Rates of pay haven’t increased, as the cost of living continues to climb and, anecdotally, some arts workers are being asked by funders to justify their salaries, in a way that wouldn’t be required, at that level of remuneration, in any other industry. So why is it considered not only acceptable, but entirely appropriate in the arts? – Irish Times
Tag: 06.01.19
Pro And Con Protesters Clash Over Drag Queen Story Hour At Small-Town Maine Bookstore
“About 50 people packed the inside of the Children’s Book Cellar, where is was shoulder to shoulder, like a rainbow mosh pit. Ophelia, a drag queen from Topsham, read from two books about inclusion.” “Across the street, another much smaller group, called An End to Child Indoctrination at the Cellar Bookstore, said their message was not about hating anyone.” – The Morning Sentinel (Waterville, Maine)
The Celebrity Hologram – What Does This Say About How We Think About Fame?
It’s a given that celebrity image is built on smoke and mirrors. But we’re in a curious spot today, where the music industry is manoeuvering to convince audiences that the veneer of an artist’s presence is a compelling substitute to watching a flesh-and-blood performance. Enter the pop star hologram. – The Guardian
A Conservative Writer Makes An Anti-Market Argument About Jeff Koons
Matthew Scully: “Actually, if there’s political insight to be gleaned from all this, it probably has more to do with inflatable reputations, gullible audiences, and the spell of progressive groupthink — problems that grow only more hopeless with money.” National Review Online
Was 1999 The Best Year Ever For Movies?
Brian Raftery makes a persuasive, entertaining case for the enduring impact of a passel of classics, from “American Beauty” to “American Movie” to “American Pie.” Among them: “The Matrix,” “The Sixth Sense,” “Boys Don’t Cry,” “Three Kings,” “Being John Malkovich,” “The Best Man,” “The Insider,” “The Virgin Suicides,” “Magnolia” and “Election.” – The New York Times
US Will Now Require Visa Applicants To Reveal Their Social Media Accounts
Previously, only applicants who needed additional vetting – such as people who had been to parts of the world controlled by terrorist groups – would need to hand over this data. But now applicants will have to give up their account names on a list of social media platforms, and also volunteer the details of their accounts on any sites not listed. – BBC
Musicians Aren’t Making Money Selling Music, So Why Not Sell Pot?
The streaming wars, in which artists haven’t made much off of their actual music, take a weird turn: “‘Many artists sell clothes or shoes, some sell wine and beer, others advertise for fast-food companies,’ explains Third Man-signed country singer Margo Price, who has a strain named after her last album All American Made. ‘Me, I’m into selling a plant that God grows.'” Classical musicians, are you listening? – The Guardian (UK)
Tony DeLap, Who Made A Name, And Space, For Abstract Art On The West Coast, Has Died At 91
DeLap, whose finely finished pieces sit at the intersection of sculpture and painting, minimalism and abstract expressionism, was the first art professor hired at UC Irvine and influenced many, many artists, including Bruce Nauman and James Turrell. (Then there was his obsession with magic and illusions, including in his artwork.) – Los Angeles Times
How They Filmed That Huge ‘Rocketman’ Scene At Dodgers Stadium
This is what happens, the director says, “when you choose to take Elton John’s story and turn it into a phantasmagorical dancing play rather than a standard biographical picture.” Bring on the glitter. – Vulture
Will The U.S. Ever Get Net Neutrality Back?
Advocates for net neutrality say it just needs a big push from the public – support is high, and no one believes the FCC. But on the Senate floor, Mitch McConnell says legislation restoring net neutrality is “dead on arrival.” – Wired