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| Museum World’s King of Memes Brings Humor to Lockdown | Museum World’s King of Memes Brings Humor to Lockdown |
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| 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. |
| Updated June 30, 2020 | |
| 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. | |
| Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. | Scientists around the country have tried to identify everyday materials that do a good job of filtering microscopic particles. In recent tests, HEPA furnace filters scored high, as did vacuum cleaner bags, fabric similar to flannel pajamas and those of 600-count pillowcases. Other materials tested included layered coffee filters and scarves and bandannas. These scored lower, but still captured a small percentage of particles. |
| A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. | A commentary published this month on the website of the British Journal of Sports Medicine points out that covering your face during exercise “comes with issues of potential breathing restriction and discomfort” and requires “balancing benefits versus possible adverse events.” Masks do alter exercise, says Cedric X. Bryant, the president and chief science officer of the American Council on Exercise, a nonprofit organization that funds exercise research and certifies fitness professionals. “In my personal experience,” he says, “heart rates are higher at the same relative intensity when you wear a mask.” Some people also could experience lightheadedness during familiar workouts while masked, says Len Kravitz, a professor of exercise science at the University of New Mexico. |
| The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. | The steroid, dexamethasone, is the first treatment shown to reduce mortality in severely ill patients, according to scientists in Britain. The drug appears to reduce inflammation caused by the immune system, protecting the tissues. In the study, dexamethasone reduced deaths of patients on ventilators by one-third, and deaths of patients on oxygen by one-fifth. |
| The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. | The coronavirus emergency relief package gives many American workers paid leave if they need to take time off because of the virus. It gives qualified workers two weeks of paid sick leave if they are ill, quarantined or seeking diagnosis or preventive care for coronavirus, or if they are caring for sick family members. It gives 12 weeks of paid leave to people caring for children whose schools are closed or whose child care provider is unavailable because of the coronavirus. It is the first time the United States has had widespread federally mandated paid leave, and includes people who don’t typically get such benefits, like part-time and gig economy workers. But the measure excludes at least half of private-sector workers, including those at the country’s largest employers, and gives small employers significant leeway to deny leave. |
| So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. | So far, the evidence seems to show it does. A widely cited paper published in April suggests that people are most infectious about two days before the onset of coronavirus symptoms and estimated that 44 percent of new infections were a result of transmission from people who were not yet showing symptoms. Recently, a top expert at the World Health Organization stated that transmission of the coronavirus by people who did not have symptoms was “very rare,” but she later walked back that statement. |
| 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. | 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. |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. |
| 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.) | 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.) |
| 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’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. |
| 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.” |
| 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. |