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Geek Culture

  • Happy birthday to the GIF: 30 iconic GIFs for 30 years

    By on 15 June, 2017

    It's difficult to imagine a world of communication without the wonder of GIFs, but that's how people had to live just 30 years ago. Today, 15 June, is the 30th birthday of the GIF and we thought it an apt time to pool together some of the most iconic looped images in celebration. It's party time. Dancing Banana Dancing banana came from web classic Peanut Butter Jelly Time and we owe so much of "random xD" culture to it. A blessing and a curse, but today we love you, banana. Perfectly looped rap battle This beautiful GIF feels like its been around since the world's existence, but somehow...

  • South Africa’s box office: Wonder Woman is mummified

    By on 14 June, 2017

    Despite its record-breaking opening weekend, Wonder Woman has been ousted from number one by none other than critic-underdog The Mummy. The DC blockbuster was only allowed one short week at the top before the Mummy franchise rose from the dead to declare itself pharaoh -- proving that if anyone is living in the Dark Universe, it's us. But were any other successes as ominous this week? (9 to 11 June) Yes, yes, they were. Much like how the youth vote changed the outcome of the UK general election last week, so did it at South Africa's box office. Ozzy, the animated film in which a dog is...

  • SuzelleDIY creators, ShowMax team up for service’s first original show

    By on 13 June, 2017

    Julia Anastasopoulos of SuzelleDIY fame is joining forces with ShowMax in its first original production, the company today announced. The streaming service revealed that filming for the show, dubbed Tali's Wedding Diary, is currently underway in Cape Town. The eight-part show will take the form of a mockumentary, with Anastasopoulos starring as titular character Tali. "Building on the phenomenal success of her SuzelleDIY character, Anastasopoulos stars as Tali, a self-obsessed Sandton princess who’s moved to Cape Town and has hired a documentary crew to film the build-up to her wedding to property-agent fiancé Darren," reads ShowMax's press release. Julia Anastasopoulos and Ari Kruger...

  • Last week in trailers: Black Panther & more Tom Cruise

    By on 13 June, 2017

    Last week saw few new trailers released, and it's probably for the best because what we got was hardly of a high standard. So if you're looking to immerse yourself in the wonders of upcoming films, you can sit this one out. But if you're keen to revel in the terror that is the unending tide of Tom Cruise films, then welcome aboard. Let's get started. Black Panther We'll start with the good: The first trailer for Marvel's first ever black superhero film is out, and it looks fun. What won't be fun is sitting through any more of what is presumably that Afrikaans accent, but,...

  • YouTube videos capture devastation of Cape Town storm, Knysna fire

    By on 9 June, 2017

    We use the likes of Twitter, Instagram and Facebook extensively when covering stories across South Africa, but when the Cape Town storm rolled across the peninsula this week, citizens took to YouTube to upload their clips. Although some of the videos were hoaxes, clearly edited to incite viral reactions from those all too eager to hit like and retweet buttons, other videos were genuine. And genuinely scary. At the time of writing, nine of the top 12 trending videos on YouTube in South Africa is related to the Cape Town storm or Knysna fires. Read more: Memeburn's in-depth coverage of the #CapeStorm and...

  • Katy Perry, Taylor Swift’s latest tiff spills over onto Spotify and Twitter

    By on 9 June, 2017

    Taylor Swift has caused quite a stir after releasing her discography to Spotify years after claiming she never would -- and just in time to coincide with the release of Katy Perry's new album. Swift has had beef with Spotify's free tier in the past, claiming that musicians didn't work hard just to give their music away for free. Her official fan Instagram claimed that this derision had been set aside to celebrate 1989's 10-million worldwide sales. In celebration of 1989 selling over 10 Million Albums Worldwide and the RIAA's 100 Million Song Certification announcement, Taylor wants to thank her fans by making...

  • 10 Wonder Woman facts you might not have known

    By on 8 June, 2017

    Wonder Woman has been out for less than a week, but already it has audiences everywhere weak in the knees. But considering it's the character's first foray into the world of solo features, you may not know that much about her. If you're looking for a few facts to throw at your friends as you wait for the theatre lights to dim, then I've got you covered. Here we go. Creator William Moulton Marston invented part of the lie detector Image: Lwp Kommunikáció via Flickr (CC 2.0) William Moulton Marston was not only a writer: he was also an inventor...

  • Watch them all: the big winners at the 2017 Golden Trailer Awards

    By on 7 June, 2017

    If you're into film and TV but don't have the time to sit down and watch as much as you would like, then you, like me, are probably a trailer fan. There's no shame in sitting down for half an hour and watching everything YouTube recommends for you, and you can be validated in the fact that others agree with you. In fact, some agree so vehemently that they created an awards ceremony purely for trailers, and on Tuesday night the Golden Trailer Awards hosted its 18th annual ceremony. The Awards includes a staggering 115 categories -- including the likes of...

  • MiniMeme Podcast #1: why does Netflix kill its good shows?

    By on 7 June, 2017

    Welcome to MiniMeme, the podcast brought to you by Burn Media's junior staff as they tackle the topics that tickle their fancy. This week Julia Breakey and Matthew Alexander sit down to discuss this season's TV renewals and cancellations. Netflix has cancelled Sense8, but why has Supernatural lasted more than ten seasons? Julia opens the floor to rant about the loss of Sense8 (thanks Netflix) despite the renewal of shows that have no more story to tell like 13 Reasons Why. We then examine why solid shows may end and others like Supernatural have managed 13-season runs. Will the Winchesters ever be set free? Finally, we find ourselves meandering through Charmed nostalgia, Percy Jackson disappointment, dream...

  • 13 reasons why Sense8 should’ve been renewed

    By on 6 June, 2017

    I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. Thursday night, Netflix crept into my house, ate all my food, and punched a hole through my heart. Last night, Netflix cancelled Sense8. My love for this show runs deep and proud and true. It is, objectively, the greatest television show of our time. But instead of renewing a show with heaps of potential, Netflix has decided to fund a self-congratulatory show with no more story left to tell, a bunch of Adam Sandler films, and a second season of Miranda Sings' Haters Back Off. So...

  • South Africa’s box office: Wonder Woman wows watchers

    By on 6 June, 2017

    When the country is given the choice between a semi-naked group of lifesavers and Diana Prince kicking ass and taking names, you'll be glad to know it chooses correctly. This weekend saw Wonder Woman's (review) debut go swimmingly, coming out on top against other newcomer Baywatch, hardly flailing in second place. But which films could barely keep themselves afloat this weekend? (2 to 4 June) King Arthur seems to be made of lead: it sunk four spots from fourth to eighth this week. The blockbuster is considered the first major bomb of the season and has failed to make back Guy Ritchie's budget. Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge sunk...

  • Last week in trailers: Murder on the Putin Express

    By on 5 June, 2017

    The last week of trailers brought us a murder mystery, a horror, a car flick, a survival drama, a period piece, a kids film, a documentary and a series of experimental films -- and, honestly, if nothing in here intrigues you, then maybe movies just aren't your thing. Have you considered that? Here's what you need to know about the trailers released in the past seven days. Murder on the Orient Express Usually I'm immediately deterred from any film Johnny Depp is in, but this remake of Murder on the Orient Express also stars Daisy Ridley, Leslie Odom Jr., Michelle Pfeiffer, Josh Gad, Penelope...

  • Rewatch Ariana Grande’s #OneLoveManchester concert on YouTube

    By on 5 June, 2017

    Update, 5 June, 12pm: if you missed last night's concert in Manchester, it's now available in its entirety on Ariana Grande's YouTube channel, embedded below. The full concert's around 210 minutes long, so you might want to take an extra-long lunch break for this one. Original article: Just over two weeks since a suicide bombing after her Manchester concert claimed the lives of 22 people, Floridian singer Ariana Grande will tonight perform a benefit concert at Old Trafford cricket ground. The concert will also be livestreamed to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and iHeartRadio. In a statement issued soon after the 22 May incident,...

  • Weekly Round Up Podcast #108: Covfefe & water from fog

    By on 2 June, 2017

    Welcome to Weekly Round Up, our podcast discussing the latest tech trends, innovation and news from the last few days. This week, Hadlee Simons hosts Andy Walker, Stephen Timm and Julia Breakey. Andy Walker opens the floor by elaborating on viral word "covfefe" -- the result of an unfinished tweet from US President Donald Trump. The tweet has since been deleted, but not before creating a stir on social media. Over on Ventureburn, Stephen tells of a former "beach bum," Grant Vanderwagen, who looks to end Cape Town's water crisis by turning fog into water. Investors have not yet latched on to...

  • Sequels, reboots and remakes: where does the spiral end?

    By on 2 June, 2017

    If you were to visit YouTube, chances are you'll either see film trailers being played out in ads, listed in the “Trending” section, or popping up as recommendations on the homepage. Most of these trailers reveal details from the next slate of movies set for 2017 and 2018, including Cars 3, the rebooted IT, and the eighth instalment in The Fast and the Furious franchise. Even trailers for Avatar 2: Return to Pandora, Spider-Man: Homecoming and other Marvel/DC Comics-related projects like Thor 3: Ragnarok and Justice League have recently been making the rounds. Did we forget to mention Kingsman: The Golden...