Sports venues are some of the most prominent architectural features of most American cities, and in the last ten years, there has been something of a renaissance in the manner in which ballparks and stadiums are designed. But in Chicago, where a newly refurbished Soldier Field is already being dubbed the “Eyesore on Lake Shore,” most of the lessons in how to properly combine modern functionality with classic form seem to have gone unlearned, says Blair Kamin.
Tag: 09.21.03
The Rap On The New Hip-Hop
“At its core, hip-hop is about bragging; ostentation and one-upmanship have played a crucial role in a music that confers upon its stars the means to walk their talk. In the South, though, a new school of artists has largely rejected such mainstream models. As new albums by Bubba Sparxxx and Nappy Roots demonstrate, country charm is just as viable as urban grit, and these rappers are retrofitting hip-hop to their purposes and experiences.”
Best of Luck, Koo-Koo-Ka-Choo
A new magazine called Walrus launches this month in Canada, with the aim of becoming the Canadian version of The New Yorker or The Atlantic Monthly. Other publishers have tried this sort of thing before, of course, with generally disappointing results. But many in the industry are betting that the time is right for a homegrown mag catering to the highbrow crowd to seize the Canadian consciousness.
If Only They’d Known…
This month, a politician from Canada’s Liberal Party sent out a mailing to artsy types, urging them to vote Liberal, because the party truly cares about the arts. This was news to Martin Knelman. “Prior to that moment, few people in or out of the cultural world had any notion at all just what Dalton McGuinty’s view of arts and culture might be… If the arts are so important, why have the Liberals had so little to say that hardly anyone of my acquaintance knows anything at all about their policies?” Of course, none of the major parties have had much to say about the arts lately, but at least no one else is parading around like some sort of cultural savior.
What’s In A Logo?
New York’s Museum of Modern Art, better known the world over as MoMA, is changing its logo. Well, sort of. It actually looks about the same as it did before, with big block letters spelling out MoMA on a white background. In fact, even the typeface is the same. So what’s the difference? Well, you see, the old logo was awful and soulless. The new one is fresh and charming, but with a nod to tradition. Really, it is. Just ask them.
Whither The Blues?
“Can a media blitz save the blues? Do the blues need to be saved? And if the blues were to be saved, what would be their 21st-century role?” These questions have arisen because of a congressional proclamation, a PBS documentary, and the general perception that traditional blues music is fast become a museum piece. “The blues was once as audacious as hip-hop, as intimate as emo and as insubordinate as punk. So there’s never a bad time to recognize the blues.”
Media Consolidation, UK Edition
The fight over how many separate media voices a single company should be allowed to own is not only an American issue. In Britain, two of the nation’s four broadcast networks are now owned by American media tycoons, a situation made possible by a change in the law governing foreign-owned television franchises. The general director of the BBC is still furious over the decision to allow American businessmen to control British programming, and he warns that new media legislation passed this summer will only further U.S. dominance of English culture.
When Soloists Cancel
Last week, soprano Dawn Upshaw, who is famous for never cancelling engagements, cancelled an engagement with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, due to a vocal cord injury. It may be unusual for Upshaw to bail on an orchestra, but other soloists do it all the time, for any number of reasons. Some soloists are even as famous for their cancellations as they are for their performances. As for the jilted ensembles which are left to scramble for a replacement, many arts administrators pride themselves on their ability to come through in just such a situation.