The Metaness Of "This Is A Generic Video"

You've probably seen this already making the rounds online. "This is a generic video" is far from it. What's brilliant about the video is that it was inspired by "This Is a Generic Brand Video," written by Kendra Eash for McSweeney's Internet Tendency. A literary piece making fun of advertisement became a video that looks like it's making fun of ads but it's really an ad for a service for stock footage. So meta it's an Ouroboros.

Photographer JR and New York City Ballet Collaborate For Art Series

An Unexpected Way to Experience a Night at the Ballet

Following the inaugural 2013 installation LES BALLETS DE FAILE, New York City Ballet is proud to collaborate with the French artist known as JR for the second annual Art Series.

Exhibiting freely in the streets of the world, JR catches the attention of people who are not typical museum visitors. His largest project to date, INSIDE OUT, was born in 2011 when JR won the TED prize and called for the creation of a global art project with the potential to change the world. Transforming messages of personal identity into public works of art, more than 172,000 people have taken part in nearly 8,600 locations around the world.

JR will share his Art Series installation during three special performance evenings — January 23, February 7, 13 — when every seat in the house is available for just $29. On these evenings, every audience member will receive a takeaway created specifically for this event.

Absolutely love this collaboration. More please. NYC Ballet should have a ballet with sets designed by JR. 

Photoshop's Filters In Two Minutes

Barcelona-based audiovisual design studio Device has packed all the filters from Photoshop CS5 into a two-minute video showing them applied to the Ps icon.

Think of it as a performance art demo.  

Made by Hand: The Bike Maker

​The fifth Made by Hand film turns to bike maker Ezra Caldwell (Fast Boy Cycles), who was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. When the cancer threatens to shatter his love of bikes, Ezra survives by documenting his illness as thoroughly as his craft.

This particular edition of the series is profoundly moving. It resonated with me very much, in particular how Ezra's dislike of dance changed his life. ​

A project from Bureau of Common Goods, Made by Hand is a short film series celebrating the people who make things by hand— sustainably, locally, and with a love for their craft.

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Previously on Made by Hand:
​The Cigar Shop
​The Beekeeper
​The Knife Maker
​The Distiller

James Dean In Ballet Class

​Are you following A Conversation On Cool? How about The Impossible Cool? Well, you should, to see a growing collection of amazing, rare images that are equals part art, pop culture, behind-the-scenes, insightful photography and totally, absolutely cool. Where else would you find an image of James Dean in ballet class?