Can A TV Show Make Kids Smarter?

“Here is what we know of kids’ TV: it is bad and ruinous to health, it can lead to obesity, and is ultimately a poor substitute for what all our offspring really desire – the attention of their parents. There have been studies published to suggest that overexposure to television can have many detrimental effects, and can even hinder speech development in the very young. Here is something else we know of kids’ TV: that while it may prove temporarily diverting to our children, it is nothing less than torture for the rest of us.”

Where Is the Creativity In Today’s Visual Arts?

“Although there is a great deal of discussion about the concept of creativity, and about intellectual property as an exploitable resource, surprisingly the role of the visual arts in advancing this has been marginalised during the past decade. While other disciplines and professions have adopted the concepts of creativity and innovation, and used those words with tedious frequency, the visual arts sector has stepped back from the plate with the result that others have taken guardianship of these concepts.”

What Defines A Classic (Performance)

Great performances depend, in large part, on reverse projection. We often talk about an actor projecting this or that emotion, but that’s not the only way it works. Watch a movie star, especially during a close-up reaction shot, and you’re likely to see his or her face holding still, staying neutral so as not to give too much away. We’re the ones who are doing the projecting, and what we detect, bouncing back like radar returns from the actor’s face, is our own empathetic response — what we feel the character is feeling.