What Is It About 20-Somethings? [GOOD READ]

A cover of The New Yorker last spring picked up on the zeitgeist: a young man hangs up his new Ph.D. in his boyhood bedroom, the cardboard box at his feet signaling his plans to move back home now that he’s officially overqualified for a job. In the doorway stand his parents, their expressions a mix of resignation, worry, annoyance and perplexity: how exactly did this happen?

"What Is It About 20-Somethings?" A good question, and a seemingly apt title for this New York Times article that delves into the psyche of folks in their 20's. The piece speaks on the possibility of a new distinct life stage based on research by J.J. Arnett, a psychology professor at Clark University ...but I'm thinking "Youth In Revolt" would be an even more fitting title despite already being the title of the recent Micheal Cera film, and cult classic novel. We have what looks to be a scattered tempering of what adulthood constitutes.

"People can vote at 18, but in some states they don’t age out of foster care until 21. They can join the military at 18, but they can’t drink until 21. They can drive at 16, but they can’t rent a car until 25..."

Back in our (our being my other 20-something year olds) parents days as 20-somethings they had similar psychological samplings, and the term "youth" was used to to house characteristics such as “pervasive ambivalence toward self and society,” “the feeling of absolute freedom, of living in a world of pure possibilities” and “the enormous value placed upon change, transformation and movement” -- all of these are now under the umbrella of "emerging adults", a term coined by J.J. Arnett. It's a very interesting read.

Read the full article HERE.

Rosario Dawson x The NY Times T Style Spring 2009 [PHOTOGRAPHY]

I have loved Rosario since Kids! And minus the ATM scene in Clerks II, she really can do no wrong in my eyes...or look it for that matter. Beautiful.

Full spread photographed by Solve Sundsbo for New York Times T Style.

via OVO.

New York Times Sells Front Page Display Ads For First Time

Happy New Year everyone! I'm back, and with something some of you might find interesting, I definitely did! Given the prestige of the newspaper I wouldn't expect something like this, but given the financial climate I probably shouldn't have been surprised. I read the article and walked away with the same sentiments as one of the commentators. Taking a guess that the front page would run you about 100k, 100,000 x 365 = 36.5 million. If this can keep folks at work, then more power to you. I guess the worry is that you turn the newspaper into say ad free for all.

NEW YORK — The New York Times, facing falling ad revenue like other newspapers, became the latest paper Monday to run graphical advertising on its front page.

The Times already has been selling such ads on the front pages of its business and other sections since 2006, and it has run tiny classified text ads on the front of its main section before. Graphical advertising, known as display ads, on the main front can command even greater prices, given the visibility.

"This high-impact placement represents an exciting new opportunity for our advertisers," said Denise Warren, chief advertising officer for The New York Times Media Group.

Although front-page ads might have been unthinkable years ago, today they hardly prompt a blink.

"I don't know how sacrosanct that front page is in a newspaper," said Sree Sreenivasan, a journalism professor at Columbia University. "I don't think in this particular economic climate, (you can) hold on to something for the sake of so-called tradition."

Read the rest of the story here.

MULTIPLE PERSONAS André Benjamin, aka André 3000 aka Benjamin Bixby

I have heard about Andre 3000's clothing line Benjamin Bixby for quite some time, but there was very good article in the New York Times about the project.

As André 3000 of OutKast, he suavely crafted an alter ego with a distinctive retro-preppy-nerdy style and used fashion magazines, which were captivated by his look, to promote his image. He often showed up at photo shoots with bags of his own dandy clothes and was photographed in them, as when he appeared in a long houndstooth overcoat with Kate Moss in Rolling Stone. In 2005, he made the International Best-Dressed List in Vanity Fair.

Read the whole story here.