“In recent months American wine drinkers have taken their turn as pop culture’s punching bags. In press accounts of two studies on wine psychology, consumers have been portrayed as dupes and twits, subject to the manipulations of marketers, critics and charlatan producers who have cloaked wine in mystique and sham sophistication in hopes of better separating the public from its money.”
Tag: 05.07.08
Chicago’s About Face Snags Prominent Director
“About Face Theatre is expected to announce Thursday that Bonnie Metzgar will be the new artistic director of the company. And the Chicago theater scene will have snagged another new recruit of national stature, especially in the field of new plays.”
Russia To Spend $177 Million To Restore Pushkin Museum
The Russian government says it will spend more than $177 million US to restore the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts, Moscow’s largest museum of European art.
One Toronto Theatre Giant Sues Another Giant
“Claiming conspiracy, fraud, a breach of the Competition Act and irreparable harm, Toronto theatre impresario Aubrey Dan is seeking an injunction to block the sale of the Canon and Panasonic Theatres to his downtown rival, David Mirvish.”
Actors And Studios Let Negotiation Deadline Pass
“Negotiations between Hollywood studios and the Screen Actors Guild were dashed Tuesday when contract talks ended on a bitter note, fueling anxiety over the prospect of another strike. After three weeks of talks, studios walked away from the table, saying that negotiations were ‘thrust into reverse’ by what they called ‘unreasonable demands’.”
UK Waives Visas For Actors And Musicians
“Foreign actors and musicians will not need to obtain a visa when coming to the UK for less than three months, the Home Office has announced. Instead, temporary visitors, including performers, will only need a certificate of sponsorship from a UK-based employer when new visa rules are enforced this autumn.”
A Record First Week For A Video Game
So the movie Iron Man sold $100 million in tickets its opening weekend. Okay. But the video game Grand Theft Auto IV grossed $500 million in worldwide sales its first week.
Five Finalists Chosen For Oversized Sculpture Project (A Horse?)
“Turner Prize winner Mark Wallinger is among internationally-acclaimed artists shortlisted for the Ebbsfleet Landmark. He is proposing a white horse, 33 times life-size, which would look out over the Ebbsfleet Valley and mark the new Ebbsfleet International station.”
Does English Dominate The World?
“We are used to hearing about globalisation and the Americanisation (and therefore the Englishing) of popular culture. Opponents of these forces perceive the spread of English as linguistic imperialism; it erodes traditions and cultural identities. Those who fear this spread connect it with Christianity, colonialism and America’s political and military interventionism. But is this right?”
A New Concert Venue Aims To Change How Music Is Presented in London
“Whether it works or not at first, Kings Place represents a credible alternative to the state-funded arts elephant and its discredited zoo-keeper, the Arts Council. It marks the start of a cultural economic revolution. There is no turning back.”