Who could forget the classic episode of The Office (US), “Scott’s Tots?” In case you’re unfamiliar, well-meaning dimwitted boss Michael Scott reveals he promised a class of third graders to pay their college tuition.
via The Office
Thinking he would somehow be a millionaire by the time the third graders hit high school, Scott finds out the class is about to graduate high school and he has nowhere near the money to show for it.
To rectify this, he brings everyone laptop batteries, claiming “The best kind of tuition,” which is likely the most cringe-worthy moment of the series.
This brings me to the current day, where it seems universities in New York took a page out of Michael Scott’s book and thought online learning would replace what we pay for.
In response to this, three universities, Pace, Columbia, and LIU (which have transitioned to online “learning”) are facing a class-action lawsuit. Charging full tuition, which goes to facilities and equipment.
Yeah, online learning is a switch-up no student was expecting. And certainly, not one that they asked for.
via NY POST
Many schools across the country have shut down for the year, as lessons are not easily replicable online, refunding tuition as such. Zoom is no replacement, and if the quarantine stays up, schools will likely see a drastic drop in enrollment.
As a Pace University student, I was only told about the suit via a friend of mine in Reno. There was not a single email announcement, nor was it brought up by any faculty. This can only lead one to believe these schools want to keep this situation as quiet as possible, despite news coverage.
via Brooklyn Ink
Pace, with its $182 million endowments, shouldn’t have an issue with tuition rebates. Neither should Columbia, with their lowest endowment return submitted last year at $10.9 billion.
These funds are granted so in the event of a shutdown, the school is prepared. Prepared they are, generous they are not. Their funds would be plenty to refund the students, as well as give the faculty a well-deserved bonus. Not to mention the adjunct professors, who have been hit the hardest. The work that they do shall not go in vain.
This is a unique point in time where students can have their concerns not only listened to but bring about lasting change in doing so. Some advice from a senior: if you are a current student at one of these New York schools (which you know charge up and out the ass), spread the word about this, as your schools will not.
Also, if you are an incoming college freshman, I would strongly consider deferring enrollment for a year, as maybe then you will get what you pay for.
When it comes to comforts we’ve been missing most, the companionship of the people we love ranks highest, in most of our books. We give them hugs, we dap them up, we share our kush, all things Zoom hangouts can’t provide.
So how will this look after we’re all back in the world?
Quarantine and chill has a whole new meaning
Many of us will rush to hug our friends and family as soon as we can see them next, but will everyone rush to lay the pipe?
Some people may feel apprehensive about touching each other out of fear of contracting any leftover illness. Hopefully, it will be safe to do so, as I couldn’t imagine any of us want to keep the 6-feet space forever.
For those of you Netflix and Chillers out there, your time may be on the horizon. Many of us have sorely missed the Chill part of the equation, and have had enough of our share of the Netflix.
Give it some time, though, as many are still uncertain and unwilling to invite a potential sickness into their homes.
Popping out with the squad will be DIFFERENT
The way I see it, once common hangout spots like bars, malls, and restaurants may likely be packed to the brim upon reopening. The sudden rush of excitement felt in having the option to resume life as normal will be tempting for many of us. However, just as many may not feel so optimistic.
Understandably, there is a certain skepticism that some have around going back into public with other people. There may be some who have found they’re more comfortable indoors, and choose to stay there most of the time after the fact.
Because of this, we may see less of some of our friends for a little while, but it’s important to give them time to adjust. We all need a little bit at the moment.
Working from home might be the wave
With working remotely becoming the norm, many feel comfortable working from home. Without the need to dress in code, eating on your own schedule, and still getting work done, who wouldn’t want that?
We have been shown that some companies do not need to be centralized, so many have gravitated to this remote working lifestyle. The daily commute is one thing that will not be missed for sure. The money saved on gas can go to the other gas.
Speaking of gas…
BYOB! Personal blunts for everyone
Now, let’s not forget the time-honored smoke circle. A tradition as old as the herb itself, the circle has taken a beating lately.
How willing, however, will everyone be to share backwood with coronavirus fresh in everyone’s memories. It’s possible a BYOB (Bring Your Own Bud) unwritten rule may become the way of tomorrow.
Will smoking still be the wave? The sense of community is lost when we no longer share ganja with the people we enjoy.
Many of my friendships have been formed in the holy circle and many more who I am yet to meet. The tradition should not die, though it may die down. Let’s just hope the love is safe to share.
As it stands, we can’t say what the future holds, but keep your flame of hope alive, my friends. May that spark light the blunt of persistence that keeps you alive and sane throughout these uncertain times.
Time is a more limited resource than money, yet it is often valued less than that. One thing we have collectively learned is that we have to value our freedoms, including human interaction, when we have them.
Creating a visual escape for those in isolation, Helgert (on Instagram @vacades) has created digital imaginings of cities around the world after the virus. Cities with flowers growing from concrete, birds chirping, and no people in sight are par for the course in his pieces.
For sure, we’re all in need of a special space that we can go to. Times are tough ad it seems as if the worlds Helgert creates make way for a new and peaceful mindset. And Helgert’s The Return of Nature video series does just that.
Presented in video form, a POV camera takes you on a walk through these flower fields in empty cities. It’s a surreal experience, watching cities overrun with plant life. He makes you feel as if you’re really there.
And the environments he creates, in a way, serve a bigger purpose. A purpose, filled with emotion and life.
Helgert’s pieces leave one conflicted about how to feel: plant life is a lovely thing, but there is an eeriness to an abandoned major city. They are powerful pieces open to interpretation.
With Puma dropping their new Future Rider, Helgert was commissioned to do several renderings of the sneakers. With his futuristic style, we can all escape the mundane and see a vision of something brighter.
Helgert also dabbles in making visual backdrops for calming tunes. Lest we forget about all his Youtube channel has to offer. From tutorials and travel hacking, one has to wonder what the digital artist can’t do.
Besides the futuristic pieces, @vacades is an adept artist talented at a number of facets of art. With some music-visual pieces and renderings of technology and cars, Helgert is, for sure, one to look out for.
#RONASZN is in full effect and almost every industry has felt its brutal impact. Some creatives are using this extra free time in quarantine to work on projects but, not everyone is so fortunate. One example: professional photographers. Many have had to drastically change their process and come up with new ways to create content.
Though designers, freelancers and small businesses are still in need of creative assets, it is becoming increasingly difficult to find safe conditions for photographers to produce content. As this crisis wears on and the traditional avenues to commission their work continue to dry up, many photographers are wondering where their next paycheck will come from.
With so much uncertainty in the creative world, we wanted to seek the advice of veteran industry professionals. So, we spoke with Claudia Marks,Getty Images and iStock Senior Art Director, and Aleksander Nakic, an accomplished photographer and long-time iStock contributor.
The two creative professionals chopped it up with us and discussed the industry’s current state and what content creators can do moving forward. It is clearly an unprecedented time, but it’s always good to stay ahead of the game and this conversation provides some advice for what creatives can do to weather this troubling economic situation.
Let’s push through 2020 together. Check out the interview transcript below.
[Claudia Marks]: When did you start taking pictures and when did you decide that creating imagery was something you wanted to do full time?
[Aleksandar Nakic]: For as long as I can remember, I carried along a camera with me, although my first love was making short films about my family and everyday stuff.
“I switched to taking pictures later on and once I discovered stock photography, I realized that I can do it full time.”
[CM]: What is your favorite subject to shoot?
[AN]: I love to shoot different things and it’s interesting to explore the variety of human experience, although if I have to choose it would be real people doing real things. If I can approach a shoot like a photojournalist, I’m happy.
[CM]: How do you usually decide what to shoot next? / What do you plan to shoot next (either personal or for Getty Images/iStock)
[AN]: I am always working on multiple shoots at one time and the decision on which one to shoot next depends on all sorts of unpredictable factors. Some shoots need a longer period of time before all the elements come into place (like the ballet school shoot) and during that time I have other shoot ideas stored in my head.
Some will go from idea to realization in a day or two. But it’s usually a mostly spontaneous process for me because people are unpredictable. I plan to shoot some business concepts next, it’s something I’m not really good at and I’d like to explore the subject.
[CM]: How has growing up in Serbia influenced your work, has it affected your work in any way?
[AN]: I’m really glad you asked me that question, especially now during the crisis we are all facing. Everything that we are seeing and feeling now ‑ empty store shelves, uncertainty and fear, my generation already experienced growing up in Serbia.
We were born just a couple of years before the 90s when our country went into war, economic depression, total anarchy, dictatorship and generally one really bad decade.
“During those uncertain times, we all stayed together, and we went back to basics.”
I think I’m trying to find those sweet little moments in everything now in my life and work… And yes, the whole experience of growing up in Serbia during those times affected me more than I’d like to admit it. Actually, I think that most of us here try not to think about it. I mean, we were all sitting in our basements with bombs falling around us, just 20 years ago.
“We accepted all of it with humor and not because we tried to suppress it, but because we accepted it as something that had to be, and now that it’s over we can do anything, we can conquer the world.”
We already went through the worst. That’s why I always feel that we should focus on the positive and that’s the image I’d like to send out by making imagery. Of course, I know that life isn’t all smiles and vibrant colors, but it really doesn’t have to be gray. There’s good to come out of any situation.
We already see many beautiful examples happening now, during the pandemic, to prove it.
[CM]: How has COVID-19 affected your work directly? What have you learned about your own creativity because of the potential space or resource limitations you’re now facing?
[AN]: My first couple of years on iStock and Getty, I worked only with my family and friends, making the most of the limited resources we had. And I loved it. Eventually, the equipment got better, there were more people involved, we shot in some really cool places.
But even then I tried to keep that workflow intimate and not use all of the resources that I could. I realized that by limiting myself, I can be more creative with less pressure. Along came COVID-19 and now there’s a real thing that limits our work. So, yeah, it affected me in a way that I now feel limited…
[CM]: What advice would you give to photographers and other creatives looking for inspiration and ways to continue their craft while in quarantine?
[AN]: I have to say, for a change – it’s nice to be back to basics. There’s no “that next cool trip” that you HAVE to take, so you can make nice images. There’s no new camera coming up to market that you REALLY need.
There’s just you, maybe a couple of people in your house, your camera and whatever you can make out of it. For me, it made me slow down a lot. I think that we were all in a rush, for no particular reason.
And by slowing down, I started looking around and allowing myself to be really inspired. I’m probably shooting less, waiting for those special little moments.
“My advice to other creatives would be to use this time, this moment that none of us really saw coming, to get back to why you fell in love with your craft in the first place.”
Finish your passion project, something that you never really had time for. And once this is all over, we can get out of it feeling more inspired and ready for whatever comes next.
[CM]: How have you been able to stay inspired during this time? Have you changed your typical subject matter?
[AN]: It’s been really easy. With a slower pace comes real presence. Those little moments when you are really there – playing with your kids or finishing that DIY project around your house, produce a vast amount of inspiration. My family’s height of the day is exploring nature, places we never been to around our own town.
“If you turn away from that phone and allow yourself to enjoy the moment, I bet you will also find a way to finish that project you’ve been struggling with.”
I have to admit that, for the last couple of years, I have been trying to get out of my typical subject matter, which are family lifestyle and exploring topics that I’m not really good at.
It was something I needed to prove to myself. Now I’m with my kids throughout the day and I’m not sure how happy they are to see me back with my camera. But I’m happy to work with my favorite models.
[CM]: How do you think the Coronavirus will change the photography industry?
[AN]: I think that nobody really knows where we are headed. But I can talk about what I’m hoping for. Photography will reflect what goes on in the world and I really hope that we’ll be producing optimistic and vibrant images.
As a society, I can only hope that we are not going to be driven by fear. I’m hoping that we will use this experience to spend more time with our loved ones, to appreciate nature more than before, to make the most of our days and not to allow autocratic governments to compensate our freedom for our safety.
I think that no matter what happens, the photography industry will be OK, people more than ever need imagery.
“But I really hope that in the future we’ll need images of people having unforgettable moments with their loved ones and not gloomy portraits under our protective masks.”
To keep your sanity under corona house arrest, it helps to have something to distract you. The distraction in question here is Wiz Khalifa’s 2010 mixtape, Kush & OJ.
Coming in hot on the heels of his sophomore album, 2009’s Deal or No Deal, Wiz proved his mettle this time around as not only a spitter but an artist. Kush & OJ, named for his wake ‘n bake lifestyle, is 15 tracks of wavy stoner rap, meant to start your day right.
Lyrically, there appear to be several consistent themes: good weed, fine women, partying, and living up fame and fortune. While on the surface the album may appear to be your typical brag rap, underneath is a vision for a better life than where he came from, celebrating how far he’s come like he deserves to.
Now, I’ll be going track by track, reviewing each song on the album. I won’t include interludes and skits, as they’re not as much part of the music.
Waken Baken
The album’s tone-setter, “Waken Baken” is a mostly instrumental intro. Clocking in at a minute and a half, psychedelic sounds put you in the zone to chill. It’s in the lyrics, “smokin, chillin, dreamin,” and gives a brief taste of what’s ahead.
Mezmorized
Popularizing the term “keep it a shunned,” Wiz takes us on a clap-beat, tropical journey of sound, as the music keeps you how the title implies.
He talks about stunting on the world with his newfound success, as people who were never before are now “mesmerized.” Stand out track for sure.
We’re Done
One of the more interesting tracks, “We’re Done” samples “Our Time is Here” by Demi Lovato from Disney Channel’s Camp Rock. Wiz showcased creativity subverting a Disney song to be a radio-ready song about stunting on haters, uncensored.
This song brings back nostalgia for me, but not one of my favorites. Solid all the same.
The Statement
With a G-funk beat, Wiz talks passionately about his current lifestyle, which he previously could never have imagined.
With the lyrical imagery of Wiz rolling blunts on a private jet with some bad groupies, it’s fair to say he showed his doubters.
Spotlight
Sampling Dexter Wansel’s 1976 “Theme From the Planets,” this track slows the tempo down a bit from the previous track, and talks about the benefits from the spotlight, clapping back at all the people who thought they were above him before. Another bomb track.
The Kid Frankie
Based on the character Frankie from the 2005 movie The Business and sampling “Hangin’ on a String” by The Loose End, the beat has a laid back 80s R&B vibe. Wiz keeps stunting on the haters and enjoying the life of luxury, as the excess he enjoys harks back to 80s imagery of wild success and lifestlyes to boot.
Up
Tevin Campbell’s song “Could it Be” serves as the sample, a smooth and slow soul laced groove about being so high you won’t come down. However, there is another meaning woven in, as fame makes you feel like you’re riding high and never want to drop.
The song is meant to keep your mood up, and it did just that for me.
Featuring a sample of “Schala’s Theme” from Super Nintendo game, Chrono Trigger (one of my all-time favorites), Wiz lays down some clever wordplay and funny lines. He paints a clear picture with “money as wide as Oprah.” Similar themes show, and another solid track it is.
In The Cut
Frou Frou’s “Let Go” is the sample for this uptempo, almost new wave sounding beat. A chill song about hanging with your friends in the cut, rolling doobies up. It may be a time of social distancing, but a good banger for your Zoom sesh.
Visions
A jazz beat lays a solid groove complete with chimes, as Wiz flows about people he knew with his same dreams that lost it all to “some dumb shit.” The title takes on several meanings, one being visions for his life, ambitions of greatness he still strives for.
The other is blurry vision from all the good kush…banger.
Still Blazin
A reggae beat with wah-pedal guitar paves the way for a tribute to the herb. If he hasn’t convinced you already, the lyrics to this one should prove Wiz can, in fact, out smoke you.
He reminisces on when he could only rarely get his hands on some as a youth, noting blazin as one of life’s joys. Hard to disagree with a song so clean.
Pedal to the Medal
A chill club-type beat with a clap-trap, it’s a party song and a smoke song in one. It’s upbeat and puts me in a good mood, so I can recommend it. What can I say? I’m biased toward songs about smoking blunts with a clean beat.
Good Dank
A reggae instrumental leads to the most musically distinct track on Kush & OJ, featuring a deep bass-line, wah lead guitar, and melancholy rhythm guitar, backed by a minor-chord playing organ. Wiz talks about people who resent his success, but he rises above it. A sad sounding track, the lyrics are hopeful.
We could all use some of that.
Glass House
A throwback to 2000s rap, Wiz asserts himself as realer than the rest. He’ll speak his mind, and the rest are faker scared of truth speakers. He has bars for all those who can talk a big game and can’t back up their claim. One of the less memorable tracks, but still alright overall.
Supply
Opening with only a snare, then an organ joining in, Wiz closes his mixtape delivering pearls of wisdom about the people who will hold you back in life. This is when he takes the high road, taking his private plane high above it all. It really does use the possibilities of wordplay for being high and “above” things.
A solid round out to a fire mixtape.
It’s hard to believe Kush & OJ is coming up on a decade old, much less that he released it for free back in the day. When you’re stuck inside all day, might as well start it right with some kush and OJ. It’ll help you pass the time and look back on what seems like yesterday 10 years ago.
