Who’s Really Buying Vinyl Records? Old Lonely People, Mostly

“Those who have recently purchased a vinyl album are most likely to be aged between 45 and 54, apparently. In fact, those in the 18-24 age group are the least likely. It is not just an act of hoarding by hobbyists, either – it has emotional significance: older vinyl buyers are slightly more likely to keep their feelings to themselves (56% of vinyl buyers versus 53% of all UK adults) and enjoy being alone (69% of vinyl buyers versus 66% all UK adults).”

Hollywood (And Jared Leto) Have Ruined Method Acting

“Leto’s stories [of his behavior on the Suicide Squad set] show how going to great lengths to inhabit a character is now as much a marketing tool as it is an actual technique – one used to lend an air of legitimacy, verisimilitude, and importance to a performance no matter its quality. Leto’s Joker is the latest evidence that the prestige of method acting has dimmed – thanks to the technique’s overuse by those seeking award-season glory or a reputation boost, as well as its history of being shaped by destructive ideas of masculinity.”

Could Software Generate Journalism (Or Even A Good Facsimile Of It)?

“What about telling a story? Not like cookie-cutter data chunks turned into sentences, but a tale with a lot of context and information. Could an algorithm someday write a breezy 2,000-word article like this one? Nobody can currently claim that throne, but one company that appears to be closer to that goal than most is an Israeli firm called Articoolo.”

The Monkey-Selfie Copyright Case Is Back In Court, With A Primatologist Weighing In (Guess On Whose Side)

Five years ago in Indonesia, a crested macaque named Naruto found a photographer’s unattended digital camera and took what became known worldwide as the “monkey selfie.” Last year, PETA filed a lawsuit arguing that Naruto was legally the creator of the image, which should be considered its intellectual property. PETA lost the first round, but the appeal is now in court.

Top Posts From AJBlogs 08.11.16

How Do You Test For The Arts?
It’s a more difficult question than you might think. There’s a maxim in the education world that only subjects that are tested are funded. Thus the imperative for arts education champions to get the arts included in required standardized tests. … read more
AJBlog: diacritical/Douglas McLennan Published 2016-08-11

Rewind: Another Look at William Merritt Chase
Do we need to become reacquainted with William Merritt Chase? I’m afraid we do. … read more
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2016-08-11

2016 Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival: Further Impressions
Nearly as old as jazz itself, Svend Asmussen celebrated his 100th birthday in February. The Ystad Sweden Jazz Festival honored him in a concert … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-08-11

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The Choreographer Who Made Herself A YouTube Superstar

“In an era when dance has exploded thanks to social media, [Tricia] Miranda wanted to share her dance moves, unfiltered, with the rest of the world. So in 2014, she hired a videographer to tape her dance studio in the North Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles, with students performing her signature moves.” Her first video racked up 27 million views, a later one 41 million, and her YouTube channel now has a million subscribers.