“For a while, there has been an increasing feeling that festivals have shifted too far from their original hippie-spirited ethos. The point was to offer an alternative reality. Now, it’s a slick industry. The television rights have been sold, and with that have come price rises, mass audiences and corporate domination – the antithesis of everything they stood for.”
Tag: 01.25.12
Time For Yet Another Obit For Rock Music?
“Rock music’s death certificate is signed with startling frequency. A year ago, after three rock songs featured in the 100 bestselling singles of 2009, the DJ Paul Gambaccini announced: “Rock as a prevailing style is part of music history.” This month, after rock’s share of album sales fell to 29.4% – its lowest proportion since 2003 – the obituarists came out once more.”
Abu Dhabi Approves Mega-Museum Projects
“The executive council of Abu Dhabi announced through its website on Monday that it had approved construction plans for its multi-billion-dollar vision for a cultural tourist center to be constructed on an island just off the coast of the city, a hub that will include branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre museums.”
Nothing Entertains Quite So Much As A Literary Dust Up
Here are five fun book prize judging controversies…
London’s National Theatre Wins More Than Half Of Critics’ Circle Awards
“For the past two years, the Royal Court has led the winners’ lists at these awards but the venue was not recognised in any category this year. Meanwhile, there was only one West End win – for Sheridan Smith for her performance in Flare Path at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.”
What This Year’s Oscar Nominations Say About The New Hollywood
“Most of this year’s nominees were developed by studios in-house, appearing to validate a renewed willingness in Hollywood to risk money on films that have little hope of breaking the $100 million ticket-sales barrier.”
The Art Of “Occupy”
There’s been a “flood of Occupy-related art that is pouring in, now that artists have had a chance to consider it and make the stuff. Your appreciation, or lack of it, will no doubt be clouded by your enthusiasm, or level of patience, for the protestors who camped out in town squares across the country starting last fall.”
Smithsonian Attendance Down Two Percent (But 29 Million Still Went)
“While slightly fewer people went to the museums, they seemed to be spending, according to the Smithsonian. Its business division, Smithsonian Enterprises had its 5th year of net growth, said Clough, and returned $29 million to the Smithsonian private accounts. The most successful units of the division are retail, then media and consumer products.”
Star Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Suddenly Quits
Principal dancer Sergei Polunin has surprised bosses at the Royal Ballet by resigning from his post, less than two years after he was promoted.
Abu Dhabi’s Suspended Museum Island Project Back On Track
“A long-delayed project to build three colossal museums” – including branches of the Guggenheim and the Louvre – “on an arid Persian Gulf island will be finished by 2017, officials say, realizing the designs of some of the world’s leading architects while underlining the ambitions of this city to emerge as a global capital.”