“The modern office of culture minister traces back to French writer André Malraux, who served under Charles de Gaulle starting in 1959 and pushed for what he called the ‘democratization of culture’–making the arts available to everyone, not just the elite. Since then, many countries have drawn culture ministers from the artistic community.”
Tag: 06.29.07
UK’s Largest CD Chain Store Closes
Fopp, “the chain of film and music shops, which began life as a market stall in a Glasgow shopping arcade 25 years ago, has closed its doors and appointed administrators. It said today that the chain of 81 stores staffed by some 800 people was profitable but still too short of cash to go on.”
Germany’s Tom Cruise Scientology Problem
Why is Tom Cruise having difficuly shooting a movie in Germany about the hero Col. Claus Schenk von Stauffenberg, the German Army officer who tried to blow up Hitler toward the end of World War II? “Stauffenberg for Germans is like Jefferson and Lincoln, motherhood, and apple pie all rolled into one. Germany is a country of established churches, and so Scientology is viewed as a cult and, worse, totalitarian and exploitative. A professing Scientologist in the role of Stauffenberg is like casting Judas as Jesus. It is secular blasphemy.”
The Samuel Beckett Of Jazz
Ornette Coleman’s music is, if anything, more radical now than it was then, but he was welcomed into the jazz establishment long ago, albeit not to universal approval. This year he received a lifetime achievement Grammy in addition to a Pulitzer prize and MacArthur Foundation “genius”‘ award. He’s not much interested in plaudits. “I don’t want to be at the top. I just want to be alive and useful,” he says.
Copacabana Nightclub Closing
The famous New York nightclub, immortalized by the Barry Manilow hit has to leave because of subway construction. “The three-floor space on Manhattan’s West Side, a replica of the original club where Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dean Martin once ruled, is locking up shop after Latin superstars El Gran Combo play Saturday night. Owner Juliano, who bought the Copa with two partners in 1976, said he hoped to open a new club under the old name by October.”
Is Roundhouse A Mistake For Royal Shakespeare Co?
So the Royal Shakespeare Company is taking up residence in London’s Roundhouse. “Certainly the Roundhouse has a long and honourable history of staging theatre, but when the RSC was there back in 2002 with a season of Shakespeare’s late plays it got its fingers burned as audiences stayed away in droves. The refurbished Roundhouse is a truly beautiful building, but so far in my experience it has proved itself an infinitely better venue for bands and circus than it is for theatre.”
Canadian Radio Show Drives Book Sales
“Sounds Like Canada is the most influential radio show in Canada in terms of getting Canadians to buy books. The average sales increase of books mentioned by the panel in the week following the show was 83 per cent, according to BookNet, which tracks book sales in Canada.”
Booker Judges Condemn Denigration Of Rushdie
“Protests about author Salman Rushdie’s knighthood have been condemned by the Man Booker International Prize judges as they honoured this year’s winner. They said the ‘appalling reaction’ from religious extremists threatened ‘the principle of freedom of expression as a basic tenet of justice’.”
Debt Forces Closure Of Seattle’s NW Actors Studio
“After more than three decades of putting on shows, the Northwest Actors Studio made its final curtain call Thursday. The Capitol Hill nonprofit is closing, its founder said, after falling $35,000 in debt.”
Sydney Opera House Added To World Heritage List
“Australia’s most famous building, the Sydney Opera House, received World Heritage listing yesterday as a site of international cultural significance, taking its place alongside the Taj Mahal, the Pyramids and the Great Wall of China. The harbourside landmark, completed in 1973, is the youngest building on the list, and one of only 15 or so from the 20th century.”