“The way Mark Bauerlein sees it, something new and disastrous has happened to America’s youth with the arrival of the instant gratification go-go-go digital age. The result is, essentially, a collective loss of context and history, a neglect of ‘enduring ideas and conflicts.’ Survey after painstakingly recounted survey reveals what most of us already suspect: that America’s youth know virtually nothing about history and politics. And no wonder. They have developed a brazen disregard of books and reading.”
Tag: 07.05.08
Is The World’s Infatuation With Chinese Art Driven By Mao?
“The thunderous popularity of a number of contemporary Chinese artists compels a political analysis. Much of the work is powered by a startling and completely delusionary infatuation with Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution. This is more sinister than anything we have seen in the already fairly astonishing annals of radical chic.”
Making Sense Of The Creative Overload
“It’s trying to say actually how do we make good choices – and that’s partly through expert systems and algorithms,” says Peter Gabriel. “It’s also partly through people that we trust – friends, experts – so we’re trying to integrate a system which takes the best of man and machine.”
Pompeii Declared “Disaster Zone”
“The Italian government has been forced to declare a state of emergency at the archeological site of Pompeii because of its severe state of disrepair. Archaeologists and art historians have been decrying the decay at Pompeii for many years. Its upkeep has been strangled by a lack of funds, litter, looting, mismanagement as well as illegal tour guides and stray dogs.”
British Museum Staff Strike
British Museum staff are striking for four hours over what they say is a “totally inadequate” pay rise.
Musician Speaks Out Against Using Music As Torture Tactic
“That is nothing but torture. It doesn’t matter what the music is – it could be Tchaikovsky’s finest or it could be Barney the Dinosaur. It really doesn’t matter, it’s going to drive you completely nuts.”
Joan Sutherland Breaks Both Her Legs
“Opera star Dame Joan Sutherland has broken both her legs after a fall in the garden of her home in Switzerland. Her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge, revealed the 81-year-old soprano is expected to be in hospital for eight weeks.”
A Dangerous Time For Critics
“Essentially, our civilisation is tilting towards anti-authoritarian contests. Audiences, not judges, select winners. Call it the American Idolisation of culture. On TV, contestants get voted off without explanation. Quality is measured by thumbs, up or down. Scholarly analyses have turned into irrelevant extravagances for snobs. Many US papers have abandoned thoughtful, detailed reviews altogether. Publishers, editors and, presumably, readers want instant evaluations and newsbites, preferably with flashy pictures. It is Zagat-think, simplicity for the simple-minded.”
Should Museums Pay Ransom For Return Of Works Of Art?
“The number of art thefts in Canada has been growing, the most notable being the robbery in 2004 of five ivory statuettes from the Art Gallery of Ontario snatched in broad daylight.These events have attracted speculation that the insurance company might have paid over the reward as a ransom, as this is one way in which thieves make their money.”
Why Kids Need Theatre
“It used to be the norm that children would automatically go to the theatre at school. There used to be a time when that would be a child’s first experience of theatre. There are still some theatre groups that go into schools, but they are becoming rarer. An increasingly restrictive national curriculum puts teachers under more pressure than ever. That, together with the red tape over school trips, makes it harder for children to experience theatre.”