Good morning. It's Saturday, Sept. 13, and this week we're covering "Super Mario Bros.," the classic video game that was released in Japan 40 years ago today. We went down a few rabbit holes (or, should we say, sewage pipes?) to uncover how the game brought Japanese culture to the world. |
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Dear Readers—Today you're seeing a new format for our weekly Society & Culture email, where we provide more links to explore and cover a wider variety of topics. We'd be grateful if you took three minutes to participate in a short survey just after Rock 'n' roll. As always, thanks for being a reader!
... or, just hit reply on this email to let me know what you think!
—Kevin Kearney, 1440 Society & Culture Section Editor |
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Super Mario Bros., 101
“Super Mario Bros.” is a video game designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and published by Nintendo in Japan and North America in 1985. The game is considered one of the most important video games ever and one of the best-selling, with over 40 million copies sold.
Mario first appeared as a carpenter named Jumpman in 1981’s “Donkey Kong,” which was based on the popular “Popeye” franchise. In 1983, he received a spin-off called “Mario Bros.” where he became a plumber.
1985’s “Super Mario Bros.” was designed for the home rather than the arcade and featured more sophisticated design and gameplay, thanks to director Shigeru Miyamoto and innovative musical accompaniment by Koji Kondo. Their contributions are credited with the game’s success, which resurrected a flailing industry and inspired a younger generation of gamers and designers.
Also, check out ...
> See Nintendo's "Famicom"—that is, the "family computer"—the predecessor of the company's gaming console. (More)
> The game turned Japan into a major cultural exporter alongside anime and Pokémon, in what some described as a form of "soft power." (More)
> Watch creators Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka show how the levels of the game (originally called "Mushroom Kingdom") were drawn by hand. (More)
> The game soundtrack by composer Koji Kondo was the first video game composition inducted into the Library of Congress. (More)
... and explore everything else we've found on the game here. |
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In partnership with Pacaso |
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A New Trend Is Sweeping Hollywood |
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Hollywood is known for trend-setting. Whether it’s the box office or the latest fashion, what catches on in Tinseltown can sweep across the world. But this latest trend is different, and it’s one you can invest in.
Some of Hollywood’s biggest names are co-owning luxury vacation homes. And they aren’t the only ones. The company behind the trend, Pacaso, is raking it in, making over $110M in gross profits since starting out in 2020. Created by a former Zillow exec, Pacaso is already the leader in vacation home co-ownership. With a market worth $1.3T, they’re just getting started.
That’s why over 10,000 everyday investors have already bought shares of the company. They’re investing alongside some of the early backers of companies like Venmo and Uber too. And you can join them today for just $2.90/share. But don’t wait too long. Invest in Pacaso before the opportunity ends September 18.* |
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Social Media, Supercharged |
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What is TikTok?
Since 2018, the short-form video-sharing app TikTok has gone from launching in the US to becoming a habit-forming cultural force that’s signed up more than half of the US population as users. From fostering a robust influencer economy to turning ordinary users into viral stars, the Chinese-owned platform’s ascendancy has also raised national security concerns.
The app saw supercharged growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, with users seeking social connections during lockdowns. It was downloaded more than 850 million times in 2020 alone. TikTok’s algorithm is its defining feature, powering the app's addictive nature, though its inner workings remain a closely held secret. Estimates suggest more than 90% of consumed content comes from the algorithmic feed.
While its inner workings remain a closely held secret, how long a user lingers on specific types of content is believed to be a key element in how TikTok builds a profile of user interest (watch investigative report).
Also, check out ...
> The average user spends 95 minutes on the app per day, and about 90% access it daily. TikTok has the highest average session length among social media platforms at 11 minutes. (More)
> Nearly 60% of Americans under 30 are on TikTok, while 10% of those over 65 are users. (More)
> How the platform changed the way music hits are made, with production geared to go viral in the algorithm. (More)
> The "Acquired" podcast explains TikTok's business strategy and how it became the fastest-growing social media platform in history. (More)
... and explore everything else we've found on TikTok here. |
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Rock 'n' roll, explained
Rock ‘n’ roll is a form of popular music that originated in the American South in the late 1940s and early 1950s (see timeline). The genre combines elements of other American musical styles—including blues, country, gospel, R&B, Tin Pan Alley, and jazz.
Jackie Brenston’s “Rocket 88" is now widely considered the genre’s starting point, particularly due to its use of distorted electric guitar, a distinction that would define the genre for decades. That same year, Cleveland DJ Alan Freed launched his radio show, rebranding R&B records as “rock ‘n’ roll” to appeal to a broad audience.
In 1952, Memphis-based engineer Sam Phillips' Sun Records would become the home for Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis—artists whose countryfied take on rock ‘n’ roll was called “rockabilly.” By the 1960s, rock ‘n’ roll was a part of the American mainstream, and was spreading outside the country, too.
Also, check out ...
> How core elements of the blues—like improvisation, backbeat grooves, and 12-bar cycles—laid the foundation for rock 'n' roll. (More)
> Watch this 1956 "jukebox musical" featuring Chuck Berry that showcased the genre in its infancy. (More)
> DJ Alan Freed originated the name "rock 'n' roll" when he used it as the name of a rhythm-and-blues-focused radio show. (More)
> Tour the iconic rock studio at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee, where legends Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Jerry Lee Lewis recorded breakout hits. (More)
... and explore everything else we've found on the genre here. |
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Thanks for reading! If you have three minutes to let us know what you think of the new format, we'd be incredibly grateful for your feedback. Click here to let us know! |
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Beyond our weekly deep dives, we love finding great takes on the culture currently shaping our lives. Here are some of the best reactions, profiles, and think pieces we encountered this week.
> The Cliché Trends in Book Titles
Strange Matters | Max Ornstein, John Michael Colón. The authors take issue with titles declaring truth claims ("A Girl Is a Body of Water"), giving instructions ("You Exist Too Much"), and more. What makes a good title? Alluding to Shakespeare or the Bible. (Read)
> Behind Disney's Push to Win Over Male Gen Z
Variety | Matt Donnelly. Despite its massive success with four billion-dollar films over the last year and a half, the studio sits behind its competitors in one key demographic: 13- to 28-year-old males. (Read)
> How AI Is Killing the Lo-Fi Beat Music Scene
Pitchfork | Kieran Press-Reynolds. The genre's "low-fidelity" sound crackles with cozy, intimate beats and, in the 2010s, became a friend to the cramming college student. Now, AI is replacing it. (Read)
> Junk Journaling: The Cooler, Younger Sister of Scrapbooking
New York Times | Julia Carpenter. Amid the impermanence of digital life, some are collecting the detritus of their everyday lives (like ticket stubs, coffee sleeves) and immortalizing them in journals. (Read)
> America's Forgotten Literary Genius
Wall Street Journal | Alexander Nazaryan. Ahead of what could be William T. Vollmann's last book, Nazaryan visits the reclusive, National Book Award-winning Midwesterner known for his extra-long novels and essays. (Read) |
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In partnership with Pacaso |
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This Grammy-Winner Made a $100M Mistake |
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Grammy-winning artist will.i.am passed on investing $200K in Airbnb in 2010. It’d be worth $100M+ today. Now, the investors behind Venmo and Uber are backing another real estate disruptor. And this time, you can invest.
Meet Pacaso. Pacaso brings co-ownership to the $1.3T vacation home industry. They’ve generated more than $110M in gross profits since their inception less than 5 years ago. They’ve even reserved their Nasdaq ticker, PCSO. Invest before the opportunity ends on September 18.* |
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Please support our sponsors! |
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New in 1440 Society & Culture |
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“... my vision of Mario has always been that he's sort of representative of everyone. He's kind of a blue-collar hero. And so that's why we chose these roles for him that were things like carpenters and plumbers.” |
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Why 1440? The printing press was invented around the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. More facts: In every day, there are 1,440 minutes. We’re here to make each one count. |
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*Disclosure: This is a paid advertisement for Pacaso’s Regulation A offering. Please read the offering circular at invest.pacaso.com. Reserving the ticker symbol is not a guarantee that the company will go public. Listing on the Nasdaq is subject to approvals. |
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