Blingee (founded 2006) is an online animated GIF creator that allows users to create layered images using original photographs and artwork combined with user-generated ornamentation, referred to as "stamps."

History

Blingee was founded as part of a website network Bauer Teen Network, and marketed towards young people who wished to add personalized imagery to their Myspace pages. The site, however, was different from other web-based GIF editors, allowing users to make their own profiles and other social network-like functionality. Users could also rate the Blingee compositions of others (referred to as "Blingees") and upload new artwork to use as stamps.

Closure and re-opening announcement

On August 14, 2015, Blingee announced that due to infrastructural and business model-related issues, the site would be closing down. The management offered users a way to download their work from the site, while many publications offered eulogies.[1][2] However, a massive fan outcry ensued, leading to the site securing the funding to continue operations, which it announced August 19, 2015.[3] The forum post also announced that several previously premium features would now be free for users.[4]

Use in art and pop culture

Several prominent practitioners of internet art use Blingee as part of their practice or as an object of study, including Olia Lialina,[5] Lorna Mills,[6] and Mike Tyka.[7]

The album art for M.I.A.'s single "XXXO" is meant to be a visual reference to Blingee, and the music video for the song features several headshots of the rapper pictured among glittering floral graphics like those common on the site.

References

  1. ↑ McHugh, Molly. "Blingee Is Dead, Long Live Blingee". WIRED. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. ↑ "RIP Blingee: Here Are The Best, Worst Blingees of All Time". Co.Design. 2015-08-19. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  3. ↑ "Blingee Lives On! - Forum Topic [p. 1 of 32] #1,108996 | Blingee.com". blingee.com. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  4. ↑ Hines, Ree. "Blingee's Back On! Glittery GIF Generator Is Reanimated By Fan Demand". Forbes. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  5. ↑ Estes, Adam Clark. "How To Rule On Blingee, According The 50-Year-Old Queen Of Blingee". Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  6. ↑ "prosthetic knowledge — La petite mort du blingee Net Art event hosted at..." prosthetic knowledge. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  7. ↑ Greenberger, Alex (2017-04-24). "At Seven on Seven Conference, Artists and Technologists Unite to Ponder Politics, Sexting, Fake News, and More". ARTnews. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
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