ArtsJournal Classic

AJ Four Ways: Text Only (by date) | headlines only

DANCE

    IDEAS

    • Eight Million Books Burned in Kharkiv

      Good Morning,

      A Russian drone strike in August destroyed 8 million books at a Kharkiv warehouse belonging to Ranok, a Ukrainian publisher, more than 85% of its stock, including 628,000 new schoolbooks. The government estimates 13 million Ukrainian books were destroyed this summer, a third of everything printed in the country this year (The Guardian).

      The British Museum, which has the Bayeux Tapestry on loan from France until July 2027, will now run an audio-described tour after Yusuf Ali Osman, who has no sight in either eye, filed an Equality Act claim. The museum had said light limits on the tapestry meant self-guided visits took priority (BBC).

      Robert Lazzarini, the sculptor known for distorted American symbols, has shown the work planned for the Venice Biennale’s US pavilion, which went to Alma Allen after the University of South Florida couldn’t raise $5 million. It’s at MassArt’s museum in Boston (The New York Times).

      And David Fincher’s six-year Netflix deal is over; Mank cost $25 million and spent one day on the streamer’s top 10, while The Killer took $452,000 at the box office against a $175 million budget (The Verge). Lenny Pearce, an Australian DJ, is selling out North American venues with raves for children under 5, home by 8 p.m. (NPR).

      Told on X that the AI generator Suno has “solved infinite personalized music,” a Salon writer recalls sorting college-radio mail by its RIYL stickers and finding Fleet Foxes that way (Salon).

      All of our stories below.

    • Digital Lists Are Destroying The Fabric Of Society

      “The issue goes deeper than presents. I have four kids from elementary to high-school age, and as hard as I try to expose them to life’s realities, they remain sheltered from disappointment and dissatisfaction at every turn.” – Slate

    • The British Museum Adds An Audio Tour To The Bayeux Tapestry in Response To Blind Man’s Lawsuit

      The museum apparently hadn’t thought of adding an audio description to its app, or having more audio description tours, before the lawsuit – despite saying they worked with specialists on accessibility. – BBC

    • We’re In A Gross ‘Great Man’ Statuary Backlash, But Look At Ancient Egypt

      “The great public efforts—the colossal statuary, the expansive propaganda programs, the image campaigns, the attempts to remake the world of living people—have been shattered, defaced, and refaced.” – The Atlantic

    • The Joys Of Music Discovery Don’t Include Robots

      With AI-generated “music,” “It’s not just the lack of discovery. … It’s more about the lack of anything personal behind the music. No history, no struggle, no catharsis, no exploration, no humanity. I listen to music because it’s flawed, raw and human.” – Salon

    ISSUES

    MEDIA

    MUSIC

    PEOPLE

    • Eight Million Books Burned in Kharkiv

      Good Morning,

      A Russian drone strike in August destroyed 8 million books at a Kharkiv warehouse belonging to Ranok, a Ukrainian publisher, more than 85% of its stock, including 628,000 new schoolbooks. The government estimates 13 million Ukrainian books were destroyed this summer, a third of everything printed in the country this year (The Guardian).

      The British Museum, which has the Bayeux Tapestry on loan from France until July 2027, will now run an audio-described tour after Yusuf Ali Osman, who has no sight in either eye, filed an Equality Act claim. The museum had said light limits on the tapestry meant self-guided visits took priority (BBC).

      Robert Lazzarini, the sculptor known for distorted American symbols, has shown the work planned for the Venice Biennale’s US pavilion, which went to Alma Allen after the University of South Florida couldn’t raise $5 million. It’s at MassArt’s museum in Boston (The New York Times).

      And David Fincher’s six-year Netflix deal is over; Mank cost $25 million and spent one day on the streamer’s top 10, while The Killer took $452,000 at the box office against a $175 million budget (The Verge). Lenny Pearce, an Australian DJ, is selling out North American venues with raves for children under 5, home by 8 p.m. (NPR).

      Told on X that the AI generator Suno has “solved infinite personalized music,” a Salon writer recalls sorting college-radio mail by its RIYL stickers and finding Fleet Foxes that way (Salon).

      All of our stories below.

    • Digital Lists Are Destroying The Fabric Of Society

      “The issue goes deeper than presents. I have four kids from elementary to high-school age, and as hard as I try to expose them to life’s realities, they remain sheltered from disappointment and dissatisfaction at every turn.” – Slate

    • The British Museum Adds An Audio Tour To The Bayeux Tapestry in Response To Blind Man’s Lawsuit

      The museum apparently hadn’t thought of adding an audio description to its app, or having more audio description tours, before the lawsuit – despite saying they worked with specialists on accessibility. – BBC

    • We’re In A Gross ‘Great Man’ Statuary Backlash, But Look At Ancient Egypt

      “The great public efforts—the colossal statuary, the expansive propaganda programs, the image campaigns, the attempts to remake the world of living people—have been shattered, defaced, and refaced.” – The Atlantic

    • The Joys Of Music Discovery Don’t Include Robots

      With AI-generated “music,” “It’s not just the lack of discovery. … It’s more about the lack of anything personal behind the music. No history, no struggle, no catharsis, no exploration, no humanity. I listen to music because it’s flawed, raw and human.” – Salon

    PEOPLE

    • Eight Million Books Burned in Kharkiv

      Good Morning,

      A Russian drone strike in August destroyed 8 million books at a Kharkiv warehouse belonging to Ranok, a Ukrainian publisher, more than 85% of its stock, including 628,000 new schoolbooks. The government estimates 13 million Ukrainian books were destroyed this summer, a third of everything printed in the country this year (The Guardian).

      The British Museum, which has the Bayeux Tapestry on loan from France until July 2027, will now run an audio-described tour after Yusuf Ali Osman, who has no sight in either eye, filed an Equality Act claim. The museum had said light limits on the tapestry meant self-guided visits took priority (BBC).

      Robert Lazzarini, the sculptor known for distorted American symbols, has shown the work planned for the Venice Biennale’s US pavilion, which went to Alma Allen after the University of South Florida couldn’t raise $5 million. It’s at MassArt’s museum in Boston (The New York Times).

      And David Fincher’s six-year Netflix deal is over; Mank cost $25 million and spent one day on the streamer’s top 10, while The Killer took $452,000 at the box office against a $175 million budget (The Verge). Lenny Pearce, an Australian DJ, is selling out North American venues with raves for children under 5, home by 8 p.m. (NPR).

      Told on X that the AI generator Suno has “solved infinite personalized music,” a Salon writer recalls sorting college-radio mail by its RIYL stickers and finding Fleet Foxes that way (Salon).

      All of our stories below.

    • Digital Lists Are Destroying The Fabric Of Society

      “The issue goes deeper than presents. I have four kids from elementary to high-school age, and as hard as I try to expose them to life’s realities, they remain sheltered from disappointment and dissatisfaction at every turn.” – Slate

    • The British Museum Adds An Audio Tour To The Bayeux Tapestry in Response To Blind Man’s Lawsuit

      The museum apparently hadn’t thought of adding an audio description to its app, or having more audio description tours, before the lawsuit – despite saying they worked with specialists on accessibility. – BBC

    • We’re In A Gross ‘Great Man’ Statuary Backlash, But Look At Ancient Egypt

      “The great public efforts—the colossal statuary, the expansive propaganda programs, the image campaigns, the attempts to remake the world of living people—have been shattered, defaced, and refaced.” – The Atlantic

    • The Joys Of Music Discovery Don’t Include Robots

      With AI-generated “music,” “It’s not just the lack of discovery. … It’s more about the lack of anything personal behind the music. No history, no struggle, no catharsis, no exploration, no humanity. I listen to music because it’s flawed, raw and human.” – Salon

    THEATRE

      VISUAL

      • Digital Lists Are Destroying The Fabric Of Society

        “The issue goes deeper than presents. I have four kids from elementary to high-school age, and as hard as I try to expose them to life’s realities, they remain sheltered from disappointment and dissatisfaction at every turn.” – Slate

      • When Will We Know The Answers To AI’s Most Important Questions?

        “Several of the most fundamental debates about the future and safety of AI remain unresolved. I believe we can’t expect these disagreements to be resolved until it’s too late to change course.” – Time

      • Let’s Get Real: Intelligence Is About More Than Optimization

        That slide from engineering model to human anthropology is easy to miss. We begin by saying: this is how machines work. Then, almost without noticing, we say: this is what intelligence is. And then, more dangerously still: perhaps this is what we are. – Aeon

      • An Alternative Explanation Of Consciousness

        Antonio Damasio argues, we “possess the celebrated gift of consciousness because of the continued presence and abundance of your homeostatic feelings.” According to Damasio, the conventional theories of consciousness have it backwards. – Undark

      • Staying Human In The Age Of AI

        The first step to building a better future is to acknowledge the reality of today. AI is not going away, and it is immensely capable across a wide range of domains. According to a recent Stanford study, 88% of organizations are using AI and the number is growing. – Think Like a Game Designer

      WORDS