‘The Elvis of Cultural Theory’

“In the midst of a crisis of capitalism, the Western underground is rediscovering communism. Its star is the Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek, who mixes Marxism with pop culture and psychoanalysis. His appearances offer stand-up comedy for a radical leftist avant-garde. … There are Zizek T-shirts and Zizek records, and there is a Zizek club and an international Zizek journal. … One could say that he’s reinvented the profession. Some would say he’s defiled the profession.”

Dissidents Warn Of Growing Russian Intolerance For Art

“Two prominent intellectuals, facing a verdict of up to three years’ imprisonment over a museum exhibition in 2007, issued dire warnings on Thursday that Russia was starting to resemble Nazi Germany, contemporary Iran and the Soviet Union in the harshness of its growing nationalism, dominance of the Russian Orthodox church and fear of modern art.”

Museum Of Glass Art Or Funky Indie-Radio Music Hub? Deciding What To Do With Seattle Center

“In one corner, there was the [Dale] Chihuly paid-entry exhibit, with a glass house and art garden that its proposers, the privately owned Space Needle, say will bring in 400,000 visitors and $1.1 million a year in revenue to the city. In the other corner was KEXP, a non-profit, listener-supported radio station, which proposed bringing its studio and operations to the Center, building green space, and introducing new musicians to the public.”

Composing A Piece For The Eiffel Tower (As Instrument)

In 2007, Joseph Bertolozzi went to a bridge over the Hudson River near Poughkeepsie and “hammered on I-beams and guardrails, whacked thick cables, sent steel pellets down the inside of a bridge tower and recorded the sounds … [and] turned them into a composition, Bridge Music..” He has now asked the city of Paris for permission to do a similar project with the Eiffel Tower for the structure’s 125th anniversary in 2014 – and the city is seriously considering it.