The new Cambridge History of Twentieth-Century English Literature weighs in at nearly 900 pages (and costs $160). This self-described “authoritative narrative” consists of forty-four long essays by academics renowned (Ronald Bush, e.g.) and obscure (most of the rest). How many trees do you suppose perished in order to bring this (according to the flap copy) “major event for anyone concerned with twentieth century literature” into being? It must be said that the index is only the beginning of what is wrong with this waste of wood pulp.”
Tag: 05.05
In Praise Of Elitism
“The elitism question is a complicated matter, not least because of the widely-observed paradox that claims of anti-elitism emanate from academics who write a language of deliberately clotted opaque jargon and make a parade of not particularly relevant erudition. It’s also complicated because the word elitism is thrown around with wild abandon with no particular definition being stipulated, as if its meaning were entirely transparent and self-evident and generally agreed on. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Elitism means a great many things, some of them perfectly incompatible with one another, with the result that the word does more to obfuscate discussion than to clarify it.”
The Selling Of Jeff Koons
Jeff Koons turned 50 this year. Though hye disappeared for a while in the 90s due to some personal problems, in recent years his work has been selling for millions of dollars. “How did an artist who sold his works for relatively modest prices two decades ago reach such peaks? Collectors, dealers, curators, and auction specialists who spoke with ARTnews say that Koons has masterminded his fame and fortune through a combination of charm, guile, and a talent for creating expensive art that inspires critical debate.”
While The World Dumbs Down We Get Smarter
IQ’s have been going steadily up for years. But why? “What part of our allegedly dumbed-down environment is making us smarter? It’s not schools, since the tests that measure education-driven skills haven’t shown the same steady gains. It’s not nutrition – general improvement in diet leveled off in most industrialized countries shortly after World War II.” So could it be… video games?
World Premieres – Why Bother?
“The unique claim of a concert being the only one of its kind because it contains the first hearing of a piece of music is the one hook that has proven to grab the attention of orchestras, opera companies, and chamber music presenters. With that label firmly affixed, contemporary music can be tolerated. Whether the new work flops is now hardly the matter. The assembled audience can at least say to an acquaintance that they heard the world premiere of such and such piece, even if they didn’t like it.” But does the “world premiere” concept really serve music in the longer term?