“What is boredom? Is it a mood, an emotion, an affliction, a form of social protection, a gateway to the essence of the self, the human condition, or a modern affectation? These are questions that have concerned philosophers and thinkers dating back to the Enlightenment, not least because boredom occupies territory that overlaps with capital letter concepts like Being and Time.”
Tag: 07.17.11
Is Denver Hurting Itself Culturally By Combining Arts Agencies?
“If arts and creativity are crucial to the city’s evolving identity and economic growth, some local arts leaders question why the city eliminated the independent Denver Office of Cultural Affairs, or DOCA, in June, merging it into a new city agency known as Arts & Venues Denver.”
The Differences Between American And English Actresses
“What sets English actresses apart? Is it their dexterity with a turn of phrase, unerring literary poise, or could it be that enviable sang-froid, which comes off as sexy even well into middle age?”
Have Our Superlatives Lost Their Punch?
“Our superlatives are so bleached out. They have no force, no delight, no expressiveness–unless you add an intensifier, most of which are just as worn out: Really awesome.”
More NYCity Opera Board Members Quit
“Two more members of the board of New York City Opera have resigned in the wake of the company’s departure from Lincoln Center and artistic changes.”
Watch Your iPhone Dance
“It’s a far cry from Angry Birds. Unlike Dances for an iPhone, which features original content created specifically for the small screen, much of the dance material found on the Internet consists of pre-existing work.”
Indy Bookstores In Australia Booming
“Independents in Australia are healthier than anywhere else in the world. There is definitely a rejuvenation and things are looking bright. We see e-books as a really good opportunity to expand our business and just another format that complements the hardback, the paperback and the audio book.”
Why It’s Important To Smell The Past
It seems far-fetched to think we could actually start to smell the past – or somehow preserve a whiff of our daily lives. But increasingly, technology is making it possible, and historians, scientists, and perfumers are now taking the idea of smells as historical artifacts more seriously.