2. Extended
AdolescenceSo, maybe it wasnât the best choice of words, but when youâve just sold your site for $1.1
billion, you can say whatever the hell you want. Tumblr founder David Karp did say that the
publishing of social stats was âreally gross.â But it was less a âswipe,â as the Guardian put
it, and more of a reassurance to the creative community. Karpâs mission in Cannes was to
woo the creative community, pouring on the love in the hope that the ad biz starts to show
some back. No comments means no hate. But it also means no criticism, no need to fight
for what you believe in, and no means to protest that which seems wrong. Creatives rely on
rubbing up against something (especially this week) in order to generate sparks.
Is the relentless informality and positiveness of our workplace at fault. Weâve catered to the
creative work space, architect Rem Koolhaas pointed out in his talk. When he compares
todayâs campuses to the linear, ordered workplaces of the Man in the Grey Flannel Suit era,
Koolhaas sees extended adolescence at work. Are todayâs workers any less creative than
the buttoned-up creatives of the Mad Men era? Is our slavish love of that show not just
nostalgia for daydrinking but also a crie de coeur for a little more order? Look at Warholâs
Factory. No special furniture, warm cedar paneling, or meetings on the floor.
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3. The velvet
underground
covers kanye
And speaking of Warhol, Lou Reed thinks that âHe was an astonishing person
in every way. I hung out with the greatest artist of the 20th century. Although
we didnât know that at the time of course.â Heâs less bullish on the talent of
today: âThereâs a dearth of talent today.â Except for Kanye who, âknows heâs
that good.â And so does Reed. âMan,â on seminar attendee was overheard
to say later that night, âbeing treated like a rockstar for so long must do
something weird to you.â
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4. Consumewith
DiscretionItâs a good thing Lou Reed came of age when he did. The Factory of today
is more likely to be underwritten by a brand. Personal and ethical discretion
are watchwords in an era of vastly increased transparency. Consumers
are in chargeâas has been said a bazillion times by nowâbut with that
authority comes responsibility, and itâs a dictate that artist Shepard Fairey
urges consumers to follow. âConsume with discretion,â he says.
Pete Favat of Arnold Worldwide, Faireyâs co-panelist, points out that
consumers are doing exactly that. They are, Favat, says paying attention to
how a company behaves, what the brand stands for, and how it contributes
to the greater good. âIf the company is participating in a worthy cause, it
strikes a strong emotional chord with peopleâ says Favat. âIf a company is
up to no good, like back in the Fifties when they were dumping chemicals
into rivers⌠people find out about it right away.â
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5. Work Hard,
Play hardâThe more games you play, the more motivated you are to tackle tough
challenges in real life. You become more optimistic about your skills and
abilities, and youâre more determined in the face of setbacks.â Or so says
Jane McGonigal. McGonigal, a celebrated game designer and bestselling
author, sees heavy gamers as having the tool set tailor made for corporate
success. They are not just tolerant of failureâthey manage to remain
optimistic in the face of it. PHD has brought that ethic into the office by
injecting the spirt and practice of gaming into agency life. âWork,â says
PHDâs Mark Holden, âbecomes play.â
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