“Venues for book reviewing seem to be increasing exponentially on the Web. And though online book reviewers in the past often seemed amateurish in the extreme, quality as well as quantity is improving all the time.”
Tag: 05.04.08
Chicago’s Artropolis Makes Progress
“It was so big that several exhibitors who were disappointed in their sales speculated that the fair’s giganticism meant that the pie of the collector’s spending power was cut into too many slices.”
Kevin Spacey Apologizes To Andrew Lloyd Webber
Spacey had previously criticised the reality shows as a “13-week promotion for a musical.” Lloyd Webber is currently on the judging panel for I’d Do Anything which sees hopefuls compete for a role in the musical version of Oliver Twist.
Rushdie: Death Threat Made Me Better Person
“Sir Salman Rushdie has confessed how he emerged a better person after being under a fatwa that saw him live a life in virtual seclusion for almost a decade.”
Saudi First: Live Mozart In Front Of A Mixed-Gender Audience
“A German-based quartet staged Saudi Arabia’s first-ever performance of European classical music in a public venue before a mixed-gender audience. The concert, held at a government-run cultural center Friday night, broke many taboos in a country where public music is banned and the sexes are segregated even in lines at fast-food outlets.”
Why Mark Rylance Left Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
He was suddenly out in 2006. No explnation. Now he says it was his “vocal opposition” to the Iraq war as well as his controversial theory about whether William Shakespeare actually wrote his plays that led to his resignation.
Orchestras As A Danger To Hearing
Years ago, “there wasn’t as much expected out of an orchestra. There wasn’t so much sound.” Now both instruments and techniques have improved. We’re putting out more sound. Conductors like it. Audiences like it.”
Artists Lament Passing Of Polaroid
“Several weeks ago, the diminished Polaroid Corporation announced it will, in 2009, quit the instant-film business. Of course, it’s hard to argue with the ease of digital for the lion’s share of see-it-now picture-taking. Nevertheless, a lot of photographers are vehement about what they’re losing.”
Canadian Tax Plan Could Deny Film Credits, Promote Censorship
In Canada, “a single sentence in a 560-page tax bill has brought a procession of film stars and directors to the Senate, has started a national debate about censorship, and may even provoke a federal election.”
Tough Times For Indie Film Producers
“The biggest problem facing us is the distribution of these pictures in America. The DVD business is flattening out; the theatrical business is becoming increasingly difficult for independent films. As the studios release more tentpole pictures, it really squeezes the independent films out of the marketplace and forces independent distributors to spend more money to get recognition in the marketplace.”