“As a literary critic who says he aims to study books without actually reading them, Franco Moretti … [treats them] like data: taking massive digital archives of texts and using computers to scan them for patterns no human reader would have the time, attention or patience to sift out.”
Archives for April 2014
How Much Gay Sex Should A ‘Gay’ Novel Have?
On one hand, many Alan Hollinghurst fans complained about how (relatively) demure his 2012 novel The Stranger’s Child was. On another, as Michael Cunningham observed about his The Hours, “I can’t help but notice that when I finally write a book in which there are no men [redacted], I suddenly win the Pulitzer Prize.”
How To Tell When Someone Is Lying
Their lips are moving? No, it’s not that simple, even though most people tell an average of three (usually tiny) lies in a ten-minute conversation. What’s more, studies indicate that most people’s ability to tell if someone is lyng is barely better than chance.
What Buddhism Really Says About Reincarnation
For Buddhism (as opposed to Hinduism), a better word is rebirth, argues scholar Jay Garfield – and while Buddhism itself doesn’t necessarily require a belief in rebirth, actual Buddhists probably do.
Richard H. Hoggart, 95. Who Helped Save ‘Lady Chatterley’ From The Censor’s Pen
“[The] pioneering British cultural historian … was most widely known outside academia as the star witness for Lady Chatterley’s Lover in a 1960 trial that ended British censorship of that novel.”
Adjunct Professors, Unite! You Have Nothing To Lose But Your Chains! (And They Are)
“[There’s] a national labor movement in which thousands of adjuncts are fighting for change within the higher-education system. In the short-term, adjuncts are demanding a living wage, but they are also proposing long-term solutions to structural problems ailing universities.”
Philadelphia Orchestra Names New Principal Guest And Resident Conductors
“Stéphane Denève, the ebullient French conductor of the corkscrew locks who has been a frequent visitor to the orchestra’s podium, will become principal guest conductor in the fall. Romanian-born Cristian Macelaru, the orchestra’s associate conductor, will take the upgraded title of conductor in residence.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 04.28.14
Way Beyond Museum Walls: A Driving Tour
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts | Published 2014-04-29
Silence or Violence
AJBlog: We The Audience | Published 2014-04-29
Public support for the arts and the letter of the law
AJBlog: For What it’s Worth | Published 2014-04-28
Which circle do you serve?
AJBlog: The Artful Manager | Published 2014-04-28
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Robert Moses Vs. Jane Jacobs: The Opera
The great primal battle of modern urbanism is coming to the lyric stage. courtesy of composer Judd Greenstein, librettist Tracy K. Smith (a Pulitzer-winning poet), and director Joshua Frankel.
Peter Gelb Talks About The Met Opera’s Predicament
“When I first came to the Metropolitan Opera in 2006, I was aware of the problems and the financial challenges. But I hoped that it would be possible to earn our way out of these financial challenges by increasing ticket sales and by launching our very successful movie theater showings. But in the last few years, it’s become obvious that in spite of our successes, the audience for opera is not increasing.”
This Year’s Bad Grammar Awards
The Idler Academy, an offshoot of the magazine which offers courses in everything from philosophy to ukulele playing, has announced the shortlist for its 2014 Bad Grammar award, set up to highlight “the incorrect use of English by people and institutions who should know better”.
Cellist Julian Lloyd Webber Forced To Retire
He “announced today that he has been forced to stop playing due to a herniated disc in his neck which has reduced the power in his right arm.”
The Art Market Is Dividing
“The market has shifted,” said Anders Petterson, managing director of the London-based art analysis firm ArtTactic. “People who in the 1990s would buy paintings are now having to look at prints and works on paper.”
Should Tate Britain’s Director Be Fired?
Penelope Curtis “has already done more to change Tate Britain for the better than any director since the great Sir Nicholas Serota himself.”
Cable Providers Start Including Netflix As A Channel (How Streaming Is Eating TV)
“The cable outfits involved in the deal are relatively small, covering only about 500,000 people across the country, according to The Washington Post. But they’re putting Netflix right alongside traditional cable channels.”
Roles For Black Actors Have Increased On Broadway
The increase in black roles and shows that attract a black audience builds on recent successes, such as last year’s hits “Motown the Musical,” ”The Trip to Bountiful” and “Kinky Boots,” which boasts newly crowned Tony Award-winner Billy Porter.
Dominic Dromgoole: Other Countries Understand Shakespeare Better Than We Do
“Belarus Free Theatre, for instance, understand more about political violence and how that can impact on emotions than we do. An Urdu Taming of the Shrew understands the idea of being told by your father that you’re going to be married newt Sunday better than we do.”
Online Sales Of Art Surged In 2013
“The online art market accounted for an estimated $1.6bn of transactions in 2013 (up from $870m in 2012), and is forecast to grow to $3.8bn by 2018.”
Louvre Says It Will Fix Pyramid Entry Bottleneck
“Part of the Grande Louvre renovation project, the great glass pyramid was designed for a museum that attracted 4.5 million visitors a year. Its attendance has since doubled and the museum expects that figure will continue to rise.”
How To Attract More Multi-Cultural Audiences?
“Pay attention, Canadian theatres: Maybe your lack of culturally diverse audiences isn’t a problem after all, but an opportunity.”
Colorado Symphony In Showdown With City Of Denver Over Concert Hall
“For certain, the Colorado Symphony Orchestra will have to temporarily vacate Boettcher Concert Hall in June 2015 to make way for a season-long, $17 million renovation. The question is: Will it return? Not unless it can get a better deal from its landlord of 36 years, orchestra officials insist.”
Arts Journalism Versus Content Marketing
“While blurring the line between journalism and marketing is an issue, I am personally more interested in whether or not ‘content marketing’ – defined as any “marketing format that involves the creation and sharing of media and publishing content in order to acquire customers…” is a viable strategy for arts organizations.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 04.27.14
It’s A Deal: St. Louis And Basel
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts | Published 2014-04-28
That and an app will get you a cup of coffee
AJBlog: For What it’s Worth | Published 2014-04-28
When Prince Philip met the Beatles
AJBlog: Slipped Disc | Published 2014-04-27
Syrian Heritage Officials Plead For Help In Aleppo
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts | Published 2014-04-27
Adrift in Fashionable Fairyland
AJBlog: Dancebeat | Published 2014-04-26
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British Library Unveils Newspaper Reading Room As Print Teeters On The Brink
“The collection’s oldest English-language newspaper title was published in Amsterdam in 1620 and covered news from Italy, Germany and Bohemia.”
Here’s What Happens When A Millennial Decides To Write Snail Mail Letters
“I completely forgot to check my mailbox for a good two weeks. But I had a lovely, unexpected surprise when I checked it twenty minutes ago – a perfect addition to Valentine’s Day; there’s nothing more poetic than sharing your handwriting the good, old fashioned way with a good, old friend.”