Tag: 11.12.00

UPDIKE AT 68

John Updike is 68 and contemplating his life’s profession. “There is a dumbing down of fiction, don’t you think? In so many other areas there is dumbing down. People are impatient with any attempt of the novel to pry apart their expectations or surprise them, challenge them. Make them look up a word, think over a prejudice. I think, yes, by and large people read less and maybe they read less intelligently, because they read less and there are more alternatives.” – Baltimore Sun

BUILDINGS YOU HAVE TO LOVE

Has London gone back to the sixties? “London is again a swinging world capital, we have a Labour Government that wants to “modernise”, the economy just goes on booming, billions of pounds are promised on roads programmes, immigration has returned as a political issue and architects can do no wrong. Today, Government ministers fall over themselves to praise new buildings and the public flock to each new excitement. As in the Sixties, it is no longer fashionable to be sceptical about modern architecture.” – The Telegraph (UK)

CASSATT PAINTINGS SURFACE

A collection of 204 paintings and drawings by American impressionist Mary Cassatt is being seen by the public for the first time. “Cassatt sold the drawings, prints and etchings to a Paris art dealer early in the 1900s. They have been in private hands ever since. ‘These are so pure. It’s as if they haven’t even been out of the studio’.” – Dallas Morning News (AP)

OXBRIDGE BUILDING BOOM

There’s a building boom going on the campuses of Oxford and Cambridge. “Cambridge and Oxford are both as much modern architectural zoos as ancient seats of learning. A glance at the roll call of architects building new colleges and faculties, and extending old ones, in the two cities shows how jealously they observe and mimic each other’s activities.” – The Sunday Times (UK)

CRITICIZING FROM WITHIN

Last month the director of London’s Barbican criticized his fellow arts institutions for the manner in which they were run. Now another arts leader has turned on his colleagues. “It used to be unknown for subsidised institutions to condemn each other.” But now, “with the attacks now coming from within, the pressure will be on the notoriously non-interventionist Culture Secretary Chris Smith to take a closer interest in the performance of national institutions.” – The Independent (UK) 11/12/00

THE ERRANT E-MAIL

Canada’s Governor General prize for literature was set to be announced this week. But late last week an e-mail with the names of the winners mistakenly went out to media outlets, and reporters being who reporters are… Anyway, here are the winners. – CBC

UPDIKE AT 68

John Updike is 68 and contemplating his life’s profession. “There is a dumbing down of fiction, don’t you think? In so many other areas there is dumbing down. People are impatient with any attempt of the novel to pry apart their expectations or surprise them, challenge them. Make them look up a word, think over a prejudice. I think, yes, by and large people read less and maybe they read less intelligently, because they read less and there are more alternatives.” – Baltimore Sun

WORKING TO PRESENT DANCE

“Theaters now hire companies not just to perform but to participate in residencies, outreach and barter programs as well. In the New York area, for example, the College of Staten Island offers residencies in which rehearsal space is exchanged for performances in its five theaters. Theaters are also paying increased attention to audiences. – New York Times