“Devotion, by the Taiwanese indie developer Red Candle Games, was released on 19 February and was initially popular among horror enthusiasts. However, the discovery of a number of hidden jokes” – in particular, a Chinese pun on the names of PRC president Xi Jinping and Winnie the Pooh – “has ignited a firestorm of online criticism.” Devotion has now been pulled from worldwide distribution. – The Guardian
Tag: 02.27.19
Alice Sheppard: Why I Dance
“Of course, nondisabled people appreciate this moment. But what it actually means to see and feel strapping on stage, to hear and recognize the sound of Velcro unfurling is different, more complex, for those of us in the disability community. For some, the choice to strap publicly was controversial, too private to show on stage; for others, it was revelatory, a moment of celebration. Strapping and intimacy became a regular aspect of post-show conversations.” – The New York Times
Research: Listening To Music Doesn’t Boost Creativity (In Fact It Hurts It)
Newly published research debunks the notion that listening to music can increase creativity. Its three studies suggest precisely the opposite, indicating that background music, with or without lyrics, “consistently disrupts creative performance in insight problems.” – Pacific Standard
Propwatch: the cigarettes and hoof pick in ‘Equus’
Ned Bennett’s galvanic production for English Touring Theatre and Stratford East sets Peter Shaffer’s play at the time of the 1973 premiere, and the production’s props assemble like a toolkit of the 1970s and its discontents. So what’s in the 1970s toolkit? – David Jays
More Allegations About Daniel Barenboim And Bullying
The New York Times has communicated with seven former or current members of the Staatskapelle. All highlighted examples of Mr. Barenboim’s behavior that they said was bullying and went beyond what was normal for a conductor. – The New York Times
BBC And ITV Join Forces To Launch Rival Service To Netflix
“BritBox will mainly feature archive BBC and ITV shows, alongside new British commissions made especially for the service. There were no details on pricing; the announcement said it would be ‘competitive’. … Other broadcasters are expected to join the service later.” – The Guardian
Pit Violist’s Hearing-Loss Case Against Royal Opera House Has Industry Worried
Most complaints from orchestral musicians about hearing loss deal with gradual damage; this one involves “acoustic shock,” sudden damage caused, in this case, by a blast from the trumpets right behind the plaintiff during a rehearsal of Wagner’s Ring. A court found the ROH liable, though management is appealing; if the verdict is upheld, no one is quite sure how the industry can address the problem. Tim Bano looks into the issues. – The Stage