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The Arts Intel Report

A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler
A Cultural Compass
For the World Traveler

Fake Famous

Streaming on HBO

The pink wall at the corner of Melrose and Harper has become one of L.A.’s top tourist destinations. Is it an art gallery? A boutique? Nope. It’s just a wall painted pink, and it happens to be a selfie magnet! Posing against pink for a picture may help one build a flock of followers. In journalist Nick Bilton’s first documentary, this sort of social phenomenon is dissected and explained. Bilton follows a young trio—aspiring actress Dominique, fashion designer Chris, and real-estate assistant Wylie—and tracks their reactions to thousands of fake instagram followings. The implicit question: How does social media affect us? The movie was produced by our very own AIR MAIL coeditor, Graydon Carter. —E.C.

A man takes a selfie at the pink wall, in a still from “Fake Famous.” Photo courtesy of HBO.