“No particular era now dominates. We live in a post-era era without forms of its own powerful enough to brand the times. The zeitgeist of 2012 is that we have a lot of zeit but not much geist. I can’t believe I just wrote that last sentence, but it’s true; there is something psychically sparse about the present era, and artists of all stripes are responding with fresh strategies.”
Tag: 03.11.12
Has Broadway Ruined Us For New Musicals?
“The American musical had its origins as popular entertainment, coming from vaudeville and operetta, and while it has always been primarily a for-profit business, it was an essential part of the cultural landscape. Over the past few decades, however, the market reach of musicals has been reduced to a very specific niche market while the artistic ambitions of the artists that create it have continued to grow and evolve.” But without a Broadway-style band, forget it.
Noise Weakens The Sense Of Taste (Is This Why Airline Food Has Such A Bad Rep?)
“A study conducted by the food company Unilever and the University of Manchester wanted to find out whether background sounds affect the perception of flavor. They found that people rated foods less salty and less sweet as noise levels increased. When noise levels decreased, the perception of those tastes increased.”
Interest In New Barnes Foundation Soars (And The Place Doesn’t Open For Two More Months)
“The $150 million gallery officially opens May 19, and tickets have been moving briskly to Barnes members since Feb. 1. … In March 2009, membership totaled 390; today, there are about 15,000 members.”
Venerable Vancouver Theatre Shuts Down
“The closure will mean layoffs for about 15 permanent staff, a loss of work for about 200 contractors, and ripple effects across the theatre community in Vancouver and beyond.”
The British Arts Rest In His (Generous, And Ageing) Hands
“The name Jerwood is ubiquitous in the arts, adorning playhouses, dance studios, rehearsal spaces, student bursaries, prizes ranging from drawing to dance, exhibitions and now an art gallery. Jerwood is the great enabler, the crucial partner without which the Royal Court would have closed. And Jerwood is controlled absolutely by a single, 84-year-old retired lawyer, driving it on a path of cultural philanthropy.”
Frank Lloyd Wright, Doghouse Architect
“Frank Lloyd Wright designed hundreds of landmark buildings and homes during a prolific career that spanned more than 70 years. But in what is widely considered a first and only for the famed architect, Wright indulged a young boy’s humble request for a doghouse in 1956 and sent him designs.”
Salman Rushdie Says E-book Antitrust Lawsuit Will Destroy Authors
“Seems that the US Justice Dept wants to destroy the world of books,” he wrote on his Twitter page.
“Anyone who thinks that fair pricing that allows authors to make a living is a cabal or cartel system is deep in the grip of Napsterism.”
Wearing The Costumes And Eating The Food – But Is This History At All Real?
Re-enactors of the War of 1812 create a history for Canada. But “the reality is murkier. Canadians weren’t yet Canadians. The term was still applied mostly to francophones, and when Upper Canada was created in 1791 – a mere eight years after the U.S. War of Independence ended – it was designed more as a bulwark against the American expansionists than a statement of New World identity.”
E-book Customers May Be Happy For A While, But The Big Winner Will Be Amazon
And that’s not necessarily a good thing for authors – or readers.