“In his new book, … Diamond questions the practice of psychologists who base their claims about human nature entirely on people from WEIRD – Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic – societies. … So far, this sounds pretty much like an embrace of the cross-cultural diversity that we anthropologists work to understand, even to celebrate. So what’s the backlash all about?”
Tag: 01.17.13
Five Rules For Making Interactive Theatre
“Done well, interactive theatre is extraordinary: engaging, exhilarating and transcendent. All too often, however, so-called ‘interactive’ shows are sloppy and ineffective. They feel loose – anarchic even – when they actually demand a rigorous approach.”
The Celebrity Judge (It’s Not About The Judging)
“Having talent and judging talent are not the same thing, which was the dynamic upon which the whole enterprise rested. With a few exceptions (Christina Aguilera is a range snob, for instance), the pop stars on the panels these days often don’t seem to be much more musically discriminating than the audience at home. “
The Football Star And His Made-Up Relationship (It’s The Internet’s Fault)
“The Internet is the cause of much of today’s commitment-free, surface-only living; it’s also the explanation for why someone could tumble head-over-heels for a pixelated cipher.”
Russia Held In Contempt Of Court In Case That Led To US Art Loan Ban
“A federal judge in Washington declared the Russian government in contempt of court for ignoring his 2010 order that it must return a disputed massive archive of historic religious books and manuscripts known as the Schneerson Collection to the New York-based [Hasidic organization] Chabad. The judge imposed fines of $50,000 a day.”
Arts Council England Exec Takes New Job While Collecting Sabbatical Pay
“An Executive Director of Arts Council England (ACE) … has been allowed to join her new organisation as its Chief Executive whilst on a six-month sabbatical being paid for by ACE.” Andrea Stark will receive her six-figure salary through June, when she becomes eligible for a six-figure redundancy payment.
National Theatre To Have Record-Breaking Eight Plays In London At Once
“For the first time ever, the National Theatre will have four productions running simultaneously in the West End from March … With another four shows playing in repertoire at its South Bank premises, the National Theatre will have a total of eight shows open across the capital. However, that figure could yet hit double-figures.”
Anna Deavere Smith Wins $300K Gish Prize
The selection committee for the prize cited the actress/playwright/author/educator for creating “what is in some ways a new art form” – documentary theater, with scripts assembled verbatim from interviews – “to address today’s major social issues.”
What George Orwell Got Wrong: Writing Style
“Orwell’s assault on political euphemism, then, is righteous but limited. His more general attacks in Politics on what he perceives to be bad style are often outright ridiculous, parading a comically arbitrary collection of intolerances.”
First-Ever Crowdfunded Theatre Opens In South London
“Matthews Yard in Croydon has raised nearly £8,000 in just over a month through online pledge system Kickstarter to put towards a new performance space … housed in a disused basement that was previously part of a supermarket.”