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Museum World’s King of Memes Brings Humor to Lockdown Museum World’s King of Memes Brings Humor to Lockdown
(2 months later)
LONDON — On March 18, the Royal Academy of Arts — one of Britain’s grandest art museums, closed because of the coronavirus pandemic — issued a challenge on Twitter.LONDON — On March 18, the Royal Academy of Arts — one of Britain’s grandest art museums, closed because of the coronavirus pandemic — issued a challenge on Twitter.
“Who can draw us the best ham” it read. It didn’t even bother with a question mark.“Who can draw us the best ham” it read. It didn’t even bother with a question mark.
Dozens of newly drawn images soon flooded in from around the world, from an art nouveau ham to a tiny leg, done in watercolors. There was even a ham reimagined as an isolated office worker, slouched over a laptop.Dozens of newly drawn images soon flooded in from around the world, from an art nouveau ham to a tiny leg, done in watercolors. There was even a ham reimagined as an isolated office worker, slouched over a laptop.
That tweet was just the latest quirky success from Adam Koszary, the Royal Academy’s social media editor, a man whose flippant, conversational approach to Twitter has gotten him so much attention over the past two years that one of Silicon Valley’s biggest companies briefly lured him away.That tweet was just the latest quirky success from Adam Koszary, the Royal Academy’s social media editor, a man whose flippant, conversational approach to Twitter has gotten him so much attention over the past two years that one of Silicon Valley’s biggest companies briefly lured him away.
As museums worldwide go into prolonged lockdown, they are relying on their websites and social media accounts to connect with the public, and even to raise money. And in the fight for attention online, Mr. Koszary’s irreverent approach is being watched and copied.As museums worldwide go into prolonged lockdown, they are relying on their websites and social media accounts to connect with the public, and even to raise money. And in the fight for attention online, Mr. Koszary’s irreverent approach is being watched and copied.
Claire Lanier, social media manager for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, called Mr. Koszary “a legend, really.” She said that he had changed how museums speak online by “giving them permission to be jokey and colloquial and informal.”Claire Lanier, social media manager for the Metropolitan Museum of Art, called Mr. Koszary “a legend, really.” She said that he had changed how museums speak online by “giving them permission to be jokey and colloquial and informal.”
In a telephone interview, Mr. Koszary laughed when asked if his approach should be imitated. “The worst thing you can tell someone is to be funny,” he said. “People should copy me to the extent that they should try and form proper human connections,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean everyone should be tweeting requests for ham.”In a telephone interview, Mr. Koszary laughed when asked if his approach should be imitated. “The worst thing you can tell someone is to be funny,” he said. “People should copy me to the extent that they should try and form proper human connections,” he said. “But that doesn’t mean everyone should be tweeting requests for ham.”
Mr. Koszary probably never expected to be a social media guru. He studied ancient history at college and briefly tried teaching. In 2013, he accepted an administrative and curatorial job at the tiny Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, about 40 miles west of London.Mr. Koszary probably never expected to be a social media guru. He studied ancient history at college and briefly tried teaching. In 2013, he accepted an administrative and curatorial job at the tiny Museum of English Rural Life in Reading, about 40 miles west of London.
Mr. Koszary didn’t have any special knowledge about living in the countryside, but said he loved the museum’s collections, which include wagons used to transport turnips and artificial insemination equipment for cows. The collections can seem odd at first glance, he said, adding: “Once you start getting into the history, the stories of rural life, it’s fascinating.”Mr. Koszary didn’t have any special knowledge about living in the countryside, but said he loved the museum’s collections, which include wagons used to transport turnips and artificial insemination equipment for cows. The collections can seem odd at first glance, he said, adding: “Once you start getting into the history, the stories of rural life, it’s fascinating.”
“I could go on for hours about wagons,” he added.“I could go on for hours about wagons,” he added.
When the museum closed for a two-year refurbishment, Mr. Koszary started helping out with its social media. His first real success came in April 2018, when he decided to search the museum’s photo archive for an animal with unusual horns for International Unicorn Day. He came across an enormous sheep. As soon as he saw it, the phrase “absolute unit” — internet speak for something huge — popped into his head, he said.When the museum closed for a two-year refurbishment, Mr. Koszary started helping out with its social media. His first real success came in April 2018, when he decided to search the museum’s photo archive for an animal with unusual horns for International Unicorn Day. He came across an enormous sheep. As soon as he saw it, the phrase “absolute unit” — internet speak for something huge — popped into his head, he said.
It quickly amassed over 100,000 likes, gathering so much attention that several British newspapers profiled the museum.It quickly amassed over 100,000 likes, gathering so much attention that several British newspapers profiled the museum.
Mr. Koszary repeated the trick several times with off-the-wall images from the museum’s collection, including an 18th-century doodle of a chicken wearing pants. (J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, said she would write the animal into a series of novels.)Mr. Koszary repeated the trick several times with off-the-wall images from the museum’s collection, including an 18th-century doodle of a chicken wearing pants. (J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, said she would write the animal into a series of novels.)
As the museum’s follower count grew, so did its visitor numbers, Alison Hilton, its marketing manager, said in an email. Around 50,000 people visited the museum in 2019, up from around 28,000 in 2017.As the museum’s follower count grew, so did its visitor numbers, Alison Hilton, its marketing manager, said in an email. Around 50,000 people visited the museum in 2019, up from around 28,000 in 2017.
Mr. Koszary’s success was also noticed outside the museum world. Last April, Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla — and a man with his own history of using Twitter to grab attention — changed his Twitter photo to the “absolute unit” sheep and started a Twitter conversation with Mr. Koszary.Mr. Koszary’s success was also noticed outside the museum world. Last April, Elon Musk, the founder of Tesla — and a man with his own history of using Twitter to grab attention — changed his Twitter photo to the “absolute unit” sheep and started a Twitter conversation with Mr. Koszary.
Soon afterward, Mr. Musk hired him. It seemed a perfect match, but their time together lasted less than six months.Soon afterward, Mr. Musk hired him. It seemed a perfect match, but their time together lasted less than six months.
The news of a split emerged in February, when Mr. Koszary wrote a blog post titled “Christ what a weird year.” Tesla was “full of intelligent people who’ll change the world,” he wrote. “And it was the right personal and professional decision to let them find someone else to achieve their vital mission on social media.”The news of a split emerged in February, when Mr. Koszary wrote a blog post titled “Christ what a weird year.” Tesla was “full of intelligent people who’ll change the world,” he wrote. “And it was the right personal and professional decision to let them find someone else to achieve their vital mission on social media.”
Updated May 28, 2020
States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people.
Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks.
Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days.
If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.)
More than 40 million people — the equivalent of 1 in 4 U.S. workers — have filed for unemployment benefits since the pandemic took hold. One in five who were working in February reported losing a job or being furloughed in March or the beginning of April, data from a Federal Reserve survey released on May 14 showed, and that pain was highly concentrated among low earners. Fully 39 percent of former workers living in a household earning $40,000 or less lost work, compared with 13 percent in those making more than $100,000, a Fed official said.
There is an uptick in people reporting symptoms of chilblains, which are painful red or purple lesions that typically appear in the winter on fingers or toes. The lesions are emerging as yet another symptom of infection with the new coronavirus. Chilblains are caused by inflammation in small blood vessels in reaction to cold or damp conditions, but they are usually common in the coldest winter months. Federal health officials do not include toe lesions in the list of coronavirus symptoms, but some dermatologists are pushing for a change, saying so-called Covid toe should be sufficient grounds for testing.
Yes, but make sure you keep six feet of distance between you and people who don’t live in your home. Even if you just hang out in a park, rather than go for a jog or a walk, getting some fresh air, and hopefully sunshine, is a good idea.
Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications.
The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing.
If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others.
If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested.
Charity Navigator, which evaluates charities using a numbers-based system, has a running list of nonprofits working in communities affected by the outbreak. You can give blood through the American Red Cross, and World Central Kitchen has stepped in to distribute meals in major cities.
Mr. Koszary said he could not talk further about his time at the company and would not say if that was because of a nondisclosure agreement; Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. He said he felt “incredibly lucky” that Royal Academy, which had offered him a job before he went to Tesla, took him back afterward.Mr. Koszary said he could not talk further about his time at the company and would not say if that was because of a nondisclosure agreement; Tesla didn’t respond to a request for comment. He said he felt “incredibly lucky” that Royal Academy, which had offered him a job before he went to Tesla, took him back afterward.
Asked about his approach for the museum’s social media during the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Koszary said that people seemed to want light relief from the news. But he added that lighthearted tweets would not be enough to get museums through this difficult period. Instead, the Royal Academy’s social team was trying to reflect all aspects of how people were feeling, he said: “this weird mixture of scared and bored.”Asked about his approach for the museum’s social media during the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Koszary said that people seemed to want light relief from the news. But he added that lighthearted tweets would not be enough to get museums through this difficult period. Instead, the Royal Academy’s social team was trying to reflect all aspects of how people were feeling, he said: “this weird mixture of scared and bored.”
On Twitter, that meant setting daily tasks to keep people engaged. (“You can’t come in to look at the art. Show us the art on your walls instead,” read one recent tweet.) On Instagram, the museum has been posting calming paintings accompanied by breathing instructions to help people meditate. Nick Sharp, the museum’s digital director said that the museum was looking into using social media for life drawing classes. (It used YouTube to stream classes in 2018.)On Twitter, that meant setting daily tasks to keep people engaged. (“You can’t come in to look at the art. Show us the art on your walls instead,” read one recent tweet.) On Instagram, the museum has been posting calming paintings accompanied by breathing instructions to help people meditate. Nick Sharp, the museum’s digital director said that the museum was looking into using social media for life drawing classes. (It used YouTube to stream classes in 2018.)
Ms. Lanier, the Met’s social media manager, said the museum was trying several approaches. Its most successful posts so far were “aesthetically calming” paintings of flowers, she said.Ms. Lanier, the Met’s social media manager, said the museum was trying several approaches. Its most successful posts so far were “aesthetically calming” paintings of flowers, she said.
Other museums were trying more do-it-yourself strategies. Over the past week, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles asked its Twitter followers to recreate famous artworks using household objects.Other museums were trying more do-it-yourself strategies. Over the past week, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles asked its Twitter followers to recreate famous artworks using household objects.
Mr. Koszary said the one thing museums should avoid was what most of them seemed to be focusing on right now: Simply posting images from their closed collections and exhibitions. “A lot of people are going to fall into the trap of just trying to give people what they’d come to see in person on the screen,” Mr. Koszary said, “but social media doesn’t work like that. It’s meant to be collaborative, democratic.”Mr. Koszary said the one thing museums should avoid was what most of them seemed to be focusing on right now: Simply posting images from their closed collections and exhibitions. “A lot of people are going to fall into the trap of just trying to give people what they’d come to see in person on the screen,” Mr. Koszary said, “but social media doesn’t work like that. It’s meant to be collaborative, democratic.”
That needed to be realized especially as the pandemic gets worse, he said. “Arts and heritage can’t possibly fix coronavirus, but we can try and do something to help the sadness and fear,” he said.That needed to be realized especially as the pandemic gets worse, he said. “Arts and heritage can’t possibly fix coronavirus, but we can try and do something to help the sadness and fear,” he said.
Sometimes, that includes paintings of ham.Sometimes, that includes paintings of ham.