ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today's Stories

Broadway’s Profitable Thanksgiving Week

With total attendance holding steady – and three fewer shows on the roster – the increase in receipts can be attributed to a 27% bump in average ticket price: $151, compared to the previous week’s $118. Overall, 90% of Broadway seats were filled during the holiday week. - Deadline

How Art Works On Us

A gesture, a tear, or just silence may be more eloquent than words. It is this ‘beyond’ in our imperfect communications, that hint at what art can do. Art aspires to a more perfect communication: one that takes us beyond the confines of the lonely self. - 3 Quarks Daily

Museum Reclassifies Roman Emperor As Trans. The Real Story Is More Complicated

While the Romans clearly engaged in acts that we today consider gay or straight sex, they would not recognise the sexual orientations we associate with them. The ancient Romans did not share the same conceptions of sexuality that we do. - The Conversation

Our Complicated Interdependent Relationship With Machines

Human beings make machines, but machines remake human society, too. Reliable, spring-driven clocks enabled precision time measurement, forcing us into regimented daily schedules, but they also helped sailors calculate their positions at sea with far greater accuracy, leading to the first reliable maps. - The Wall Street Journal

They Sold An NC Wyeth Painting Bought For $4 At A Thrift Store For $191,000 At Auction. But Not Really

The Donahues have since retaken possession of their painting from the auction house, Bonhams. All they have to show for their efforts is a new cardboard box, courtesy of the Bonhams shipping department. - The New York Times

GroupMuse: Building Classical Music Communities One Concert At A Time

"One of the big lessons on my mind recently is that certain types of communities are difficult to scale. We’ve spent a lot of years trying to grow as much as possible in order to maintain ourselves as an organization financially, and we’ve never found that the type of community we want to build has any...

Ex-CNN Boss Jeff Zucker May Well End Up Running Britain’s Telegraph And Spectator

He's the media executive fronting the bid by RedBird IMI, a joint venture between two investment funds, based in New York and Abu Dhabi, to buy the Tory-supporting newspaper and magazine in a bankruptcy auction. If successful, Zucker intends to expand the outlets into the US market and beyond. - Variety

Mellon Foundation Doubles Down On Monuments

The foundation said the half-a-billon-dollar commitment is the largest multiyear funding initiative in its history. “I feel proud that we’ve been catalysts and contributors to a larger conversation in the nation about monuments,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the foundation’s president. - The New York Times

He Holds Modern Dance History In His Hands: Meet The Chief Archivist At Jacob’s Pillow

"In 1990, then-director Sam Miller named (Norton Owen) director of preservation, where he now oversees the scholar-in-residence program, PillowTalks, pre- and post-show talks, and exhibitions. Carrying on Pillow founder Ted Shawn’s drive to document, Owen has prioritized video and continually upgraded the quality of the organization’s performance recordings." - Dance Magazine

A Prescription For American Well-Being: The Arts

At a time when more Americans feel stressed, face mental health challenges, and feel more disconnected from each other than ever before, the arts can serve as a unifier and a touchstone for our humanity, directly impacting our individual and collective well-being. - American Theatre

Architect Rafael Viñoly’s Curved-Keyboard Piano Makes Its Carnegie Hall Debut

“It looks like you’re looking at a normal piano through funny mirrors,” says Jonathan Biss, who will play Beethoven’s “Emperor Concerto" on it with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra in a concert benefiting the foundation of the late architect, who died last March. - The New York Times

Why It’s Good To Be Comfortable With Not Knowing

Those who shun the indefinite tend to see the world in shades of black and white, ignoring the gray. They are prone to jump to answers and are distressed by chaos and surprise. - Nautilus

Ancient Treasures From Crimea, Stuck In Limbo For Years In The Netherlands, Have Been Returned To Ukraine

"The collection, mostly from Crimean museums, was on loan to Amsterdam's Allard Pierson Museum when Russia annexed Ukraine's peninsula in 2014. Both Ukraine and Russia claimed the items but" — after a decade of legal proceedings — "Dutch courts backed Kyiv." - BBC

British Prime Minister Cancels Meeting With Greek Prime Minister After Parthenon Marbles Comments

According to the BBC, the decision was made after Mr. Mitsotakis, appearing on British television on Sunday, called for the marbles, which include statues of Greek gods and carved frieze panels that once decorated the Parthenon, to be returned to Athens. - The New York Times

Chicago’s Arts Institutions Are Still Struggling Post-COVID

"A decline in subscription rates, shockingly higher costs, and donations that haven't kept pace with inflation have thrown some arts organizations off-balance and spiraled others into crisis. Museums, music and dance venues have bounced back faster. Theaters struggled, perhaps due to the expense and complexity of staging." - Crain's Chicago Business

Chicago Symphony Is Bouncing Back From COVID Better Than Many Of Its Neighbors

Paid attendance and box office income are both nearing pre-pandemic levels, though they're still slightly below those of 2019. Says CEO Jeff Alexander, "We're building our way back. … We're happy. We could be happier." - Crain's Chicago Business

Chicago’s Cultural Attractions Could Draw More Visitors Even From Cook County — If Those Visitors Felt Safe Downtown

"Even residents are wary of the city’s ongoing crime surge. Barely half (53%) of Cook County residents feel safe spending time in downtown Chicago (according to a Harris poll). If locals feel unsafe in their own city, how can we expect out-of-town visitors to feel comfortable?" - Crain's Chicago Business

Many Of Chicago’s Minority-Led Small Theater Companies Are Growing — For Now

"Although the pandemic was devastating for all arts organizations, non-majority-run organizations received a lifeline (via) government funding. … These theater companies, many of them small storefront operations, were able to add staff and produce more work. The question is whether these groups will be able to sustain their momentum." - Crain's Chicago Business

Is Cookie Monster On “Sesame Street” Eating Real Cookies?

Well, yes … more or less. They are home-baked by Muppet wrangler Lara MacLean and contain entirely edible ingredients. Mind you, that doesn't mean they taste good (to humans). Flavor is not their most important quality. - The New York Times

“Authentic” Is Merriam-Webster’s Word Of The Year 2023

"Authentic cuisine. Authentic voice. Authentic self. Authenticity as artifice. Lookups for the word are routinely heavy on the dictionary company’s site but were boosted to new heights throughout the year … in (this) age of deepfakes and post-truth." - AP

By Topic

Our Complicated Interdependent Relationship With Machines

Human beings make machines, but machines remake human society, too. Reliable, spring-driven clocks enabled precision time measurement, forcing us into regimented daily schedules, but they also helped sailors calculate their positions at sea with far greater accuracy, leading to the first reliable maps. - The Wall Street Journal

Why It’s Good To Be Comfortable With Not Knowing

Those who shun the indefinite tend to see the world in shades of black and white, ignoring the gray. They are prone to jump to answers and are distressed by chaos and surprise. - Nautilus

Anodyne ChatBots Aren’t Very Useful – It’s Called The Spicy Mayo Problem

ChatGPT felt new because it was capable of something much like a discussion. You can start with a half-baked idea and develop it with the AI’s help, using it as an aid to your own creativity. However, with each iteration of ChatGPT, ever more questions generate a stock or evasive response. - The Atlantic

What Happened When My Family Disconnected From The Internet

"Without distractions, the days seemed to expand. We learned to harvest time, an idea that came to us in national forests across the U.S. We realized that days undisturbed by digital interruptions made time slow down and improved the quality of our time together." - The Atlantic

The Internet Feels Like It’s Getting Less True

But there are still ways to avoid deepfakes, scams, and false news. - Wired

Why Are There Suddenly So Many Sexual Assault Lawsuits Against Musicians?

The Adult Survivors Act expired in New York on Friday, and many alleged survivors got their cases in just under the wire. - Washington Post

How Art Works On Us

A gesture, a tear, or just silence may be more eloquent than words. It is this ‘beyond’ in our imperfect communications, that hint at what art can do. Art aspires to a more perfect communication: one that takes us beyond the confines of the lonely self. - 3 Quarks Daily

Museum Reclassifies Roman Emperor As Trans. The Real Story Is More Complicated

While the Romans clearly engaged in acts that we today consider gay or straight sex, they would not recognise the sexual orientations we associate with them. The ancient Romans did not share the same conceptions of sexuality that we do. - The Conversation

A Prescription For American Well-Being: The Arts

At a time when more Americans feel stressed, face mental health challenges, and feel more disconnected from each other than ever before, the arts can serve as a unifier and a touchstone for our humanity, directly impacting our individual and collective well-being. - American Theatre

British Prime Minister Cancels Meeting With Greek Prime Minister After Parthenon Marbles Comments

According to the BBC, the decision was made after Mr. Mitsotakis, appearing on British television on Sunday, called for the marbles, which include statues of Greek gods and carved frieze panels that once decorated the Parthenon, to be returned to Athens. - The New York Times

Chicago’s Arts Institutions Are Still Struggling Post-COVID

"A decline in subscription rates, shockingly higher costs, and donations that haven't kept pace with inflation have thrown some arts organizations off-balance and spiraled others into crisis. Museums, music and dance venues have bounced back faster. Theaters struggled, perhaps due to the expense and complexity of staging." - Crain's Chicago Business

Chicago’s Cultural Attractions Could Draw More Visitors Even From Cook County — If Those Visitors Felt Safe Downtown

"Even residents are wary of the city’s ongoing crime surge. Barely half (53%) of Cook County residents feel safe spending time in downtown Chicago (according to a Harris poll). If locals feel unsafe in their own city, how can we expect out-of-town visitors to feel comfortable?" - Crain's Chicago Business

GroupMuse: Building Classical Music Communities One Concert At A Time

"One of the big lessons on my mind recently is that certain types of communities are difficult to scale. We’ve spent a lot of years trying to grow as much as possible in order to maintain ourselves as an organization financially, and we’ve never found that the type of community we want to build...

Architect Rafael Viñoly’s Curved-Keyboard Piano Makes Its Carnegie Hall Debut

“It looks like you’re looking at a normal piano through funny mirrors,” says Jonathan Biss, who will play Beethoven’s “Emperor Concerto" on it with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra in a concert benefiting the foundation of the late architect, who died last March. - The New York Times

Chicago Symphony Is Bouncing Back From COVID Better Than Many Of Its Neighbors

Paid attendance and box office income are both nearing pre-pandemic levels, though they're still slightly below those of 2019. Says CEO Jeff Alexander, "We're building our way back. … We're happy. We could be happier." - Crain's Chicago Business

The Indispensable New Music Ensemble

With that sprawling stylistic range and its technical mastery, its enthusiastic curiosity about eminent and student composers alike, its precision and passion, the JACK has, since its founding in 2005, become one of contemporary music’s indispensable ensembles. - The New York Times

When A Music Festival Isn’t Really A Festival (We’re Looking At You, California)

Ideally, music festivals serve two purposes. They engage audiences by focusing on some topic in concentrated fashion and they generate interest in a given organization by presenting something out of the ordinary. But when they do neither, they mostly make observers wonder what went wrong—even when much went right. - The Wall Street Journal

UK University Music Programs Are Closing. Why?

The academic music sector is fractured, especially in relation to classical music. This mirrors wider cuts or proposed cuts to English National Opera, BBC Orchestras and other institutions, and needs major shifts in government policy if the situation is to be reversed. - The Critic

They Sold An NC Wyeth Painting Bought For $4 At A Thrift Store For $191,000 At Auction. But Not Really

The Donahues have since retaken possession of their painting from the auction house, Bonhams. All they have to show for their efforts is a new cardboard box, courtesy of the Bonhams shipping department. - The New York Times

Mellon Foundation Doubles Down On Monuments

The foundation said the half-a-billon-dollar commitment is the largest multiyear funding initiative in its history. “I feel proud that we’ve been catalysts and contributors to a larger conversation in the nation about monuments,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the foundation’s president. - The New York Times

Ancient Treasures From Crimea, Stuck In Limbo For Years In The Netherlands, Have Been Returned To Ukraine

"The collection, mostly from Crimean museums, was on loan to Amsterdam's Allard Pierson Museum when Russia annexed Ukraine's peninsula in 2014. Both Ukraine and Russia claimed the items but" — after a decade of legal proceedings — "Dutch courts backed Kyiv." - BBC

Ai WeiWei On Cancellation Of His European Shows Because Of His Comments

“When a society cannot withstand diverse voices, it teeters on the brink of collapse. I am committed to voicing my perspective. The irony lies in staging such an exhibition precisely when art is most crucial for expressing alternative perspectives. Yet, self-censorship robs artists of this vital opportunity, a poignant contradiction in a time demanding...

Why Is This Artist Teaching A Robot Dog How To Paint?

Artist Agnieska Pilat isn't worried that Basia the robot dog might take her job. She "is a self-described techno-optimist who loves the robots: she even lives with Basia, and takes her for walks around her neighbourhood in New York City." - The Guardian (UK)

Was This Hopper Painting Stolen Or Saved?

A scholar says a youthful Hopper self-portrait at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts came from "a vast swindle by the late Rev. Arthayer R. Sanborn, whom she says stole hundreds of early Hopper works." - Boston Globe

Ex-CNN Boss Jeff Zucker May Well End Up Running Britain’s Telegraph And Spectator

He's the media executive fronting the bid by RedBird IMI, a joint venture between two investment funds, based in New York and Abu Dhabi, to buy the Tory-supporting newspaper and magazine in a bankruptcy auction. If successful, Zucker intends to expand the outlets into the US market and beyond. - Variety

“Authentic” Is Merriam-Webster’s Word Of The Year 2023

"Authentic cuisine. Authentic voice. Authentic self. Authenticity as artifice. Lookups for the word are routinely heavy on the dictionary company’s site but were boosted to new heights throughout the year … in (this) age of deepfakes and post-truth." - AP

Suppressing History: My Book Was Banned In Tennessee

The law, passed by the Republican-dominated legislature, prohibits schools from teaching fourteen concepts, including that any individual is “inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously” and that “this state or the United States is fundamentally or irredeemably racist or sexist.” Our book examines the lingering effects of racist policies after Emancipation. -...

Irish Author Paul Lynch Wins The Booker For A ‘Soul-Shattering’ Novel

The book, Prophet Song, pictures a Dublin descended into fascist tyranny. - The Guardian (UK)

Europe Is Still Living In The Wreckage Of The First World War

Or so says author Alice Winn. Also, "In the UK World War One is a selling point; in the US it’s more of an obstacle." - The Guardian (UK)

A ‘City Of Books’ In Korea Has More Than 900 Publishing-Related Business

This was a civic decision: "In clustering all of its bookmakers in one place, South Korea hoped to better produce and distribute a major part of its culture." - The New York Times

Is Cookie Monster On “Sesame Street” Eating Real Cookies?

Well, yes … more or less. They are home-baked by Muppet wrangler Lara MacLean and contain entirely edible ingredients. Mind you, that doesn't mean they taste good (to humans). Flavor is not their most important quality. - The New York Times

The Beatles’ “New” Song Suggests Some Thorny Uses For AI

While the current legacy-I.P. production boom is focused on fictional characters, there’s no reason to think it won’t, in the future, take the form of beloved real-life entertainers being endlessly re-presented to us with help from new tools. - The New York Times

British Independent Film Is Having A Real Moment

"No longer does the phrase 'British independent film' instantly bring to mind a particular sort of gritty, miserable social-realist drama." Instead, think psychosexual dramas, delightful rom-coms, and much, much more. - The Observer (UK)

Studios Need Franchises, Says Oppenheimer Director Christopher Nolan

Otherwise, where would the money for other movies come from? - Variety

Fact-Checking ‘The Crown’ On Diana’s Death

"In 1999, French investigating judges assigned sole responsibility to the driver," not paparazzi. But on the other hand, why didn't he princess have police protection? - Washington Post

Making Meaningful Reality TV

One casting director says it depends on the cast, of course - and he loves "finding these untapped, undiscovered stars." - Slate

He Holds Modern Dance History In His Hands: Meet The Chief Archivist At Jacob’s Pillow

"In 1990, then-director Sam Miller named (Norton Owen) director of preservation, where he now oversees the scholar-in-residence program, PillowTalks, pre- and post-show talks, and exhibitions. Carrying on Pillow founder Ted Shawn’s drive to document, Owen has prioritized video and continually upgraded the quality of the organization’s performance recordings." - Dance Magazine

The Children Of City Ballet’s Nutcracker

One candy cane (aka a "Hoops"): "Not all ballet companies involve children in their productions, and New York City Ballet kind of prioritizes children. I think that’s cool. It makes you feel special, like sometimes it’s a confidence boost." - The New York Times

Pina Bausch’s The Rite Of Spring Has Spent Two Years Becoming An African Dance

For African dancers to perform it, said Senegalese choreographer, dance company founder and dancer Germaine Acogny, "felt absolutely right." - The New York Times

Cleveland Ballet CEO Resigns Under Controversy

The board had suspended Michael Krasnyansky and his wife, Artistic Director Gladisa Guadalupe, pending results of the investigation. - The Plain Dealer

Syracuse City Ballet Fires Most Of Its Dancers After They Spent A Week On Strike

Out of eight professional dancers in the company, five were fired and another put on administrative leave. The dancers say they have had concerns with both hostile working environment and physical risk since the replacement of the previous artistic director with company dancer Caroline Sheridan in 2022. - CNY Central (Syracuse)

Two Former Dancers Sue Richmond Ballet For $21 Million Over Eating Disorders

"In a pair of lawsuits filed in Richmond Circuit Court, the dancers say the company required them to maintain a 'dangerously unhealthy weight' to qualify for roles. They allege the pressure led to eating disorders and a cascade of health problems, including the loss of their menstrual cycles." - Axios

Broadway’s Profitable Thanksgiving Week

With total attendance holding steady – and three fewer shows on the roster – the increase in receipts can be attributed to a 27% bump in average ticket price: $151, compared to the previous week’s $118. Overall, 90% of Broadway seats were filled during the holiday week. - Deadline

Many Of Chicago’s Minority-Led Small Theater Companies Are Growing — For Now

"Although the pandemic was devastating for all arts organizations, non-majority-run organizations received a lifeline (via) government funding. … These theater companies, many of them small storefront operations, were able to add staff and produce more work. The question is whether these groups will be able to sustain their momentum." - Crain's Chicago Business

Why Sondheim Is So Hard To Let Go Of

Ravishing individual songs may reassure us that no one is alone but, in the five decades since “Company” made his reputation, Mr. Sondheim had been creating group portraits of a crowded world where loneliness was an existential fact. - The New York Times

A Man Who Investigated The Crimes Of Ferdinand And Imelda Marcos Goes To The Broadway Musical About Them

"Having seen and enjoyed the show in New York, I now realize that I missed the obvious during my years in Manila. The Marcoses, the now-94-year-old Imelda in particular, had for years captured the affection and votes of ordinary Filipinos by entertaining them." - NPR

How They Turned The Saw Horror Franchise Into A Musical

"'This is a love story that I think people wanted for 20 years,' said Stephanie Rosenberg, the director of Saw the Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw." - NPR

Non-Profit Theatres Are Finding Ways To Survive

The leaders of these theaters define success differently than they did before the pandemic, but they are optimistic about the future and intent on connecting with new and younger audiences. - The Wall Street Journal

Marty Krofft, Co-Producer Of “H.R. Pufnstuf” And A Slew Of Other Children’s TV Shows, Is Dead At 86

"Sid & Marty Krofft Pictures became a household name in the 1970s, helping launch them into creating and producing family and kids shows for more than 50 years. Eventually, Marty Krofft would be referred to as the 'King of Saturday Mornings.'” - CNN

At 72 She Dreamed Of Being A Musician And Picked Up A Trombone. At 84 She’s Got A Career

Now 84, Noreen Davies has gigged throughout the West Midlands with groups exploring everything from the blues to vintage jazz and big band funk. No matter the tune, she has stayed true to her vision of bending the notes on the giant horn, twisting and wailing like a held string on an electric guitar....

Experimental Musician And Composer Catherine Christer Hennix Has Died At 75

Hennix "fused minimalist drones, mathematical logic and global spiritual traditions into an approach she called 'infinitary composition.'" - The New York Times

Why Is Joaquin Phoenix So Very Unhappy?

"The statement his acting seems to be making, more and more, is that the world is too dire, too mired in injustice — that there are too many people putting cream in their coffee — for him to allow any pleasure to seep into his acting." - Variety

Actor Sara Porkalob On Speaking Her Truth In Theatre

"In many ways, starting in college, I deliberately refrained from following the art that was made at those epicenters because I was really worried that as a young artist, if I consumed that much art, it would unconsciously determine how I made art." - San Francisco Chronicle

Talent Agency Drops Susan Sarandon After Remarks On Hamas/Israel War

United Talent dropped Sarandon after remarks at a rally in New York City: “There are a lot of people that are afraid, afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence,” she said. -...

AJ Premium Classifieds

Presidio Theatre (San Francisco) seeks Executive Director

The successful candidate will be a strong leader who combines a broad knowledge of the performing arts, film arts, and speaker series, with a strong record of success in operating a theatre as a community resource.

President – International Storytelling Center

The right leader for ISC will come to this opportunity with a love and appreciation for the art of storytelling synchronized with the ability to move the organization to the next level operationally, with greater alignment of strategy and execution.

Managing Director – Children’s Theatre Company

The Managing Director will serve as co-leader of this respected institution with a new Artistic Director who will soon be determined through a complementary search process.

Inaugural Managing Director – Music of Remembrance

After 26 years, Music of Remembrance is at a point of inflection of expansion, and seeking an entrepreneurial and collaborative leader.

Executive Director – Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

The incoming Executive Director will have the extraordinary opportunity to lead the KIA into a new phase of its history, partnering with the board and senior leaders

Executive Director Opportunity – Seraphic Fire

Seraphic Fire invites inquiries from entrepreneurial arts leaders interested in serving as its next Executive Director.

Chief Executive Officer – Music Teachers National Association

The new CEO will inherit an organization that is financially stable, with strong relationships in the national and global profession, a nearly 150-year legacy of relevance and impact

AJClassifieds

Assistant Professor, Conductor & Orchestral Ensemble Coordinator

The School of Music at the University of South Florida is searching for an innovative, creative and collaborative orchestra conductor and coordinator of Orchestral Ensembles.

Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Theatre

The Theatre Program of Columbia University School of the Arts seeks to fill a position at the rank of Assistant Professor of Professional Practice in Theatre (Acting/Directing/Producing), to begin July 1, 2024

Box Office Manager

Yale School of Music seeks a highly qualified Box Office Manager.

Phoenix Boys Choir seeks Managing Director

The ideal candidate will be an entrepreneur and ambassador for the organization, building the brand and strengthening the organization’s reach and impact.

The Bruce Museum Seeks Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO), in partnership with the...

SEEKING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DALLAS WINDS

The Board of Trustees is seeking to hire a full-time Executive Director for the organization following the retirement of Kim Campbell, in the Spring of 2024, after almost 40 years of service

Teaching Faculty I, 9 Month Salaried – Arts Administration (College of...

One of the nation's elite research universities, Florida State University preserves, expands, and disseminates knowledge in the sciences, technology, arts, humanities, and professions.

Assistant/Associate/Full Professor – Director of Opera

The UCLA Music Department in the Herb Alpert School of Music invites applications for a tenured or tenure-track professorial position as Director of Opera.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis seeks Augustin Family Artistic Director

The Augustin Family Artistic Director (Artistic Director) of The...

Hiring for Producing Director, Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences

The position leads all aspects of commissioning, development, and overall producing of the TYA season of in-house and touring productions.

Chicago’s Arts Institutions Are Still Struggling Post-COVID

"A decline in subscription rates, shockingly higher costs, and donations that haven't kept pace with inflation have thrown some arts organizations off-balance and spiraled others into crisis. Museums, music and dance venues have bounced back faster. Theaters struggled, perhaps due to the expense and complexity of staging." - Crain's Chicago Business

A Man Who Investigated The Crimes Of Ferdinand And Imelda Marcos Goes To The Broadway Musical About Them

"Having seen and enjoyed the show in New York, I now realize that I missed the obvious during my years in Manila. The Marcoses, the now-94-year-old Imelda in particular, had for years captured the affection and votes of ordinary Filipinos by entertaining them." - NPR

Why Is This Artist Teaching A Robot Dog How To Paint?

Artist Agnieska Pilat isn't worried that Basia the robot dog might take her job. She "is a self-described techno-optimist who loves the robots: she even lives with Basia, and takes her for walks around her neighbourhood in New York City." - The Guardian (UK)

Irish Author Paul Lynch Wins The Booker For A ‘Soul-Shattering’ Novel

The book, Prophet Song, pictures a Dublin descended into fascist tyranny. - The Guardian (UK)

Remember When The UK Was Going To Return The Parthenon Marbles?

Greece remembers. But does Britain? And where exactly do the negotiations stand? - The Guardian (UK)

You’ll Never Guess Who Won The Streaming Wars

A Merry Scottish Christmas, anyone? - Wired

Spotify Quits Uruguay After Lawmakers Mandate Equitable Pay For Artists

Article 285 will put into copyright law the “right to a fair and equitable remuneration” for all “agreements entered into by authors, composers, performers, directors and screenwriters with respect to their faculty of public communication and making available to the public of phonograms and audiovisual recordings”. - The Guardian

How Mass Culture Gave Rebellion To The Individual

How did we get here, where men who benefit most from our social structures, position themselves as the little guy? This comes from a longer history of political shifts in America and of the rise of mass cultural consumption as a means of political expression. - 3 Quarks Daily

Redefining And Redeploying Expertise

The phenomenon is sped by automation, which usurps routine tasks, leaving employees to handle the nonroutine and unanticipated—and the continued advance of which throws the skills employers value into flux. It would be supremely ironic if the advance of the knowledge economy had the effect of devaluing knowledge. - The Atlantic

Athletes Are Reshaping Parts Of The Art Market

"Many sports figures are being courted by galleries, auction houses, art shows and museums." - The New York Times

Nora Roberts Has Been Laughing All The Way To The Bank

"Before Roberts, the romance genre was dominated by tepid and virginal women who were overpowered by brooding men. Roberts changed all that by thrusting romance into the modern era." - The New York Times

An Epic Pandemic Theatre Trek

Part I, in which "a Lakota playwright, 7 Indigenous actors, and an L.A.-based ensemble survive a pandemic, cross thousands of prairie miles, and confront centuries of history to make a play." - American Theatre
function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');