Tag: 07.24.00

THE VALUE OF AN ARTS EDUCATION

An article published in Australia last week argued, in essence, “that Australian universities are involved in the economically irrational overproduction of students with the generalist degree in the humanities and social sciences, the bachelor of arts.” Yet at a time when students are being convinced that education is for the primary purpose of getting a job, the arts degree is still valuable. – Sydney Morning Herald

A RESURGENCE IN BRITISH ART

“Despite the dreary, outdated prejudices of some of our burnt-out critics, tabloid hacks and politicians from all parties, it is clear that the arts, including museums and galleries, have never been more interesting or more popular and have never played such a significant role in national life as they do today. Recent MORI research for the Arts Council showed huge public support for the arts, with 78 per cent believing that the arts play a valuable role in the life of the nation, and 95 per cent believing that children should have more opportunities to experience the arts at school.” – New Statesman

  • ON THE OTHER HAND: “The first task is to shift spending away from institutions and into individuals and art itself. What is the point of having some of the most well-appointed theatres and galleries in Europe if there is nothing to put on in them? Throughout the Thatcher years arts bureaucracy grew while the work withered. That has to change.” – The Guardian

BLAME IT ON THE INTERNET

  • “People are feeling that since English has become a dominant language through electronic technology, there is less and less pragmatic use for knowing foreign languages. We’re seeing a loss of language teaching in the high schools…so fewer and fewer students come to universities wanting to study [languages]. It’s a domino effect in many ways.” – The Globe and Mail (Canada)

FIGHTING FOR THE FRINGE

In what’s been hailed as a “virtuoso demonstration of cultural leadership,” Brian McMaster has revitalized the Edinburgh Festival since becoming director nine years ago. He “wooed back the world-class ensembles, wowed the critics by staging daring epics that no other impresario could risk; and still managed to lift sponsorship and box office income to record levels.” – The Times (UK)

SCREEN SCENE

Plans for a short-film series by contemporary British artists to be shown on a huge outdoor screen in central London are causing quite an outrage. No surprise there: The films include “an actress dressed as Diana, Princess of Wales, crossing and uncrossing her legs in the manner of Sharon Stone in the film “Basic Instinct,” and the blown-up facial expressions of a series of men and women recorded while using the lavatory.” Although endorsed by the London Tourist Board, the Tories’ Home Secretary has publicly condemned the series, worried it could “tarnish Britain’s image abroad.” – The Age (Melbourne) (The Telegraph) 07/24/00 

THE “CURIOUS” NETWORK

Pat Mitchell, PBS’s new president, is talking about reinventing the public broadcaster. “If you look at this new media landscape we’re moving into, with more and more choices … who are viewers going to trust? Our mandate is … to bring a certain vitality and relevance to our schedule; new ideas that appeal to new viewers, as well as keeping the ones we have.” – The Star Tribune (Minneapolis) (St. Petersburg Times) 07/24/00

AILING ANIMATION

“It may not be dead, but some are wondering whether animation’s pulse – at least that of the traditional, two-dimensional variety made by anyone other than Disney – might be fading.” Fox Animation Studios closed down this week, and Warner Bros. and Paramount have scaled back production. “Audiences, they argued, were demanding up-to-the-minute digital magic and shying away from the traditional animation they remembered, unless the name Disney was attached.” – New York Times 07/24/00 

FACE-SAVERS ALL AROUND

The National Ballet of Canada’s settlement with fired dancer Kimberly Glasco was a face-saving measure all around. Glasco could have danced again, but chose not to. And the National Ballet, “clinging to the red herring with which it had sought to deflect public opinion from the main issue in Glasco’s unlawful dismissal suit, claims the settlement ‘upholds the principle of artistic freedom and authority.’ Freedom to do what? Treat dancers any way it likes in total disregard of labour law? – National Post (Canada)