“The origin of hip (and its partner, hep; the words are related) is, unsatisfyingly, unknown. The term first appeared at the turn of the 20th century, and quickly became widespread. Its meaning at this early point was “aware; in the know,” and it was not widely used by African-Americans. It wasn’t until the late 1930s and early 1940s, during the jive era, that the modern senses—”sophisticated; currently fashionable; fully up-to-date”—arose.”
Tag: 12.09.04
Is Your DVD Player About To Be Obsolete?
“Tech writers are bracing for a VHS vs. Betamax-style format war, with consumers forced to choose sides or buy two separate, incompatible players. Last week’s stumping for HD-DVD, which is sponsored by Toshiba and NEC, can only be read as a pre-emptive effort to make Sony’s Blu-ray look like Betamax 2.0—a technology that’s doomed to fail because all the movies you want will only be available on its competitor. If Hollywood makes that story come true, consumers won’t get a happy ending.”
Changing Patterns In NY Theatre
How are people deciding to go to the theatre in New York? It’s changing: “Our research shows if you’re a young person in your 20s and you want all New York has to offer, you read Time Out New York or The Village Voice. In other words, the Times is less important, and nothing beats word of mouth. Well, one of the things we’re interested in is how to build word of mouth as news coverage shrinks.”
Mixed Year For Arts Funding In Congress
How did the arts make out in the US Congressional session just closing? Well, the extra $18 million President Bush requested for the National Endowment for the Arts got cut to $2 million. But also Congress ignored Bush’s proposal to cut $35 million from arts in education funds. So a mixed result… And things arenh’t likely to change much in the new Congress…
Why Some People Are Left-Handed
“The orthodox view of human handedness is that it is connected to the bilateral specialisation of the brain that has concentrated language-processing functions on the left side of that organ. Because, long ago in the evolutionary past, an ancestor of humans (and all other vertebrate animals) underwent a contortion that twisted its head around 180° relative to its body, the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body, and vice versa. In humans, the left brain (and thus the right body) is usually dominant.” But why are some people still left-handed? The reason may have to do with fighting ability…
Chinese Intellectuals Under Fire Again
Public intellectual debate has been on the rise in China in the past few years as the economy opened up. But the new openness may be closing up quickly. “A scathing commentary on the list, published last month by a Shanghai newspaper and republished by the party’s main mouthpiece, People’s Daily, said that promoting the idea of “public intellectuals” was really aimed at “driving a wedge between intellectuals and the party.” The window for free debate that opened a crack over the past couple of years, as China’s leadership shifted to the “fourth generation” of leaders, is closing again.”
Did Tate Refuse Saatchi Gift? (The Plot Thickens)
Did Tate Modern turn down an offer by Charles Saatchi to donate his collection? Saatchi says yes, Tate no. Now Saatchi says he’s not in the mood. “I lost my chance for a tastefully engraved plaque and a 21-gun salute. And now the mood has passed, and I’m happy not to have to visit Tate Modern, or its storage depot, to look at my art.”
Making The World Safe For Prudes And 4-Year-Olds
Throughout the recent melee over the FCC “decency” crackdown, those in authority have insisted that they are only acting in accordance with the wishes of the public. So who’s behind the mysterious groundswell of anger directed at those awful people who put nipple slips and nasty words on our televisions and radios? Meet the Parents Television Council…
Arts Prize Gets A New Chief
The Cleveland Arts Prize, which recognizes local artists who have attained national attention for their work, has named Terri Pontremoli as its new executive director. Pontremoli had previously managed a jazz festival in the city, and had raised $6 million for local jazz groups.
File-Sharing Lawsuits Beget Movie-Sharing Lawsuits
“A film industry group has sued a high-end consumer electronics company, claiming its home theater jukebox system makes illegal copies of movie DVDs… It’s the latest move in the ongoing, larger war the movie industry has waged in trying to prevent what it considers unauthorized usage of its content.”