ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

ISSUES

Harvard Has Been Quietly Dismantling DEI Programs

Over the last several months, Harvard has made significant changes to identity-focused programming — eliminating or rebranding entire programs abruptly and with minimal, if any, public explanation. - The Crimson

Iceland Tries To Make Peace With The Tourism Boom It Sought Out In The 2010s

In 2010, to boost an economy still reeling from a 2008 banking crisis, Iceland’s government took advantage of the global attention brought by a volcanic eruption (which disrupted air traffic for days) to start a major advertising campaign for tourism. That campaign worked all too well. - The New York Times

YouTubers Sue Burning Man For Using Nevada Police To Block Filming Of Cleanup

“The owner of a popular YouTube channel has filed a federal lawsuit alleging that organizers of the Burning Man festival prevented filmmakers from recording cleanup efforts in 2024 by using public law enforcement as private security.” - Las Vegas Review-Journal (MSN)

A Crisis In Australia’s Arts Sector. Is There A Way To Revitalize The Arts?

Left as it is, the nation’s not-for-profit performing arts sector will not survive. The whole system is teetering on the edge of artistic and financial viability. - The Guardian

Federal Court Slaps Down New NEA Prohibitions Against Funding “Gender Ideology”

The lawsuit was filed in March by several arts organizations, including Rhode Island Latino Arts, which promotes art made by Latinos, and National Queer Theater, a New York company. It challenged new agency regulations, initially introduced in February, stating that federal funds “shall not be used to promote gender ideology.” - The New York Times

Minnesota Art Groups See Some Glimmers Through The Challenges

“In a time of storm, cows run and take cover, which prolongs the experience. But buffalo run to the storm to get through it quicker. That’s the type of bravery we need to get through our challenges.” - The Star-Tribune

Is Licensing A Better Solution Than Suing For AI Copyright?

One method some people are starting to explore is licensed use. So what exactly does that mean – and is it really a solution to the growing copyright problems AI presents? - The Conversation

The College Admissions Game Is Rigged

We trade admissions tips in Reddit threads, spend our vacations squeezing in yet another campus tour and treat every rejection as proof that the system is broken. But we’re missing the bigger picture. The frantic competition that we’ve made the norm is based on a lie about what makes a college education truly valuable. - The New York Times

Why Authoritarians Really Hate Satirists

“Satirists pose a danger to the likes of Putin and Donald Trump because they expose that their claims to greatness are illusions and validate that the people oppressed by their governance aren’t crazy.” - Salon

Will The Magicians Of LA’s Iconic Magic Castle Let Their Landlord Take Over?

For decades, visitors have been drawn by the idea of dressing to the nines and roaming room to room, sipping cocktails as conjurers and sleight-of-hand artists ply their trade. Performers and members have included Cary Grant, Johnny Carson, Orson Welles, Jason Alexander, Neil Patrick Harris and Larry Wilmore. - Los Angeles Times

A Fake Review Plague Is Threatening Businesses

Fraudsters are extorting businesses for hundreds of dollars each by threatening to post fake negative reviews on Google Maps — or posting fake negative reviews and then demanding a payment to remove them, according to reports from multiple businesses and data from an industry watchdog. - The New York Times

Sarah McLachlan Cancels Lilith Fair Documentary Premiere Performance Over Disney’s Little Free Speech Issue

McLachlan, introducing the ABC News Studios-distributed movie: "I’ve grappled with being here tonight and around what to say about the present situation that we are all faced with. … We have collectively decided not to perform but instead to stand in solidarity in support of free speech.” - The Hollywood Reporter

London’s Wembley Stadium Just Hosted A Big Music Benefit For Gaza

That was a first in Britain, an arena concert supporting Palestine. "During the four-hour show, the biggest ovation from the crowd … went to Francesca Albanese, a United Nations expert on the Palestinian territories who gave a nine-minute speech.” - The New York Times

What Comedians In The US May Have To Do Next

Kiss the ring. Be a “Kremlin star.” Or face life without a broadcast deal (which, let’s face it, is the common fate of most artists in any case). - The New York Times

The US Government Is Taking Another Run At Breaking Up Google

“Like every antitrust trial, there’s still a long road ahead. ... Even if Brinkema orders a breakup, it could be years until it’s implemented.” - The Verge (Archive Today)

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