Isn’t the ‘crisis of democracy’ old news? Absolutely. It’s as ancient as democracy itself. Still, present circumstances raise the question as to whether we can look ahead to a time after the crisis. What does it mean to be ‘forward-looking’ in times like ours? The fear that drives much of contemporary political culture is caused by the disruptions that global complexity and a destabilised planet introduce into what was once called the body politic. – Eurozine
Author: Douglas McLennan
AMC Raises $100M, Slams Warner, And Says It’ll Be Out Of Money By January
In its latest warning cry, it said it needs $750 million “to remain viable” through 2021. Even if it raises that, it still risks bankruptcy next year if moviegoing doesn’t pick up — and Warner Bros. may have made that harder to accomplish. – Deadline
Why Are Literary Folk So Disdainful Of Self-Help Books?
Beth Blum makes a compelling case for self-help as an important “shadow genre” for literature – worthy of study in itself and also for what it reveals over time about readers’ habits, desires and values. – Times Literary Supplement
UK Moves To Protect Garden Treasures
As the growing popularity of metal detecting as a hobby meant that more historical objects were being found, museums have missed out on items of archaeological significance that did not fall within the law’s definition, including Bronze Age axes, Iron Age caldrons, and medieval weapons and jewelry. In 2017, 1,267 pieces went through the process in which a committee determines whether an item should be considered a treasure, up from 79 pieces in 1997. – The New York Times
Spoiler Alert: How Much Info In A Review Is Too Much?
“Spoiler culture” has become the preferred term for the angry whiplash of consumers who don’t want to know anything — and I mean anything — about a particular work of art or entertainment ahead of time. As a cultural phenomenon, spoiler culture has grown in scope and intensity along with the Internet, and it has now reached a level where it’s hard for people like me to get any work done. – Boston Globe
Denver’s Tattered Cover Book Store Sold
While local bookstores across the country shuttered in recent years, falling victim to lower prices offered by Amazon, Tattered Cover remained steadfast in its role as a locally owned shop known for drawing revered authors to Denver for book signings. – Denverite
The Ancient Monuments Of Karabakh Are Endangered In Latest Conflicts
Alongside the humanitarian crisis caused by the displacement of Armenians, this land transfer also threatens a large number of Armenian monuments located in Karvajar, Kashatagh, Hadrut and Aghdam provinces. – Apollo
Jon Podhoretz: Lessons About Movies From 40 Years As A Critic
“I’ve expressed a great many opinions in this magazine over the past 23 years, and looking back on them, I’m reminded of the fact that if you judge a movie critic by the accuracy of his opinions, you’re never going to like any movie critic ever.” – Washington Examiner
Are The Humanities Worth Saving? (A Rant)
“If we were living in a culture dominated by grown-ups, Martin Scorsese would be considered the purveyor of middle-brow forgettable fare rather than the gold standard of sophistication, and at least the childless among us would not even have to be aware of Spider-Man’s existence.” – Substack
What Theatre Learned About Being Online This Year
The Broadway productions of “Hamilton” and “What the Constitution Means to Me” reemerged as films that give a wider audience the best seats in the house. These are stage performances filmed and edited to preserve as much theatrical dynamism as possible. – Los Angeles Times