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DANCE
IDEAS
- AI writes Molière. Higher ed wobbles.
Good Morning,
Three AI stories today are doing roughly the same thing in different professions. The Sorbonne fed Molière to a language model and got an “experimental play” in his style (The Guardian). Architecture firms are being forced to rethink a working model that hasn’t changed in decades (ArchDaily). And the New Yorker asks whether AI makes college obsolete (The New Yorker).
The higher-ed sector is already wobbling: Humanities chairs surveyed by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences are pessimistic about their departments’ future (InsideHigherEd). Ransomware crews picked finals week to take Canvas hostage and threaten to leak data on 275 million users (The Atlantic). And two years after UArts collapsed, its $77 million endowment is still tangled in court (Philadelphia Inquirer) — institutional failure has a long aftermath.
Two funding experiments worth holding next to each other: Cleveland’s cigarette tax for the arts has worked so well it’s collapsing the revenue source it depends on (The New York Times), and a New York State guaranteed-income trial found that artists given $1,000 a month didn’t stop working — they changed the kind of work they did (The Conversation).
Then there’s the timeless Rex Reed, dead at 87 (Variety).
All of our stories below.
- What Makes Some People So Good At Picking Up And Changing Accents?
One study found that the best predictor of whether someone could imitate a new accent was being able to execute a tongue-twister. A good ear for music and openness to new experiences also correlate with skill at accents. – BBC
- Two Women Who Shaped Houston’s Art Scene For Decades
Maybe these two weren’t wildcatters or captains of industry, but their contributions to the cultural life of Houston and its global reputation as a destination for the arts are significant. – Texas Monthly
- The Stigma Against Boys Studying Dance Still Lingers, But At Least It’s Weaker Now
“I think the public’s relationship with dance has changed, to the point where for the generation coming up, dance is associated more heavily with TikTok than with the Royal Ballet. I think that is what has really opened up the doors and taken away the stigma.” – The Guardian
- The Politics Behind Israel And The Eurovision Song Competition
This previously undisclosed diplomatic push to keep Israel in Eurovision was just one aspect of a drama that unfolded over the past year around the world’s most watched cultural event. – The New York Times
ISSUES
- AI Is Forcing Architecture Firms To Rethink How They Operate
Artificial intelligence has made its way into almost every corner of professional workflows, prompting the architectural industry to rethink how it works. To adapt to this shift, firms are now facing the limits of a model that has changed very little over the past few decades. – ArchDaily
- Visitors Get A Rare Closeup Look At Ceiling Murals By Klimt
The 10 paintings were done by the young Gustav Klimt and his brother at Vienna’s Burgtheater from 1886-1888. They’re currently getting a cleaning, and while the scaffolding is up, the theater is allowing some visitors to climb up and get a closer view. – AP
- Three Wildly Different Accounts On Selling Art
Three recently published books give us some perspective on the selling of art: a long-view history going back to the Middle Ages; a memoir by a successful contemporary maker; and a wistful biography of a relationship between two talented 20th-century artists who struggled to find their place commercially. – The New York Times
- Report: Museums Have Major Building Issues
Roughly 85 percent of museums across the country are dealing with deferred maintenance or major repair needs. Even more concerning, about 77 percent say they have at least one structural issue that could put their collections at risk. – ARTnews
- Turning A Classic Old Bank Into A Revitalized Arts Site
“Southwest Minnesota is dotted with these emerging multi-use art spaces that utilize older buildings, … challenging a common misconception that vibrant art scenes only exist in big cities.” – Minnesota Public Radio
MEDIA
- Inside The Ransomware Attack On Education
Hackers who had previously targeted Google and Ticketmaster had purposely chosen now, when college finals are happening, to threaten Instructure, the company that makes Canvas, that they would leak the personal information of 275 million Canvas users. – The Atlantic
- Two Years After UArts Collapsed, Its Endowment Is Still Tied Up In Court
“Many parties, including colleges that accepted UArts students and a charitable trust that had funded more than half of the endowment, have been vying for the money in court.” – The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
- Report: Humanities Department Chairs Are Pessimistic About The Field’s Future
Humanities chairs—anxious about increasing political interference, declining enrollments and students’ skepticism toward the value of humanities degrees—are largely pessimistic about the future of their departments, according to a new report from the American Academy of Arts & Sciences. – InsideHigherEd
- The City Where The Arts Are Funded By Cigarette Taxes
“Cuyahoga County, home to Cleveland, is thought to be the only place in the country where a tax on cigarettes goes to arts organizations. … The innovative model has been so successful, raising money by making cigarettes more expensive, that it threatened its own demise.” – The New York Times
- What Academics Found When They Examined A Guaranteed-Basic-Income-For-Artists Program
“As researchers who study artists, cultural work and public policy, we evaluated this (New York State) program to see whether it achieved its stated goals. Our main finding was simple: Artists did not stop working. Instead, they changed the kind of work they did.” – The Conversation
MUSIC
- What Makes Some People So Good At Picking Up And Changing Accents?
One study found that the best predictor of whether someone could imitate a new accent was being able to execute a tongue-twister. A good ear for music and openness to new experiences also correlate with skill at accents. – BBC
- What Happens To Humanity When We Lose A Language?
“Some communities are lucky enough to have the political or cultural autonomy to protect their languages – think of Welsh or Māori – but many aren’t so fortunate. Some rue and rally; others resign themselves to decline.” – The Guardian (UK)
- If You, A Writer, Think Most Writers Are Trash, Are You A Literary Jerk?
Uh, yes. “This feels a little bit like a you-problem. And by that, I mean you need to start treating yourself (and your writing) more carefully, and with a great deal more empathy and respect.” – LitHub
- Best First Sentence In Literature?
Well, best opening, anyway. Maybe Lauren Groff? – The Atlantic
- Now Writers Who Are Children Of Other Writers Are Being Called ‘Nepo Babies,’ And That Seems Iffy
“Does having a novelist for a parent make it likely that a child will be inspired to follow? Or is it easier for children of writers to get published? I spoke to some novelists who have kept it in the family to find out.” – The Guardian (UK)
PEOPLE
- AI writes Molière. Higher ed wobbles.
Good Morning,
Three AI stories today are doing roughly the same thing in different professions. The Sorbonne fed Molière to a language model and got an “experimental play” in his style (The Guardian). Architecture firms are being forced to rethink a working model that hasn’t changed in decades (ArchDaily). And the New Yorker asks whether AI makes college obsolete (The New Yorker).
The higher-ed sector is already wobbling: Humanities chairs surveyed by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences are pessimistic about their departments’ future (InsideHigherEd). Ransomware crews picked finals week to take Canvas hostage and threaten to leak data on 275 million users (The Atlantic). And two years after UArts collapsed, its $77 million endowment is still tangled in court (Philadelphia Inquirer) — institutional failure has a long aftermath.
Two funding experiments worth holding next to each other: Cleveland’s cigarette tax for the arts has worked so well it’s collapsing the revenue source it depends on (The New York Times), and a New York State guaranteed-income trial found that artists given $1,000 a month didn’t stop working — they changed the kind of work they did (The Conversation).
Then there’s the timeless Rex Reed, dead at 87 (Variety).
All of our stories below.
- What Makes Some People So Good At Picking Up And Changing Accents?
One study found that the best predictor of whether someone could imitate a new accent was being able to execute a tongue-twister. A good ear for music and openness to new experiences also correlate with skill at accents. – BBC
- Two Women Who Shaped Houston’s Art Scene For Decades
Maybe these two weren’t wildcatters or captains of industry, but their contributions to the cultural life of Houston and its global reputation as a destination for the arts are significant. – Texas Monthly
- The Stigma Against Boys Studying Dance Still Lingers, But At Least It’s Weaker Now
“I think the public’s relationship with dance has changed, to the point where for the generation coming up, dance is associated more heavily with TikTok than with the Royal Ballet. I think that is what has really opened up the doors and taken away the stigma.” – The Guardian
- The Politics Behind Israel And The Eurovision Song Competition
This previously undisclosed diplomatic push to keep Israel in Eurovision was just one aspect of a drama that unfolded over the past year around the world’s most watched cultural event. – The New York Times
PEOPLE
- AI writes Molière. Higher ed wobbles.
Good Morning,
Three AI stories today are doing roughly the same thing in different professions. The Sorbonne fed Molière to a language model and got an “experimental play” in his style (The Guardian). Architecture firms are being forced to rethink a working model that hasn’t changed in decades (ArchDaily). And the New Yorker asks whether AI makes college obsolete (The New Yorker).
The higher-ed sector is already wobbling: Humanities chairs surveyed by the American Academy of Arts & Sciences are pessimistic about their departments’ future (InsideHigherEd). Ransomware crews picked finals week to take Canvas hostage and threaten to leak data on 275 million users (The Atlantic). And two years after UArts collapsed, its $77 million endowment is still tangled in court (Philadelphia Inquirer) — institutional failure has a long aftermath.
Two funding experiments worth holding next to each other: Cleveland’s cigarette tax for the arts has worked so well it’s collapsing the revenue source it depends on (The New York Times), and a New York State guaranteed-income trial found that artists given $1,000 a month didn’t stop working — they changed the kind of work they did (The Conversation).
Then there’s the timeless Rex Reed, dead at 87 (Variety).
All of our stories below.
- What Makes Some People So Good At Picking Up And Changing Accents?
One study found that the best predictor of whether someone could imitate a new accent was being able to execute a tongue-twister. A good ear for music and openness to new experiences also correlate with skill at accents. – BBC
- Two Women Who Shaped Houston’s Art Scene For Decades
Maybe these two weren’t wildcatters or captains of industry, but their contributions to the cultural life of Houston and its global reputation as a destination for the arts are significant. – Texas Monthly
- The Stigma Against Boys Studying Dance Still Lingers, But At Least It’s Weaker Now
“I think the public’s relationship with dance has changed, to the point where for the generation coming up, dance is associated more heavily with TikTok than with the Royal Ballet. I think that is what has really opened up the doors and taken away the stigma.” – The Guardian
- The Politics Behind Israel And The Eurovision Song Competition
This previously undisclosed diplomatic push to keep Israel in Eurovision was just one aspect of a drama that unfolded over the past year around the world’s most watched cultural event. – The New York Times
THEATRE
VISUAL
- Maybe Resilience Doesn’t Mean What You Think It Does?
Part of the appeal is that calling someone resilient in the endurance sense sounds kind. It feels like encouragement rather than judgment. But communicating kindness without taking any responsibility is just a way to make yourself feel more comfortable – that everything will be OK. – Psyche
- Study: Participating In The Arts Slows Biological Aging
The findings are the first to show that both participating in arts activities and attending events, such as viewing an exhibition, lead to people staying biologically younger. – The Guardian
- Will AI Make College Unnecessary?
The pressures on higher education seem extraordinary, even to someone like me, who is generally convinced that real change is rare, perhaps especially when it comes to America’s tried-and-tested system for replicating its élites. – The New Yorker
- We Can Look For Ourselves In Fiction, Sure, But We Have To Look Beyond As Well
“I keep having conversations with grown, discerning adults whose chief metric for their enjoyment of a book, show or movie is how relevant it is, how directly it speaks, to the granular particulars of their lived experience.” – NPR
- Why The Lost Boys Epitomize The 1980s So Alarmingly Well
And maybe, just maybe, why the movie is back as a Broadway show now. – The New York Times
