Think of all the lawyers and business-people who populate Congress. But in the 20th Century there was only one architect served in Congress. Why not more? Hard to say – “The creative process of architects is a constructive, inclusive process – therefore more diplomatic than the aggressive and adversarial methods of engagement in politics … Yet they have always seemed to be supporting actors at best or bit players at worst, in the various dramas unfolding on society’s main stage…” – Boston Globe 10/05/00
Category: issues
THE POST-MODERNIST WEB
“In the postmodern realm of cyberspace no ‘grand’ narratives, all-encompassing stories, or over-pervasive myths either impose their guidance or legitimate specific approaches. We do not encounter in cyberspace such good old stories as the dialectic of the Spirit, the hermeneutics of meaning, the emancipation of the rational/working subject, or the creation of wealth.” –*spark-online 10/00
MUSIC CONSERVATORY ONLINE
A Canadian man has come up with software that allows teachers to teach music in real time over the internet. Keyboards plugged into computers allow immediate interaction between teacher and student, even if they’re thousands of miles away. – CBC 10/04/00
PLAYING TO THE CROWDS AT THE EXPENSE OF SCHOLARSHIP
The US’s National Endowment for the Humanities has been supporting popular traveling exhibitions in an attempt to reach out to audiences. “To many scholars, the idea that the endowment supports barn photography with enthusiasm while it considers cutting scholarly projects represents a terrible shift in priorities. And to these scholars, the shift couldn’t come at a worse time, since the agency is already short on cash, with a budget of only $115-million.” – Chronicle of Higher Education 10/02/00
PIERRE TRUDEAU AND THE ARTS
Artists reflect on Trudeau’s arts legacy. “Although he was not responsible for the initial commitment of the federal government to fund Canadian artists, he certainly made sure they were well supported during his years in office.” – CBC 10/02/00
TEAM PLAYERS
How many artists’ work would benefit from a good partnership? – New York Times 10/02/00
THE ART OF COMMUNICATING
“The answer to the problems facing humankind in the 21st century was not more action, but more talk. Not lectures, nor speeches, nor poetry, nor prose, nor song, nor stories, nor debates, nor testimony, nor prayer, nor trials, nor sales pitches, nor talking cures, nor motivational speakers. Only one type of speech was called for: Facing a new millennium, in the age of the internet, what was needed was more conversation.” – The Idler 10/02/00
WORLD ARTS CONFAB
“The Canada Council for the Arts unveiled its plans yesterday to host a World Summit on the Arts and Culture. Two thousand representatives of arts councils and funding bodies from more than 50 countries will meet in Ottawa this December.” – CBC 10/01/00
POLITICIANS AGREE ON VIOLENCE AND MEDIA
Aren’t politicians supposed to disagree? So what’s with all the concern over violence and the entertainment industry? “When you actually look back through the public record and study the candidates’ various utterances on this topic, the striking thing is how similar – virtually identical, in fact – their stated positions are.” – Hartford Courant 10/01/00
RALPH’S/FOOD 4 LESS CONCERT HALL?
Big donors are essential to financing art these days, particularly arts buildings and big opera productions. But the largesse as often as not comes with strings. Slapping a picture of your most prominent donor in the program is one thing. But renaming your home or producing art because a donor wants to fund it is something else. – Los Angeles Times 10/01/00