If you’re curious about MasterClass but don’t want to pay $180 and spend dozens of hours watching videos, a new website can help you out. A number of MasterClass courses have been ripped off and turned into ugly, short-form WikiHow-style articles for the website MasterWiki. You can learn Spike Lee’s methods for making an independent film in 12 quick steps or have Anna Wintour teach you how to be a creative leader in under a dozen, all illustrated with remarkably bad cartoons.
The site comes from the creative group MSCHF, which has a remarkably good track record of launching apps, websites, and art projects that go viral online. The team is well aware that it’s completely ripping off MasterClass here. The website says the lessons are “stolen from MasterClass,” and that it “makes MasterClass’ content (ordinarily $180) available for free.” MasterClass did not immediately respond to an email asking about its feelings on the site.
MSCHF has used piracy as a hook for projects in the past. In March, it launched a pirate streaming service that aired shows from Netflix, Hulu, HBO, and more. In May, the group aired recreations of episodes of The Office inside of a Slack channel.
MasterWiki is more a send-up of MasterClass’ aspirational, star-studded streaming service than it is a pirated alternative (though I’m sure MasterClass won’t be happy either way). Frank Gehry’s architecture course looks a lot more ridiculous when it’s filled with crude drawings and broken-out tips like “putting trees all over [buildings] helps retain their humanity,” and one has to imagine that RuPaul’s advice on being your true self is a lot more compelling when you hear it spoken aloud.
But if you’ve ever wondered what’s hidden behind MasterClass’ paywall, MasterWiki offers some strange semblance of a look inside.
Comments
Whilst masterclass isn’t worth the fee it doesn’t deserve to be stolen here. People deserve to be paid for their work.
By theratchetnclank on 08.10.20 3:02pm
Pretty sure its legal. Cliff Notes never had to pay anything to the original publishers of the books they created "Notes" versions for, its covered under fair use.
By makhay on 08.10.20 5:40pm
If their "work" is fully replicated in 12 simple power point slides, it’s not much of a work. I suspect, in this case, there’s more to the work.
By Budo on 08.11.20 3:52am
Is there a point these guys are trying to make? Because it’s just outright theft otherwise.
By bottleHeD on 08.10.20 3:47pm
First, it’s not theft. If I give you a dramatic summary of the latest Avengers movie, Disney can’t sue me. By that same token, if I learn something from someone, I am allowed to teach it to someone else. Knowledge, even secrets, can’t be copyrighted.
Second, no, these guys don’t have a point. They are an ad firm masquerading as an arts collective. Their work is about going viral for its own sake. They have mastered the careful art of appearing to do something shocking while avoiding making any kind of statement that would challenge anyone. Everyone, including the press, falls for it every time, but it makes no impact and is immediately forgotten.
By Mark LaCroix on 08.10.20 9:07pm
Now that art’s dead, it’s left to the jackals.
By Omnicog on 08.10.20 10:20pm
The cartoons are wikihows unique style. And other articles like this are not anything new. You get way less insights compared to real MasterClass and just ideas are barely protectable.
Don’t sell your stonks yet.
By H Y P E on 08.11.20 6:08am
I just entered and read some articles, and now I’m thankful for never spending a penny on Masterclass.
By Rodolfo Oliveira on 08.11.20 10:21am