“In its proud and glorious mid-70s Manhattan heyday, disco was far more than that. It was a four-on-the-four bassline, euphoric strings, fierce cowbells and a soaring vocal straight out of the church and on to the dancefloor. More importantly it created a place – or rather it soundtracked a space – outside the mainstream. A place where black, Hispanic, gay and any combination thereof could come together and dance, love and just be without fear.”
Tag: 02.25.12
The Meryl Streep Problem
“The issue isn’t really one of authenticity. Streep can be piercing in grief, as her searing Oscar-winning performance in “Sophie’s Choice” attests. But her characterizations are so well calculated that they call attention to their own artistry. The dancer is always distinguishable from the dance.”
Scotland’s “Margaret Thatcher” Steps Down From The Country’s National Library
“Mr. Anderson’s tenure has seen a long-running battle, between a corporatist management approach that has forced through change in a digital era and old-guard librarians who cherish their love of books and archives.” And it hasn’t been pretty.
Moving Beyond The Library To Become A Center Of Community Life
“With a bit of reverence, librarians carefully wind an antique library clock near the circulation desk in a temple of learning called the Providence Athenaeum. This is one of the oldest libraries in the United States, a 19th-century library with the soul of a 21st-century rave party. In fact, the Rhode Island institution has been called a national model for civic engagement.”
Kenneth Price, 77, L.A. Artist Who Transformed The World Of Ceramics
“His organic and geometric forms, use of vibrant colors and provocative installation motifs speak of a thorough knowledge and embrace of critical aspects of ceramic history and its shifting place in art’s continuum. Price’s exquisitely crafted art, often leavened by erotic wit, simply accepted clay’s sculptural bona fides.”
To Think Better, Get Outside Of The Box (Physically Outside. Go!)
“Although we’re only starting to grasp how catchphrases shape how people think, it’s possible to begin prescribing some novel suggestions to enhance creativity. For instance, if we’re performing a job that requires some ‘outside the box’ thinking, we may have to avoid working in cubicles.”
Tourists Rarely See The Louvre’s Sunny Face – Because They Enter At The Building’s Rear
“Of the millions of people who visit the Louvre each year, few ever realize that they have entered through the rear. According to the plans of Louis XIV and his ministers, Cardinal Jules Mazarin and Jean-Baptiste Colbert, the grand entrance was to be the East Front, a magnificent and perfectly preserved structure that is surely the most distinguished part of the entire Louvre complex and one of the grandest examples of architectural classicism in the world.”
Theodore Mann, 87, Off-Broadway Producer
Mann, who founded the Circle in the Square theatre and its acting school, altered the landscape of theatre in New York and revived the reputation of Eugene O’Neill.
Ailey’s New Artistic Director Takes ‘Revelations’ Home To Florida
Robert Battles carried a hammer in his dance bag as he walked to high school in Miami. “I was nervous about being picked on. And it gave me a certain confidence that I could be tough when I needed to be.” Now he returns to his high school to give dance students a different kind of confidence.
Yes, The Oscars Still Have A Problem With Women
Thought that all ended with Hurt Locker a couple of years ago? Think again.