“One might have thought that the television industry, with its history of rapid adaptation to technological change, would have become a center of innovation for the next radical transformation in communication. It did not. Nor did the ability to transmit pictures, voices, and stories from around the world to living rooms in the U.S. heartland produce a nation that is more sophisticated about global affairs. Instead, the United States is arguably more isolated and less educated about the world than it was a half-century ago. In a time of such broad technological change, how can this possibly be the case?”
Category: today’s top story
This Year’s Question For The World
Every year John Brockman asks some of the world’s leading thinkers a question and publishes the answers. This year’s question: “When thinking changes your mind, that’s philosophy. When God changes your mind, that’s faith. When facts change your mind, that’s science. What have you changed your mind about? Why?”
Writers To Return To Letterman Show
The production company behind CBS’s late-night talk shows with David Letterman and Craig Ferguson has struck a side deal with the writers’ union which will allow the shows’ writers to return to work in the New Year. The deal puts pressure on other networks (notably, NBC and Comedy Central) to work out similar deals, lest their late-night hosts be forced to work without a script.
Golden Globes May Not Be Telecast
The writers’ strike may not cancel the Golden Globe Awards next month, but it has the potential to render it a non-event. “Indeed, whether the Globes will be broadcast has come into doubt.”
A Different Way Of Thinking About Classical Music’s Place In The World
“With some holdouts, the official intellectual world has decided that if most people no longer think classical music is more complex and deep than any other music, then it isn’t. They raise the dread specter of “elitism”, that politically-correct but intellectually dishonest category that condemns the smarty pants who thinks he or she may have more knowledge and understanding about art than the untutored folk themselves.”
Egypt Plans To Copyright The Pyramids
“Egypt is planning to pass a law that would exact royalty payments from anyone found making copies of the country’s ancient monuments or museum pieces, including the pyramids.”
ArtsJournal Holiday Schedule
ArtsJournal will be taking Christmas day and Boxing Day off. Postings and newsletters will resume December 27th. Happy Holidays.
The Obtuse Way We Talk About Art
“When it comes to fashionably obtuse language, the art world is one of the leading offenders. Academic pretensions flash through like brush fire, without a drop of cold water splashed their way.”
Study Dispels The Idea Of A “Cultural Elite”
“We find little evidence for the existence of a cultural elite who would consume ‘high’ culture while shunning more ‘popular’ cultural forms.”
British Council To Disband Some Departments
“One of Britain’s most successful and prestigious arts bodies is about to be destroyed – and wantonly, by crass bureaucrats who seem to be unable to grasp what is at stake. This is happening at a time in history when it has never been more important for Britain to strengthen its cultural ties with other countries.”