“One after the other, the models strutted across the stage to bouncy ’80s dance tunes, all showing off designs of the same article of clothing – adult diapers. Japan has one of the world’s most rapidly aging societies, and the fashion show Thursday proved the country’s diaper producers are intent on keeping the elderly clean and dry.”
Tag: 09.25.08
Chandelier Returns to Philadelphia’s Academy of Music
(And It’s Gorgeous)
The crystal-laden fixture, dating back to the opera house’s opening in 1857, is blazing once again following a 13-month, $1.7 million project to restore its original appearance.
Russian Censors Clear Simpsons, South Park
“A Russian adult cartoon TV channel that had been threatened with losing its frequency after religious groups complained that episodes of South Park and other toons incited religious and national hatred, earned a reprieve late Wednesday. But authorities have asked it to review its content.”
Damien Hirst and Sotheby’s Achieve New Horizons in Synergy
“Three weeks after Damien Hirst’s £111.5 million ($206 million) auction at Sotheby’s, the artist will open a shop next door to the auction house in London.”
Many Georgian Cultural Sites Badly Damaged By Invasion
The Russian military push into disputed areas of Georgia did more than shake up the international scene – it left some significant cultural devastation behind. “Thus far the destruction includes severe bomb damage to the Museum of Prince Matchabelli… destruction by arson of the church of St. George in Sveri, a rare 19th-century wooden structure… and extensive bomb damage to the monastery complex of Nikozi Church — dating from the 11th century, it is perhaps the most important site of all.”
Canadian Actors Rail Against Harper Arts Cuts
“A phalanx of [Canadian] actors and artists, led by veteran Gordon Pinsent, spoke forcefully yesterday against the Conservatives’ recent cuts to arts and culture, urging citizens who value culture to vote and press for a prominent place in federal decision-making.”
MySpace Music Set To Launch
MySpace will offer a huge catalog of free music to users beginning this week, hoping to compete with giants like iTunes and Napster. “The catch: the music can be played only on personal computers connected to the Internet and listeners have to tolerate advertising splashed across the screen.”
The Evolving Sound of Musical Theatre
Washington, D.C.’s Signature Theater is in the midst of a complex change from presenting musicals 100% acoustically to making use of the high-tech amplification systems that have become standard in the business. “Paradoxically, it might be harder than ever to sing in the musical theater, even with the help of high-tech sound systems.”
Gettysburg Cyclorama Goes Back On Display
A massive oil painting depicting the Battle of Gettysburg known as the Gettysburg Cyclorama “is returning to public view on Friday after a five-year, $15 million restoration… The painting is now mounted in a new $103 million visitor center, which includes an impressive 24,000-square-foot Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War that opened in April and surveys not only the three days of battle here, but also the war and its impact.”
Are Things Looking Up For The Record Industry?
“It’s been a long time since people in the recorded music industry have considered themselves lucky… But going into the last three months of the year, when more music is sold than at any other time, labels, retailers and others in the business say they are somewhat optimistic — or at least less pessimistic than usual.”