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I keep a list of every TV show or film that I’m told that I must see now. Instead of tuning in, I add a tally mark to my running inventory and file it away for later. It’s only when the evenings grow long and the temperature takes a plunge that I find myself with enough time to sink my eyes into a lengthy series or embark on a film binge. I dust off my notes to see which shows came out ahead and work my way through the very best (Note: not all recommenders are created equal, Obama’s word goes a very long way).
I’ve been practicing this sort of pop culture record-keeping for years. I’m overwhelmed away by the deluge of content on streaming services, network channels, blockbuster titles, and indie studios. Sometimes I’ll find myself with little to contribute at a social gathering when the conversation turns to what’s on screen. I don’t mind, even if the ending gets spoiled (the arc of story is what matters). In any case, with everyone able to stream at their own pace and entire series being dropped in bulk, there are fewer moments of episode-synchronicity to be found between friends. Those conversations just don’t happen like they used to.
This year, I had some more idle time (with the pandemic and all). I decided to take advantage of a friend’s unlimited MasterClass pass and browse through the vast catalog. Much of it seemed irrelevant to me beyond Jimmy Chin’s Adventure Photography course. I wasn’t interested in being a journalist, a beat-maker, or part of a creative ad agency. However, I realized that there was probably some nugget of wisdom that I could take away and apply to my own life. I would certainly walk away with a different perspective on the world. I may not be a journalist, but I am a reader who could better appreciate what makes for good writing. I may not be a pastry chef, but I could appreciate the craft of making a perfect croissant. In addition to an all-star cast of instructors, the production quality on these videos is top notch, so I’d be bound to have some fun along the way. Here are my thoughts on the catalog of over 100 classes, which I’m still working through!
Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing - Masterclass review
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: You don’t have a compelling story until the pattern of normalcy is broken; something has to happen.
Margaret Atwood is responsible for giving the world The Handmaid’s Tale (now a hit show on Hulu) but also for other novels that force us to pause and think about our own world, despite… (read more)
Ken Burns Teaches Documentary Filmmaking - Masterclass review
My rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Nothing else comes close to teaching you how to put together film like actually putting together a film.
I’ve taken more notes on this Masterclass than any other I’ve seen so far. Ken Burns uses the entire five hours effectively to share his theory around documentary film as well as the practical… (read more)
Natalie Portman Teaches Acting - Masterclass review
My rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Acting is an exercise in empathy, so being good at it requires you to be sensitive to your character, the crew, and the environment you’re in.
Natalie notes that her young start into acting allowed her to take on the perspective of a learner more naturally, given the lower expectations everyone had from what a child… (read more)
Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Don't aim to be the best writer; instead, aim for interesting.
This series felt like a pleasant afternoon spent with Malcolm as he unpacks his mind. It was both fascinating and highly entertaining. He has such a quirky way of thinking about the world and… (read more)
Emily Morse Teaches Sex and Communication
My rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: You're not doing yourself or your partner any favors by quietly pretending sex is something you can't talk about.
I didn't know anything about Emily Morse. I clicked through because the of the title. There are classic books on love openly talked about in the mainstream, but very little about sex. We obviously avoid it… (read more)
Jeff Goodby & Rich Silverstein Teach Advertising and Creativity
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Pay attention to the world around you; that's your best source for brilliant ideas.
I didn't recognize the names Goodby and Silverstein (founders of the legendary SF-based ad agency GS&P), but I certainly grew up with their work. They're responsible for iconic campaigns that have entered pop culture like 'Got milk?', the Sega scream, and… (read more)
Nancy Cartwright Teaches Voice Acting
My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Acting is really hard, but not impossible if you work at it.
I have no interest in voice acting, but I’m a huge fan of mimicking voices to amuse myself. Nancy Cartwright is famous for voicing animated cartoons, most notably Bart Simpson. This class… (read more)
Neil deGrasse Tyson Teaches Scientific Thinking and Communication
My rating: ★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: It matters little to being right if you’re not effective in communicating that message.
Neil kicks off this series by making it clear that he isn’t here to tell us cool facts about the galaxy; there’s nearly endless hours of him doing so on YouTube. Instead, he uses this as an opportunity to… (read more)
Doris Kearns Goodwin Teaches U.S. Presidential History and Leadership
My rating: ★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: There’s an inexhaustible amount we can learn about our present from those who’ve come before if we understand them as people.
The driving message of Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Masterclass is that what is happening today isn’t new or unique. Throughout American history we’ve seen anti-immigration sentiment, rapid… (read more)
Daniel Pink Teaches Sales and Persuasion
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Humans aren’t rational, and knowing the weak spots can help you get ahead and also protect you from yourself.
Dan starts off by emphasizing that persuasion is not about pressuring and that it’s a universal skill, encouraging us to drop our preconceived notions about pushy salesmen. In order to be effective… (read more)
Dr. Jane Goodall Teaches Conservation
My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Every single one of us can make a difference to the planet, for good and for bad.
Dr. Goodall starts off by explaining what inspired her passion for studying animals and the natural world. She credits her mother for nurturing her dreams from a young age, despite… (read more)
Will Wright Teaches Game Design and Theory
My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Successful video game design requires as much creativity as it does savviness in project management.
I haven’t played video games in almost a decade, mostly out of the guilt I’d feel when considering the hours I’d sink into what would ultimately amount to nothing. I did feel the temptation arise when… (read more)
Simone Biles Teaches Gymnastics Fundamentals
My rating: ★☆☆☆☆ (1/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Doing something exceptionally well doesn’t necessarily mean you can teach it well.
Despite the title, I assumed this’d be a course from Simone Biles explaining how to be a high-performing gymnast. After all, why else pay $90 to sit with a master of the craft when you can… (read more)
David Lynch Teaches Creativity and Film
My rating: ★★☆☆☆ (2/5)
My one-liner takeaway: David Lynch is creative on a level few people will ever feel comfortable reaching for.
David Lynch has been described to me as a ‘filmmaker’s filmmaker’ and the adjective ‘Lynchian’ has become a part of our vernacular, rising to the same eponymous ranks as ‘Kafkaesque’ or… (read more)
RuPaul Teaches Self-Expression and Authenticity
My rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Choosing to present yourself as you truly are can create moments of magic.
RuPaul’s Masterclass is bursting with messages of self-love, confidence, and joy. The course kicks off by wiping the slate clean, with Ru noting “we’re all born naked and the rest is drag.” While the… (read more)
Kelly Wearstler Teaches Interior Design
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: The choices you make designing a room help tell a story about the space, the intended use, the history, and its inhabitants.
I started the course with an appreciation for how good design can enhance the pleasure of a meal or even the reading of a book (see the hardcover copy of 1Q84). I hoped to understand… (read more)
David Axelrod and Karl Rove Teach Campaign Strategy and Messaging
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: You can’t possibly get everyone’s vote, so be strategic about how you spend your time, funds, and energy.
It’s an unusual pairing, seeing Karl Rove and David Axelrod sharing a screen with a shared message. Rove and Axe were the masterminds behind the successful presidential campaigns of… (read more)
Joe Holder Teaches Fitness and Wellness Fundamentals
My rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
My one-liner takeaway: A healthy life is about a lot more than just lifting weights and looking good.
I hadn’t heard of Joe Holder before this Masterclass. He’s a master trainer with Nike and an extremely wholesome and thoughtful guy. Throughout the videos he explains… (read more)
St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting
My rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
My one-liner takeaway: The ultimate goal of a songwriter is to serve the song, and the only way to do that is to be open to trying out all those ideas in your head.
I’ve listened to and enjoyed a few of St. Vincent songs, maybe just one or two. She’s a Grammy-winning solo artist and is very popular amongst the NPR-listener crowd. I might say she’s… (read more)
Dominique Ansel Teaches French Pastry Fundamentals
My rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
My one-liner takeaway: Once you understand the fundamentals and master the precision, what makes baking fun are the opportunities for creativity.
I’ve known of Chef Dominique since my food blogging years and from walking past his SoHo bakery on my way to work, sometimes stopping in for a pastry whenever I needed… (read more)