Artifact # 1: "The Fly"
This movie was one of many films
that took inspiration from the science fiction short story written by George
Langelaan. It was published in June 1957 issue of Playboy. The original story
is about a scientist that slowly turns into a fly after his experiment went
wrong. The 1986 film tells the story of an introverted, eccentric scientist
named Seth Brundle (Jeff Goldblum) who is developing a teleportation device.
His efforts are documented by a reporter named Veronica Quaife (Geena Davis),
with whom he begins a romantic relationship, but his first attempt to teleport
himself goes horribly wrong when a housefly enters the telepod with him. Although
the plots were different, the narrative of the story of a tragic romantic
relationship remained the same. As the main character slowly became a fly, his
romantic relationship fails due to the loss of humanity.
This sci-fi horror film is best
known for its amazing visual effects. It won an Oscar for “Best Makeup” and was
praised for its special effects. This, like many other film remakes was Hollywood’s
retelling of a classic story for a modern audience. Due to its success, two sequels were made (Fly II, The Fly: Outbreak) but they did not capture the 1986 version's appeal or success at the box office.
Artifact # 2: Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) by Jay-Z
Released in 1998 from the album Vol 2. Hard Knock Life, this song sampled the theme song from Annie. “Hard Knock Life” peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 1999 Grammy Awards, establishing Jay as one of the biggest stars in music of any genre. The sample came from the 1977 musical that Kid Capri and The 45 King turned into a record for Jay Z. In order to have the sample cleared, he wrote a letter to the original composers with a little embellishment about how much the song had meant to him. The song would power the album to multi-platinum, with over 5 million copies sold.
Artifact #3: Fanny Pack
The fanny pack first appeared about
5,000 years ago, as a part of the tremendous wardrobe of Ötzi, aka the Iceman,
whose mummified bod was discovered in the Ötzal Alps between Germany and
Austria. They served mainly as a practical means to keep tools, supplies, and
what was need on them.
Melba Stone is credited as the
inventor of the modern fanny pack. Made from nylon or ripstop, they were
durable, colorful, and practical. Their functionality meant they were quickly
adopted by tourists. They also became ingrained in the streetwear of that time.
Teenagers made the bags into a fashion accessory and as a result they became a
must have for the young and popular. But as with teenagers, the appeal lasted
as long as the attention span of a 15-year-old. The bags died down in the late ’90s as the
loud, bright fashion of the 70s and 80s went out of style.
Decades later, skateboarders in Los
Angeles, New York, and Tokyo start wearing the bag as an easy way to keep keys,
phone, weed, wallet, and any other necessities safe while spending the day
skating. The skate brand Supreme began producing them early in the brand’s history,
which only made the bags more popular. More brands from Gucci to Louis Vuitton
once again began producing fanny packs as they brought back from the fashion
industry grave. Along with the resurgence came a new name, “cross body bags”.
With a relabel and redesign, fanny packs are in style….AGAIN!
The Fly (1986). IMDb. Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0091064/?ref_=vp_back
Beattie, S. (2020, October 20).
The Horror Show: “The Fly” by George Langelaan. The Shakespearean Rag.
Retrieved from https://www.shakespeareanrag.com/the-horror-show-the-fly-by-george-langelaan/
Fu, E. (2019, September 29). Knowledge Drop: How JAY-Z Cleared The ‘Annie’ Sample For “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”. Genius. Retrieved from https://genius.com/a/how-jay-z-cleared-the-annie-sample-for-hard-knock-life-ghetto-anthem
(2021, September 12). Hip Hop Facts:
Jay-Z Lied to the ‘Annie’ Composer to Clear the Sample. Beats, Rhymes, &
Lists. Retrieved from https://beats-rhymes-lists.com/facts/jay-z-lied-annie-composer-clear-sample/
Tashjian, R. (2018, November 9). A
History of the Fanny Pack, From Pre-History to Supreme to Paris Runways. GARAGE.
Retrieved from https://garage.vice.com/en_us/article/pa5d8g/fanny-packs-history
Muzquiz A. (2018, August 6). History
of the Fanny Pack/Cross-Body Bag. Heddels. Retrieved from https://www.heddels.com/2018/08/history-fanny-pack-cross-body-bag/
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