“It’s hardly surprising that writers and artists should increasingly tackle the subject. But can the arts ever illuminate a condition that by its very nature resists all understanding?”
Tag: 07.19.15
Why Lonely People Can’t Just Buck Up And Make A Few Friends
“Lonely people do understand social skills, and often outperform the non-lonely when asked to demonstrate that understanding. It’s just that when they’re in situations when they need those skills the most, they choke.”
How ‘Go Set A Watchman’ Solves The Riddle Of Harper Lee
“Watchman may leave Mockingbird fans equally horrified, and critics disappointed, but it’s a crucial biographical document. For every question it raises about its profoundly famous and private 89-year-old author, it also answers a mystery or two about Lee’s life and motivations.”
Hilary Hahn Pays Tribute To Her Two Greatest Teachers
“Nothing wishy-washy or overly enthusiastic: [Klara Berkovich] was practical, very clear, and knew exactly what could be improved. … [Jascha Brodsky] didn’t believe in shortcuts: At 85 years old, he took it upon himself to learn a new concerto in order to teach it to me as well as possible.”
The Couple Who Invented Nordic Noir
“Imagine a parallel universe in which Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbø wrote gentle detective stories set in country houses and vicarages. This might well have been the world we’d be living in if, more than half a century ago, an eminent Swedish journalist called Per Wahlöö had not fallen in love with a young publisher named Maj Sjöwall.”
The Movie Composer Having An Excellent Summer
“One of the first things I ask [a filmmaker] is, ‘What is the saddest moment in the story to you?’ That is important for me. I want to know if I felt the same way. When I ask the question, I’ll know emotionally if we are going to be in the same place.”
How To Get College Students Interested In Dramaturgy
Don’t have a program: “There was no designated person whose function was to understand the world of the play, to speak up for the playwright and her intent, to argue for the sanctity of the script. That work struck me as vital. Every conversation I had about student theatre I would pull back to this lack of focus on the text. The text must be the crux of all discussion and choices in the theatre.”
Um, Really? A Contest For Women Filmmakers … Set In The Twilight Universe?
“The contest — sponsored by Lionsgate, Women in Film, Volvo and crowd sourcing platform Tongal — was created to help women break into the frat house of film. Aspiring female writers and directors were invited to submit scripts and pitches for short films set in the ‘Twilight’ universe. Winners received up to $50,000 each to produce their 5- to 10-minute flicks.”
Mali Rebuilds Timbuktu Mausoleums Smashed By Islamic Extremists
“The entire city of Timbuktu is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The city was considered the centre of Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th Centuries. At one time it counted nearly 200 schools and universities that attracted thousands of students from across the Muslim world.”
Watch A Film On Genghis Khan While In China, Get Deported
“China deported 20 foreigners from Britain, South Africa and India because they watched video clips that advocated terrorism and religious extremism, official state media has reported, while two of the tourists reportedly said they had done nothing more than view a documentary about Genghis Khan.”