The third season, which stars Olivia Colman as the Queen, was watched in 21 million homes in its first four weeks. That was 40% more than saw the second season over the same time period, Netflix said. – BBC
Tag: 01.22.20
New Crop Of Plays Treats History Of Blacks In Britain
“From an African girl who was ‘gifted’ to Queen Victoria to a slave who took on his master in a British court, several little-known but remarkable chapters of black British history are being put in the spotlight on stage this year.” – BBC
Recent Listening In Brief: Yelena Eckemoff
Yelena Eckemoff, Nocturnal Animals (L&H Productions)
Russian-born pianist and composer Eckemoff, long a New York resident, collaborates with a superb rhythm section of Scandinavian musicians. They are inspired by creatures that populate the world’s forests of the night. – Doug Ramsey
Enrollment In Art History Programs Down 28 Percent In UK
The number of UK domicile first year students (first degree) selecting historical and philosophical subjects fell by 5% between 2017-18 and 2018-19, contributing to a 17.5% decline in popularity over the past ten years. Tucked within this category sits art history, which fared a particularly rocky 28.5% drop over the decade. Between 2017-18 and 2018-19, Languages also fell by 6.2%, whilst creative arts and design saw a 1.5% decline. Conversely, business and administrative Studies saw a 7% growth from last year’s figures, with agriculture and medicine also growing in popularity. – The Art Newspaper
Terry Jones Of ‘Monty Python’ Dead At 77
“After huge success with Python in the 1970s and early ’80s, including [directing and acting in] the feature films Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Life of Brian and The Meaning of Life, Jones went on to work on a huge variety of projects. With [Michael] Palin, he created the successful TV series Ripping Yarns and forged a post-Python directorial career with Personal Services, Erik the Viking and The Wind in the Willows. He made a series of TV documentaries (specialising in medieval history), wrote nearly 20 children’s books, and contributed a string of comment pieces for the Guardian and Observer denouncing the ‘war on terror’.” – The Guardian
Bullying, Extortion, Rape: Case Of Ousted Recording Academy CEO Gets Uglier As Both Sides’ Explosive Allegations Mount
Last week, Deborah Dugan was placed on “administrative leave” following what the Academy’s board called “serious concerns” about her mistreatment of staff. Dugan responded by filing an EEOC complaint saying she was being retaliated against after reporting numerous dishonest practices at the Academy. Now Dugan’s interim replacement alleges that she only reported the allegedly improper practices after a staffer formally complained about her behavior, and another source claims she demanded $22 million to drop her allegations of impropriety (her side denies this). Meanwhile, Dugan now charges that her predecessor was accused of rape by a recording artist and that the Academy’s attorney sexually harassed her. – Slate
Beware Arrogance
There exists in the hearts and minds of at least some in the nonprofit arts sector a sense that the work they present is superior to most or all popular culture — and that those who patronize such culture are inferior. This sets up a monumental barrier to connecting with new communities. And even if it is unconscious and unspoken, the attitude itself is easy for people to spot when it is directed at them. – Doug Borwick
Allan Bloom, Identity Politics, and “Closed Minds”
After many years, I recently re-opened The Closing of the American Mind and discovered that Allan Bloom was prophetic. In effect, he prophesied identity politics and political rectitude – and closed minds and “impoverished souls.” – Joseph Horowitz