hours to create from beginning to end. It's not so bad. And if the piece is going up on a non-legal wall, I'll do it at night under the dark, dark sky.

Are you alone when you're installing your art?
Depending on whether I'm drinking alone or with a friend will determine if I have a lookout or not.

How long does it take to put up a piece?
If I'm moving fast, I can paste-up a 5 x 5 foot piece in under a minute. But that's me being quick and sloppy. And compared to other street artists, my pieces are few and far between. I'm not just getting my name up as often as possible. So I prefer to take my time.

In the beginning, you mashed Banksy's works with Tom Hanks, but have since moved on to other celebrities. Why the change? Did you feel you had done all you could with Hanks?
It was only nine months from street rat debut to a successful solo show in NYC. I felt the Tom Hanks gag had run its course.

What has been your favorite non-Hanks piece so far?
Definitely the Ferrell cats. Because the internet loves cats and so do I.

How Podcasts Have Changed My Life

I am not kidding around with that title. Since I discovered podcasts, my life has become infinitely better. Although radio has died, the power of the spoken word is still thriving. I don't need to have every podcast give me insights into political strategy or tell a quaint story of Americana; I actually prefer podcasts where two interesting people are just having a conversation- about anything, really.

Listening to a podcast makes you feel like you are in on the conversation without having to do the work; as an introvert, that's the ultimate dream. Now, before you tell me that there's this thing called real-life, in-person conversations that I could engage in, I shall interrupt you with a "no duh" retort. It's just nice to sit back and listen to others' ideas, without pretending to be engaged or getting into a pointless argument with someone.

Enjoying podcasts have also made horrible tasks more bearable. They make me look forward to my commute to work. I am more motivated to work out on the mornings my favorite podcasts release new episodes. It makes cleaning the massive amounts of cat hair that cover my apartment on a daily basis more bearable. I'm also more able to articulate my thoughts during an argument (a.k.a., more likely to "win" the argument) because I've listened to others debate topics.

There are over ten thousand podcasts on iTunes, and they range from everything from very specifically focused on RPG games to a couple of comedians shootin' the shit. And, since anyone can produce one, there is a lot of 'em. All you need is a laptop, a cheap microphone, and an inflated sense of self-purpose. It can be overwhelming to know where to start, so it's great news for you that I will be recommending podcasts on a weekly basis.

I love podcasts so much that it was inevitable that I started my own. Shameless plug, you guys! Here are two of many that I recommend:

Robotic Thriller

You know, if they can teach robots to dance to Michael Jackson's "Thriller," at the very least I should have one that can fetch me a beer from the fridge.

Monsters Of Rock

We all know Axl Rose turned down his induction to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, which is really about as rock 'n' roll as you can get.

But that hasn't stopped him from being turned into a work of art by Jason Edmiston.

Edmiston has an exhibit at Phone Booth Gallery. He's created acrylic masterpieces of monsterized versions of Joey Ramone, Billy Idol, Tommy Lee, Angus Young, and Rose.

And they look amazing.

So if you've got between $1,800 and $2,250, head on out to Long Beach, California. In the meantime, you can see the monsters of rock below:

Finally, A Biopic For Us '80s Kids

To all my Trapper Keeping sticker-collecting pals, this one's for you.

Lisa Frank	UCBcomedy.com
Watch more comedy videos from the twisted minds of the UCB Theatre at UCBcomedy.com

I saw some Lisa Frank stickers at Walgreens just the other day and was totally tempted. Was I the only sticker book fan? God I hope sparkly unicorn smelly stickers are the next big comeback.

Book Review: Whatever Happened To Pudding Pops?

With the release of Super 8 this weekend, I was put into a nostalgic mood. So it's fortunate timing that the book Whatever Happened To Pudding Pops? came into my life.

This book is tailor made for us Culture Brats (and those who lived it, loved it, or just read about it here). Pudding Pops is a collection of "the lost toys, tastes, and trends of the '70s and '80s." Each page chronicles a different thing we used to play with, eat, drink, put on our bodies, or watch. It’s a total blast to read.

Some pages had me nodding my head in agreement while some pages were like one big blast of memories since forgotten. Remember Dynamite Magazine? How about the Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle? They get talked about in detail. Plus there are updates about the life of the products today.

Amazingly, a lot of stuff from the past is still present. Things like Bazooka Joe, Big Wheels, and Debbie (excuse me, Deborah) Gibson remain relevant pop culture items. I learned this first hand when my daughter got a Strawberry Shortcake doll. Although it looks a little different, I was astonished to learn that the doll's strawberry smell hadn't changed since I was sniffing my sister's dolls. (Oh come on, they smelled really good!)

That's why this book is so much fun: the essays about the stuff we forgot existed. How about Choose Your Own Adventure, Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific, Mr. Yuk, Bonnie Bell Lip Smackers, and That’s Incredible!?

If any of those things ring a bell, you should check out Whatever Happened To Pudding Pops? As for the titular Pudding Pops...? Well, you'll just have to check out the book to find out.