“In the past, it was all so easy. When you bought a theatre ticket, you could be pretty confident that you would sit in a row with other people, watch the play in the dark and clap at the end. …No longer. Audiences are increasingly asked to be participants or collaborators; to take part, sometimes to follow instructions, and occasionally even to have agency.” But many remain reluctant. Should they?
Tag: 11.12.14
Minnesota Orchestra Makes Its Interim President Permanent
“Kevin Smith, who won warm reviews for his performance since taking over as interim president and CEO in August [following the long and bitter lockout], agreed to continue through the 2017-18 season. ‘It was not in my original plan, but I thought: Why not, it’ll be an adventure,’ the former Minnesota Opera chief said Wednesday.”
Video Games Meet Middle Age Emotions
“The first crop of video gamers are facing middle age with no plans to put down the controller. So the games have to grow up too. Expect less blood splatter, more reflection.” (audio podcast)
A Simple Mind-Trick That Makes Every Movie And TV Show Seem Better
Is this serious? Maybe a little bit. (Hint: Think of “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”.)
Do Harsh Environments Lead To Stern Gods?
“Religions with ‘moralizing high gods’ – that is, powerful supernatural beings that oversee human events and take an active interest in how humans are behaving – are more likely to be found in cultures residing in ecologically harsh areas,” a new study has found.
Top Posts From AJBlogs 11.12.14
Will and Way
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2014-11-12
A Few Differences With the Met Re: Madame Cezanne
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2014-11-12
Do I Hear $1 Billion? Christie’s Record-Smashing $852.89 Million Contemporary Sale
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2014-11-12
Embedding a Life
AJBlog: Dancebeat Published 2014-11-12
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How Do You Put On An Arts Biennale In The West Bank?
“Putting on an arts biennale anywhere is complicated. Here, the festival, Qalandiya International, faced special challenges in catering to a Palestinian society that is highly politicized, physically fragmented, internally divided, partly autonomous but still struggling against Israeli occupation, and not given to displays of frivolity or celebration.”
These Broadway Producers Turned Down $400K To Move To A Different Theater
“That’s a tidy sum in an industry where many plays cost $4 million to produce, and most end up losing money. But with Broadway’s 40 theaters nearly all booked, and plenty of shows waiting for vacancies, the recent jockeying for the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater reflected the imperative of producers and directors to hold fast to a prime theater that finally comes their way.”
Guy Pearce Braves The Scorn Reserved For Hollywood Stars Who Come Out As Singer-Songwriters
“Pearce has been quietly toiling away at his songwriting, with a home studio in [Melbourne], for just as long as he has been acting.” But don’t worry: he’s no Billy Bob Thornton.
Renée Fleming May Stop Singing Opera In Three Years
Says the soprano, now 55, “I’m really happy with my opera life – 54 roles was a lot to learn and perform and so I think I may leave well enough alone. I have another three years of various new productions and so I’m not stopping yet – let’s not put the cart before the horse, but I’m thinking down the road.”