Historian and biographer Kathryn Hughes recounts the improbable career and character of Lee Israel, a talented and diligent biographer who turned into a talented and diligent criminal, alcoholic, and all-around train wreck. — The Guardian
Tag: 01.14.19
Nasty, Brutish, And Short: Early Children’s Stories Were Shockingly Violent
“The history of children’s literature is a shocking affair, offering death, murder, abuse, death, racism, death, and damnation. … For most of history, authors have used their words to render children speechless. Some of the books scarred generations; some merely gave their readers insomnia that would last until puberty.” — Literary Hub
What We Gain And What We Lose With Peter Jackson’s Colorized World War One Footage
“Jackson asserts, reasonably, that if the cameramen of the Great War could have shot in color with sound, they would have. But such choices are trickier historically than they may seem. Most people looking at black-and-white footage of the war while it was going on never thought, Oh, if only this were in color, with sound! Any more than looking at it with color and sound now, we say, ‘Oh, but if only you could smell it!'” — The New Yorker
Screen Actors Guild Accuses Academy Of ‘Intimidation’ Over Oscars
In a statement, SAG-AFTRA [the actors’ union] has claimed that an ‘extraordinary and unwarranted pressure’ is being placed on their members” — that is, that the Academy won’t invite any actor who presents a trophy at the SAG Awards to be a presenter at the Oscars. — The Guardian
Podcasters In Search Of A Business Model
Audiences for podcasts are growing quickly. And the number of podcasts is also exploding. Podcasters are scrambling to find ways to support their work and business models that work.
The Amazing Internet Radio Station With Almost Every Kind Of Music There Is
Joan Harvey sings the praises of the astounding variety of music to discover (and facts to learn) at Concertzender.nl. (We here at ArtsJournal can recommend it, too.) Yes, the site is in Dutch, but most of it is available in (sometimes quirky) English if you click on the tiny Union Jack in the upper right corner. — 3 Quarks Daily
Intentional Forgetting May Be A Good Strategy For Remembering
“Traditionally, forgetting has been regarded as a passive decay over time of the information recorded and stored in the brain. But while some memories may simply fade away like ink on paper exposed to sunlight, recent research suggests that forgetting is often more intentional, with erasure orchestrated by elaborate cellular and molecular mechanisms.” – The Atlantic
Is It Really A Good Idea To Demand That Only Gay Actors Play Gay Roles?
Ryan Gilbey points out some of the unintended consequences beyond the usual “it’s called acting for a reason” argument. As one out gay actor put it, “In the current cultural climate I am invited to participate only on the basis of my supposed oppression.” — The Guardian
Actors Union Threatens Broadway Strike. Is This An Overreach?
The union says actors wages for staged readings in developing projects haven’t increased since 2007. But it believes that actors in this early stage ought to get a cut of future profits. An interesting idea, but it immediately raises questions about who owns what and how they should be rewarded. – Clyde Fitch Report
In L.A. County, Using The Arts To Help Keep Kids Out Of Jail
“A one-year, $750,000 grant from the Ford Foundation’s Art for Justice Fund will help launch the Arts and Youth Development Project, intended to serve youth and families at risk of involvement or already involved with the juvenile justice system.” — Inside Philanthropy