“In 2006, there were 546 reported challenges to remove books from library shelves, most (61%) made by parents and most (71%) involving schools. Topping the list was ‘And Tango Makes Three,’ a tale of two male penguins parenting an egg from a mixed-sex penguin.”
Tag: 09.23.07
Eking Out Theatre In A Multi-Media World
“Dire pronouncements about the moribund state of the American theater have been made for decades but, like the formerly remote concept of global warming, there is every indication that its demise has finally come. The audience for ‘serious’ theater (straight plays) is dwindling. The subscriber base — the life force of not-for-profit theaters for half a century — is literally dying, and the next generation is not filling their seats.”
Round About Arena Stage
“Come the long-awaited $125 million renovation at Arena Stage, a key element that won’t be much changed is the fabled in-the-round Fichandler space. The theater is built like a boxing ring: no curtains, no walls and audience on four sides.”
Star Treatment? Are Ya Kiddin’ Me?
“Should we treat our local theater practitioners like stars? And should we make our theater-going decisions based on name recognition? In a word: no. In two words: absolutely not. In seven words: Are you out of your freakin’ mind?”
Defining Yourself Through TV
“It’s a rich television age and a demanding one. The selection is now so plentiful and fragmented and good. And deciding among hundreds of channels, on-demand options, DVR, Internet streaming and iPhones requires so much research, planning and commitment that viewers have become proprietary about their choices.”
Your Faith In Music…
“Does simple music form simple faith, arguably the best kind? Has the Dark One used great musical art to his advantage? Sophisticated music that doesn’t reach out directly to its listeners — that doesn’t depend on their response — bears the seeds of its eventual irrelevance. One reason classical music struggles as it does today lies with the several generations of composers in the last century who demanded that audiences understand them rather than the other way around.”
Bilbao After Ten Years
Think Bilbao, and one thing comes to mind. “Such is the staying power of Frank O. Gehry’s architectural showstopper, 10 years after it crash-landed on the public psyche like a new Hollywood starlet. The iridescent structure wasn’t just a new building; it was a cultural extravaganza.”
Where Is Dance In Academe?
“As an academic discipline, dance is relatively young, and it has had difficulty being recognized as a component of a liberal arts education, despite its many historical ties to higher education. Dance scholars consistently cite challenges in being taken seriously by colleagues and administrators.”
Internet Radio On The Edge
Some 55 million people listen to internet radio each week, a 26 percent jump from 2006. “For those who remember the heyday of the D.J. as a cultural curator, it’s a return to a past where the airwaves were filled with personalities who mattered as much as the tunes they were spinning. But there is a shadow looming over this renaissance.”
So Just What Is Our Dance?
“Revolution” is part Irish step dance, part American tap, part “So You Think You Can Dance” sexiness and straight-up rock and roll. It came into being when two 20-something dancers got mad.