Christian Rudder
Encyclopedia
Christian Rudder is an American
musician
, humorist, and entrepreneur
.
Rudder is primarily known as the creative voice of TheSpark.com, which was the viral content arm of SparkNotes
during the site's early rise to popularity. Working with Chris Coyne, Rudder wrote humorous tests and articles and devised absurd pseudo-science projects to spread awareness of the Spark brand and drive young people to SparkNotes' study guides. During Rudder's tenure at TheSpark it was one of the most popular humor sites on the web. Rudder joined TheSpark and SparkNotes in October 1999. He became TheSpark's Creative Director in March 2001.
Soon after the sites' sale to Barnes & Noble, Rudder and the SparkNotes founders - Chris Coyne, Sam Yagan, and Max Krohn - left and began work on OkCupid
, a dating website that has its roots in the popular tests featured on TheSpark. OkCupid launched in February 2004.
Rudder also plays in indie
band Bishop Allen
. He and Justin Rice
are the band's two permanent members, and they write the band's songs. On stage, Rudder plays guitar
and ukelele; in the studio, on Bishop Allen's recordings, he plays most of the instruments save drums and piano. Rudder and Rice met while students at Harvard University
.
Rudder appeared in Andrew Bujalski
's 2002 film, Funny Ha Ha
and with Bishop Allen appeared in Peter Sollett
's film, Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, humorist, and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
.
Rudder is primarily known as the creative voice of TheSpark.com, which was the viral content arm of SparkNotes
SparkNotes
SparkNotes, originally part of a website called The Spark, is a company started by Harvard students Sam Yagan, Max Krohn, Chris Coyne, and Eli Bolotin in 1999 that originally provided study guides for literature, poetry, history, film, and philosophy...
during the site's early rise to popularity. Working with Chris Coyne, Rudder wrote humorous tests and articles and devised absurd pseudo-science projects to spread awareness of the Spark brand and drive young people to SparkNotes' study guides. During Rudder's tenure at TheSpark it was one of the most popular humor sites on the web. Rudder joined TheSpark and SparkNotes in October 1999. He became TheSpark's Creative Director in March 2001.
Soon after the sites' sale to Barnes & Noble, Rudder and the SparkNotes founders - Chris Coyne, Sam Yagan, and Max Krohn - left and began work on OkCupid
OKCupid
OkCupid is a free dating and social networking website that features member-created quizzes. The site supports various modes of communication, including personal blogs, public forums, instant messages, emails, and "winks." OkCupid was listed in TIME's 2007 Top 10 dating sites.-Overview:OkCupid...
, a dating website that has its roots in the popular tests featured on TheSpark. OkCupid launched in February 2004.
Rudder also plays in indie
Indie (music)
In music, independent music, often shortened to indie music or "indie" is a term used to describe independence from major commercial record labels or their subsidiaries, and an autonomous, Do-It-Yourself approach to recording and publishing....
band Bishop Allen
Bishop Allen
Bishop Allen is an American indie rock band from Brooklyn, New York. The band's core members are Justin Rice and Christian Rudder, who are supported both on stage and in the studio by a rotating cast of musical collaborators...
. He and Justin Rice
Justin Rice
-Music career:Since 2001, he has played guitar for indie rock band Bishop Allen. He also co-wrote the music for the documentary The Bully Project with band-mate Christian Rudder.-Movie career:...
are the band's two permanent members, and they write the band's songs. On stage, Rudder plays guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and ukelele; in the studio, on Bishop Allen's recordings, he plays most of the instruments save drums and piano. Rudder and Rice met while students at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Rudder appeared in Andrew Bujalski
Andrew Bujalski
Andrew Bujalski, born April 29, 1977 in Boston, Massachusetts, is an American film director, screenwriter and actor, who has been called the "Godfather of Mumblecore."- Bio :...
's 2002 film, Funny Ha Ha
Funny Ha Ha
Funny ha ha, considered the first mumblecore film, follows the exploits of recently graduated protagonist Marnie as she tries to find a temporary job and win the attention of a college friend named Alex , while trying to cut down on her beer consumption...
and with Bishop Allen appeared in Peter Sollett
Peter Sollett
Peter Sollett is an American film director and screenwriter known for his feature films Raising Victor Vargas and Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist .-Career:...
's film, Nick and Nora's Infinite Playlist.