“A personality test for narcissism given to college students every year shows an inexorable rise, with today’s students being on average 30 percent more narcissistic than the students of 1982. Substitute ‘self-esteem’ for ‘narcissism’ and the results suddenly look rosy, but you simply can’t, because all the $10 trophies and the lavish praise of mediocrity, or even failure, doesn’t really bolster kids’ self-worth. They drink the Kool-Aid, but they also know it.”
Tag: 05..11.07
Is Shakespeare Better Outside The UK?
Shakespeare’s plays have been adapted over the centuries to suit various audiences and societal changes. Peter Aspden says that over the last 100 years, American productions of Shakespeare have become ever more comfortable with a focus on the dark and supernatual side of the Bard. “All of which leads to the question: is Shakespeare’s homeland the best place to see Shakespeare? Can the English stage tradition, with its emphasis on verbal dexterity and intellectual rigour, actually cope with the dark side of its leading playwright?”
Burns Gives In To Latino Pressure
“Filmmaker Ken Burns reached an agreement yesterday with two advocacy organizations that have pressured him to amend his World War II documentary to include more material about Latinos’ contribution to the American war effort… Burns had faced mounting pressure from activist groups, elected officials and several corporate underwriters over the lack of Latino representation in the film, which focuses on the wartime experiences of people in four U.S. towns.”
Canada Backing Off CanCon Rules?
Canada’s broadcast regulator says that it is prepared to take a more hands-off approach, so long as the country’s broadcasters respect the rules in place. “Observers said the regulator appears to be avoiding a complete deregulation of the TV sector, which critics of the industry have feared would lead to less support for Canadian programming.”
Aspen To Lose Comedy Fest
“The U.S. Comedy Arts Festival, the biggest and most prestigious event of its kind in the country, is abruptly leaving [Aspen, Colorado] after 13 years.” The cost of lodging and life in the tony ski resort town appears to have been a major factor in the decision, but no replacement city has yet been named.
Sketching A Career
“What exactly do you do with a $30,000 diploma from cartoon college?” That’s the question facing the first graduating class at Vermont’s Center for Cartoon Studies. “Graphic novels and comics are one of the fastest-growing sectors of publishing… But it’s a tough business to break into.”
Whither The Cover Art?
As downloads eclipse CD sales, the artists whose work graces the covers of albums are scrambling to adjust to an uncertain digital future. The album cover as a monolithic concept may be on the way out, but there appears to be limitless potential for new ideas and innovations.
Guggenheim Looks To Preserve Its History
“As the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation gears up for its 70th anniversary next month, its officials have been pondering its legacy.” Steps are being taken to preserve that legacy, notably the designation of more than 600 works as core items in the collection, not to be sold or transferred for any reason.
Schomberg Renovation Reflects Harlem’s Rise
Harlem’s Schomberg Center for Research in Black Culture has been an anchor in the area’s cultural life for decades, and this week, the center unveils the results of its two-year, $11m renovation. “As the Schomburg unveils its facelift, Harlem itself is also undergoing one of its periodic renaissances.”
Rattling Cages In Berlin
“In his five years with the Berlin Philharmonic, Simon Rattle has grappled with conservative critics and the language barrier… What he is attempting is to have it both ways: to open Berlin up as an orchestra in terms of its repertoire and its relationship with the city, and develop the ensemble as the definitive orchestra in the core German tradition. It’s not something you can do in five years, or even 10: it’s a project that could last Rattle the rest of his musical life.”