As much as we may want to believe that people are truly creative beings who appreciate the unconventional and revel in the revolutionary, the facts of modern life say otherwise, according to Lisa Rochon. “We’ve settled deeply into our La-Z-Boys and clicked on a lifetime of architectural reruns. It’s Tim Hortons, it’s Starbucks, it’s the Gap, it’s Home Depot, it’s tract housing and towers for as far as the land rolls on… To suggest that people are desperate for an alternative is to romanticize the reality.” Whose fault is it? Well, not to put too fine a point on it, but, um, Americans, actually, with our “development of ecologically sensitive land to exploit for the android architecture of the suburbs and big-box retailers which destroy the Mom and Pop stores of the downtown.”
Tag: 05.14.03
SARS Fears Wreaking Havoc With Canadian Festivals
Canada’s Shaw and Stratford Festivals, both based in Southern Ontario, have been hit hard by the SARS outbreak in the province. Ticket sales have plummeted, thanks in large part to the festivals’ American regulars who have been staying away for fear of exposure to the virus. But both the Shaw and the Stratford insist that sales are returning to normal, and neither anticipates much long-term harm to their bottom lines.
Monette To Stay On At Stratford
“Richard Monette made Canadian theatre history yesterday as he became the longest-serving artistic director in the 51-year history of the Stratford Festival. Monette, who has been at the helm for the past 10 seasons, will keep his post until 2007.”
TWoP In Twouble?
Television Without Pity is that rarest of internet beasts – a funny, useful, and popular web site with a large staff, a coherent mission, and a bevy of devoted readers who hang on every word. But all of that may not be enough to save the site, which specializes in detailed (and unabashedly sarcastic) recaps of the action on more than three dozen TV shows. TWoP is successful, yes, but it’s still heavily in debt, and considering its harshly independent style, it’s unlikely that its creators can look to Hollywood itself for help. The site’s co-founder says future prospects will be reevaluated after May sweeps end in a couple of weeks.
Sydney Opera House Considered For World Heritage Designation
The Sydney Opera House is being considered for World Heritage listing. “Australia already has 14 World Heritage sites but they are mostly natural and cultural icons. The Government said listings boost the economy and continue to form ‘our national identity . . . that we are morally bound to pass on to future generations’.”
That Future Where They Burn Books – Fifty Years Later
Fifty years after its publication, Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451” remains “a favorite of teachers who assign it to English classes and librarians who appreciate its celebration of literacy as the hallmark of civilization. The public loves it, too. Last year, ‘Fahrenheit 451’ reached No. 1 on the Los Angeles Times best-seller list after Mayor Jim Hahn made it the centerpiece of a citywide reading program. Mr. Bradbury insists that the purpose of “Fahrenheit 451″ was not to prophesy. ‘I wasn’t trying to predict the future. I was trying to prevent it.’ In one immediate sense, he failed.”