AJ Four Ways: Text Only (by date) | headlines only
DANCE
IDEAS
- Good Morning
The Writers Guild has a new deal — four years, notably longer than the three-year contracts that have been Hollywood’s norm since the 1940s (The Hollywood Reporter). What the guild is really buying is time to figure out how AI reshapes the work before the next negotiation.
That question is all over today’s feed. A NYT freelancer used AI to write a book review, prompting the obvious rejoinder: criticism is a human conversation, not a summary job (The Conversation). Meanwhile, accusations that everything is AI-generated are proliferating so fast that “Proudly Human” verification badges are now a thing — though verifying humanness turns out to be its own problem (The Verge).
Elsewhere, the contraction continues. Portland State has eliminated its once-storied dance program (Oregon ArtsWatch). An Atlanta theatre that just lost its lease is asking its audience for real-estate leads (American Theatre). And the Smithsonian’s board sits with empty seats as the White House stalls appointments (The New York Times).
After 11 years in court, heirs have finally reclaimed a Modigliani looted by the Nazis (The New York Times).
All of our stories below.
- “Blows Off the Dust of History”
Reviewing my new novel “The Disciple: A Wagnerian Tale of the Gilded Age,” the British critic Clive Paget writes in “Musical America” that it’s “a richly detailed depiction of [New York] at the apogee of the Gilded Age and its embrace of all things Wagnerian.” His review reads in part:
- The Writers Guild Has Reached A Tentative Four-Year Deal With Studios
“If given the stamp of approval, the deal will be notable for its unusually long term. Three-year deals have generally been the norm since at least the 1940s for Hollywood unions,” but the extended 2023 strikes changed things. – The Hollywood Reporter
- Heists Are So Hot Right Now, From Art To KitKats, But Why Are We Fascinated?
“What is it about these heists that people like, as long as nobody gets hurt?” – The Guardian (UK)
- This Guy Was Set Up By An Amazon Comedy Wherein He, Accidentally, Played The Part To Perfection
Anthony Norman thought he was just doing a job. But no, says a writer for the weirdly Truman Show-like series: “It was so much more than we ever could have hoped for. … He’s a true hero.” – The New York Times
ISSUES
- Dali Made Some Iffy Choices, Including Layering Whites And Then Varnishing Them
“Dalí prescribes this very method, deeming zinc white the color with which ‘you will achieve the most absolute whites in your picture.’ But chemically speaking, this approach causes problems.” – Artnet
- After 11 Years In Court, Heirs Reclaim A Modigliani Looted By The Nazis
“The claim, registered in a New York lawsuit filed in 2015, has long been disputed by the Nahmad family, a prominent dynasty of art dealers that wields enormous power in the international art market.” But a federal judge (finally) ruled for the claimants. – The New York Times
- China Orders Audit Of All Its Museums After Nanjing Scandal
China has ordered a sweeping, nationwide audit of its state-run museums after a scandal at one of its top institutions revealed that national treasures had quietly slipped into the private market, according to Hong Kong newspaper South Morning China Post. – ARTnews
- Who Should Design New York City’s Next Wave Of Iconic Buildings?
New York is missing out on the ideas of designers who could find surprising paths through an obstacle course of conventions, whose experience with the constraints and cultures of other continents might loosen New York’s rigid set of habits. – New York Magazine
- Cyberattackers Strike Uffizi Galleries In Florence
The museums’ management acknowledged an attack earlier this year, but denied any major security breach or theft of data. The statement came after Corriere della Sera reported that hackers had infiltrated the galleries’ network, taken control of the photographic server, and sent a ransom demand to the director’s personal phone. – Reuters (Yahoo!)
MEDIA
- Honestly, Who Would Serve On The Smithsonian’s Advisory Board Right Now?
Also, what’s that board going to look like once the president gets finished with it? “Smithsonian officials declined to comment on the appointment process, and offered no explanation for the delays.” – The New York Times
- The Increasing Accusations That Everything Is Made With AI
- PayPal And Other Online Payment Systems Seem To Be Silencing Media Sites They Don’t Like
“Payment services don’t have any incentive to consider the value of controversial and unpopular speech or how it may benefit our society.” – LitHub
- Clowns March Through Bolivia’s Capital To Protest New School Law
“The (fully-costumed) clowns gathered in front of the Ministry of Education in La Paz to oppose a decree published in February. The new mandate says schools must give 200 days of lessons each year — effectively banning schools from hosting the special events where these entertainers are frequently employed.” – AP
- Documents: Ticketmaster Raised Fees After All-In Pricing Was Forced On It
The Federal Trade Commission last May began requiring Ticketmaster to disclose concert ticket fees upfront – a practice known as all-in pricing. But documents obtained by the Guardian in public records requests show how Ticketmaster simply raised other fees so it wouldn’t lose money. – The Guardian
MUSIC
- Is The Vice President Trying To Use His Book Titles To Squash The Books Of Bell Hooks?
No, you can’t “steal” a book title, but this is … hm, interesting. – LitHub
- How That Guy Is Reshaping The English Language
“The president uses verbs to evade responsibility and even proclaim a new form of leadership. Perhaps surprisingly, this is true even when Mr. Trump is proudly, if also prematurely, declaiming military successes.” – The New York Times
- HarperCollins Partners With AI Company For Animation
HarperCollins has announced a multi-year partnership with Toonstar, an “AI-powered” animation studio, to adapt a slate of the publisher’s titles into original YouTube series. – Publishers Weekly
- A Crisis In Writing? Let’s Consider It Historically
For the first 40,000 years of its existence, it was simply an abstract symbolic system to process complex data; only in the last 3,000 years did mankind acquire the strange notion that these sign-systems might correspond to the grunts and gurgles they used for everyday communication. – Unherd
- Norway’s Main Easter Pastime Is Going To A Rural Cabin And Reading Crime Novels
Ever since a publisher’s clever marketing trick in 1923, Norwegians have associated the period around Easter with crime fiction. The phenomenon is called påskekrim (Easter crime) and it’s ubiquitous. And since Norway is usually still cold this time of year, holing up and reading makes sense. – BBC
PEOPLE
- Good Morning
The Writers Guild has a new deal — four years, notably longer than the three-year contracts that have been Hollywood’s norm since the 1940s (The Hollywood Reporter). What the guild is really buying is time to figure out how AI reshapes the work before the next negotiation.
That question is all over today’s feed. A NYT freelancer used AI to write a book review, prompting the obvious rejoinder: criticism is a human conversation, not a summary job (The Conversation). Meanwhile, accusations that everything is AI-generated are proliferating so fast that “Proudly Human” verification badges are now a thing — though verifying humanness turns out to be its own problem (The Verge).
Elsewhere, the contraction continues. Portland State has eliminated its once-storied dance program (Oregon ArtsWatch). An Atlanta theatre that just lost its lease is asking its audience for real-estate leads (American Theatre). And the Smithsonian’s board sits with empty seats as the White House stalls appointments (The New York Times).
After 11 years in court, heirs have finally reclaimed a Modigliani looted by the Nazis (The New York Times).
All of our stories below.
- “Blows Off the Dust of History”
Reviewing my new novel “The Disciple: A Wagnerian Tale of the Gilded Age,” the British critic Clive Paget writes in “Musical America” that it’s “a richly detailed depiction of [New York] at the apogee of the Gilded Age and its embrace of all things Wagnerian.” His review reads in part:
- The Writers Guild Has Reached A Tentative Four-Year Deal With Studios
“If given the stamp of approval, the deal will be notable for its unusually long term. Three-year deals have generally been the norm since at least the 1940s for Hollywood unions,” but the extended 2023 strikes changed things. – The Hollywood Reporter
- Heists Are So Hot Right Now, From Art To KitKats, But Why Are We Fascinated?
“What is it about these heists that people like, as long as nobody gets hurt?” – The Guardian (UK)
- This Guy Was Set Up By An Amazon Comedy Wherein He, Accidentally, Played The Part To Perfection
Anthony Norman thought he was just doing a job. But no, says a writer for the weirdly Truman Show-like series: “It was so much more than we ever could have hoped for. … He’s a true hero.” – The New York Times
PEOPLE
- Good Morning
The Writers Guild has a new deal — four years, notably longer than the three-year contracts that have been Hollywood’s norm since the 1940s (The Hollywood Reporter). What the guild is really buying is time to figure out how AI reshapes the work before the next negotiation.
That question is all over today’s feed. A NYT freelancer used AI to write a book review, prompting the obvious rejoinder: criticism is a human conversation, not a summary job (The Conversation). Meanwhile, accusations that everything is AI-generated are proliferating so fast that “Proudly Human” verification badges are now a thing — though verifying humanness turns out to be its own problem (The Verge).
Elsewhere, the contraction continues. Portland State has eliminated its once-storied dance program (Oregon ArtsWatch). An Atlanta theatre that just lost its lease is asking its audience for real-estate leads (American Theatre). And the Smithsonian’s board sits with empty seats as the White House stalls appointments (The New York Times).
After 11 years in court, heirs have finally reclaimed a Modigliani looted by the Nazis (The New York Times).
All of our stories below.
- “Blows Off the Dust of History”
Reviewing my new novel “The Disciple: A Wagnerian Tale of the Gilded Age,” the British critic Clive Paget writes in “Musical America” that it’s “a richly detailed depiction of [New York] at the apogee of the Gilded Age and its embrace of all things Wagnerian.” His review reads in part:
- The Writers Guild Has Reached A Tentative Four-Year Deal With Studios
“If given the stamp of approval, the deal will be notable for its unusually long term. Three-year deals have generally been the norm since at least the 1940s for Hollywood unions,” but the extended 2023 strikes changed things. – The Hollywood Reporter
- Heists Are So Hot Right Now, From Art To KitKats, But Why Are We Fascinated?
“What is it about these heists that people like, as long as nobody gets hurt?” – The Guardian (UK)
- This Guy Was Set Up By An Amazon Comedy Wherein He, Accidentally, Played The Part To Perfection
Anthony Norman thought he was just doing a job. But no, says a writer for the weirdly Truman Show-like series: “It was so much more than we ever could have hoped for. … He’s a true hero.” – The New York Times
THEATRE
VISUAL
- Heists Are So Hot Right Now, From Art To KitKats, But Why Are We Fascinated?
“What is it about these heists that people like, as long as nobody gets hurt?” – The Guardian (UK)
- Making Technology So Easy To Use Was Clearly A Huge Design Error
“What started as a technique to support human understanding in the face of increasingly complex tools became a way to replace human understanding. Ease became an unquestioned good. Complexity became something to hide.” – Slate
- Dear NYT Freelancer Who Used AI To ‘Write’ A Book Review, You’ve Missed The Point
“The role of the critic isn’t to summarise or repackage art, but to actively participate in a conversation about it,” and using AI isn’t going to help with that. – The Conversation
- What Age-Verification Laws Are Really About: Centralized Control And Censorship
The letter characterizes this tech, also known as “age assurance,” as a tactic for the “centralization of power.” The letter notes, “Those deciding which age-based controls need to exist, and those enforcing them gain a tremendous influence on what content is accessible to whom on the internet.” – The Baffler
- Study: UK Teachers Report Decline In Student Cognitive Skills Because Of AI
Two-thirds said they had observed the decline among children who they also said no longer felt the need to spell because of voice-to-text technology. – The Guardian
