“Masterpieces by Rubens and Van Dyck were among the treasures from the royal family of Liechtenstein’s collection, which were expected to draw huge crowds to the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) from next September. But yesterday Prince Hans-Adam II cancelled the loans,” and now the academy is scrambling.
Tag: 12.17.09
Never Mind Sherlock; Dr. Watson Shows Doyle’s Genius
“Holmes is flashy, brilliant and extraordinary, but it is Watson’s blunter, quieter virtues of simple decency that we are called on to admire, and it is his voice that we trust. Being right is all very well, [Arthur Conan] Doyle seems to say through Watson, but being good is better.”
China Examines U.S. Museums In Search Of Lost Treasures
“For the past two weeks, the delegation of Chinese cultural experts has swept through American institutions, seeking to reclaim items once ensconced at the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, which was one of the world’s most richly appointed imperial residences until British and French troops plundered it in 1860.”
A.L. Kennedy: In Praise Of Rewriting
“A writer who thinks, who rewrites, isn’t just bucking an ugly trend. He or she is also taking control of a power that can delight the heart, encourage, entrance. That same power can deceive, betray and murder and it is a matter of basic self-defence to keep ourselves as literate as possible, as strong as possible in our words.”
More Annoying Than Kirkus Critics: Anonymous Amateurs
“Granted, at Kirkus many of those critics were anonymous freelancers who were paid about $50 per review…. But as dangerous as it can be to instill power in reviewers who work for cheap (and are therefore less experienced), there’s now an even more menacing form of arbiter in our midst: the customer reviewer. And he works for free.”
Roy E. Disney, 79
Nephew of Walt and son of Disney Co. business head Roy O., Roy E. Disney spearheaded the corporate revolt that led to the installation of Michael Eisner, Frank Wells and Jeffrey Katzenberg at the company’s helm. Roy E. then revived Disney’s flagging animation division, turning out a string of massive hits including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King.
The Movie That Changes The Way Movies Are Made
James Cameron had to change the entire movie industry before he could make Avatar…