“The era of the newspaper film critic, the era of newspaper criticism, seems to be coming to a rapid and unceremonious end. As recently as a decade ago, no self-respecting mid-sized daily newspaper would have dreamed of publishing without a film critic. These days only major cities have them and those that remain have seen their influence wane.”
Tag: 12.02.07
Boston Is Losing Its Gay Bars. What Does It Mean For The City?
The disappearance of places like Buddies and Chaps may sound like a problem limited to gay men, but it is part of a much larger trend reshaping American cities. As gay bars vanish, so go bookstores, diners, and all kinds of spaces that once allowed “blissful public congregation,” as sociologist Ray Oldenburg described their function in his 1989 book “The Great Good Place.”
Miami Art Takes Over City
“Quietly at first, but in the limelight now thanks to Basel’s glam, Miami’s booming visual-arts scene in the last decade has been transforming the character of the city from a mecca of fun and sun to a leading cultural destination. Art is helping to define Miami’s identity, shaping its soul at a crucial moment in the region’s development.”
High Anxiety – About The Book
No, the e-book is not the end of civilization. If readers kindle to the Kindle, splendid: Any reading is better than no reading. Nothing valuable was ever preserved solely on Luddite grounds. The screening of America will inevitably come to include our encounters with serious prose, or what is rather comically described in our culture of speed as “long form.”
Power Of Protest – University Reinstates Jazz Program
Last year Northwestern University music students protested the suspension of the school’s jazz program. Their protests worked. “Northwestern announced last week the hiring of one of the country’s most admired jazz musicians and accomplished educators as director of jazz studies and professor of music.”
The Urge To Destroy Art
There has been a rash of art vandalism in the past year. What motivates some people to want to deface or destroy a piece of art?
Gospel Music Thrives In Chicago
“Chicago is where gospel music began and where it still has a strong footing. Though the music has flourished in other cities such as Detroit, Atlanta and Dallas, Chicago is still a center of creativity in this music.”
Lieberson Wins Grawemeyer Award
Peter Lieberson’s Neruda Songs have won the 2008 University of Louisville Grawemeyer Award. “The work, a group of songs based on five love poems by Chilean poet Pablo Neruda, was chosen for the $200,000 prize among 140 entries from around the world.”
Iranian Lit Cracks America
While the politics of their native country fills the news, Iranian American writers have been finding enthusiastic audiences since 2003, when Azar Nafisi’s wildly successful memoir “Reading Lolita in Tehran” and Marjane Satrapi’s innovative graphic novel “Persepolis” hit bookstores.
Reality TV Goes Classless
“The more reality shows mimic fictional series in tone, look and format, the easier it is to see where they differ: class consciousness. Sitcoms and dramatic series drum up tension by assaulting social barriers. Most reality shows take them for granted and leave them untouched.”