Ohio State University decided to pick a single book that its freshmen would all read. But the project of choosing that book has unraveled. “The suggestion of one member of the book selection committee that an anti-gay book be picked angered many faculty members, some of whom have filed harassment charges against the person who nominated that book. The faculty members in turn are being accused of trying to censor a librarian — and a conservative group is threatening to sue.”
Tag: 04.14.06
Does “Physics For Poets” Kill Students’ Appreciation For Science?
The classic “Physics for Poets” classes at universities are an attempt to give liberal arts majors a smattering of science. But, writes Edward Morley, “despite the effort we put into providing classes that are both relevant and informative, I am troubled by the subtext of these classes. By their very existence, these classes send two damaging messages to students in other disciplines: first, that science is something alien and difficult, the exclusive province of nerds and geeks; and second, that we will happily accommodate their distaste for science and mathematics, by providing them with special classes that minimize the difficult aspects of the subject.”
Our Memoirist Age
What do publishers want to publish these days? “Memoirs have been strong sellers throughout this decade. But this year, publishers plan to put out twice as many as last year – there are likely to be as many as 40, according to Simba Information, a book-tracking company.”
Boston Station Expands Classical Programming
We hear about classical music dying on radio. But Boston’s WGBH is expanding its classical music offerings. The station is launch a new high-definition station to offer more classical music programming…
“Producers” To Hit Vegas
A year ago Las Vegas was being talked up as the new Broadway as high-profile shows opened in fancy theatres built for them. It hasn’t exactly worked out as planned. But producers of “The Producers” are still eager to give the Silver State a try with a 90-minute version of the Broadway hit. “The intermissionless Las Vegas version of the musical, which has a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan and a score by Brooks, will be directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, who also supervised the original stage production.”
Opus Dei Asks Sony For Da Vinci Code Disclaimer
Opus Dei, the Catholic order portrayed in “The Da Vinci Code” as murderers, have asked Sony to issue a disclaimer that its forthcoming movie is “entirely fictional.” “Such a decision by Sony would be an expression of respect toward Jesus Christ, the history of the Church and the religious beliefs of viewers.”
Canadian Government Stops Talk By Scientist/Novelist
Canada’s Environment minister has blocked a talk by a leading government environmental scientist about his novel. The book “is set in the not-too-distant future when global warming has made many parts of the world too hot to live in and has prompted a war between Canada and the U.S. over water resources.”
Smelled Any Good Movies Lately?
Japanese cinemas are adding smell to their theatres. “Seven fragrances will waft from machines under back row seats during historical adventure The New World. A floral smell will accompany love scenes, with a mixture of peppermint and rosemary for tear-jerking moments. Cinemas across the country will be able to download programmes to control various sequences of fragrances for other upcoming films.”
Have All The Original Films Been Done?
Is it true that all the movie ideas have been taken and that “all of the great artistic statements have been made, and today’s artists are capable only of rehashing what was done in the past?” Dan Brown disagrees: “It saddens me that there are people who actually believe originality is over. The necessary corollory to that line of thought, of course, is that we should simply give up making films and every other kind of art. But I think this is all just a smokescreen…”
Chronicling A Balletic Legacy
One of London’s leading dance critics has penned an authoritative history of the UK’s Royal Ballet, and among the pleasant surprises along the way was the realization that she was researching a living history. “The Royal Ballet’s comparative youth means it’s possible to speak to people who were there in its earliest years… And it was an extraordinary generation. Besides Fonteyn and Nureyev, it had the elegant, perfectly matched Antoinette Sibley and Anthony Dowell, the sharply musical Merle Park. It had the potently dramatic Lynn Seymour, the muse of the company’s second defining choreographer, Kenneth MacMillan.”