ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: It’s no secret that humor sells, or at least that’s what the research says. But interestingly, the use of humor in ads declined to about 33 percent in 2022 in the wake of COVID. More recently, however, humorous ads accounted for three-quarters of major ad awards, and 70 percent of Super Bowl ads this year featured humor. Clearly the mood of the times influences the tone of the culture people want.

Advertisers track closely on perceived public “mood” and have plenty of of-the-moment research to guide them. So are there similar indicators that inform what audiences for museums, theatre, dance and music want? And was summer 2023’s collapse of theatre audience due in part to a shift in public mood after COVID?

Here are the rest of today’s highlights:

Harriet Martineau, The Now-Forgotten 19th-Century Novelist Who Changed Far More Than We Realize Harriet Martineau, a pioneering yet overlooked 19th-century novelist, made significant contributions to ecology, economics, and realist fiction. Her works are being reassessed for their lasting impact. Read more in Literary Hub.

Australian Court Allows Exhibition That Banned Men From Entering An Australian court has allowed the reopening of an exhibition that banned men to highlight misogyny, sparking debates over gender discrimination and artistic expression. Read more in BBC.

Climate-Protesting Art Vandals Throw Soup at Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” Again In a dramatic act of protest, climate activists again targeted Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in the National Gallery in London. This time, they used vegetable soup in protest of the sentencing of the original vandals. Read more in Artnet.

Exit Interview: Rufus Norris on Running London’s National Theatre As Rufus Norris steps down from his role as artistic director of London’s National Theatre, he reflects on his tenure, marked by innovative productions and the challenges of navigating the pandemic. Read more in The Guardian.

Report: This Spring’s Art Auction Season Was the Worst of This Century A new report highlights the struggles of the art market, revealing that the spring auction season had the worst financial performance of the century, reflecting a broader downturn. Read more in ARTnews.

As usual, skip down to see the rest of the stories we collected Friday:

Latest Stories

Bettie de Jong, Paul Taylor’s Factotum, Still Working At 92

For decades she has been Taylor's star dancer, muse, buddy, rehearsal director, and choreographic reconstructor.  (He was never particularly interested in the details of reviving his older works.) Even now, she speaks lucidly and clearly, with her signature blunt forcefulness, about her work both over the decades and today....

Just Whom Are We Calling A Genius?

You can tell what a culture values by who it labels a genius—and also what it is prepared to tolerate. The Renaissance had its great artists. The Romantics lionized androgynous, tubercular poets. Today we are in thrall to tech innovators and brilliant jerks in Silicon Valley. - The Atlantic

Has Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Become Our Best Playwright?

 “Obviously, I’m very neurotic. I’m always trying to understand what’s happening and why. My friends every day talk about what they’re anxious about, and yet no one’s asking for the theater to address that anxiety — but that’s what it’s supposed to do.” - Washington Post

Premium

Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (USA) seeks Director of Marketing and Communications

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (USA) invites applications and nominations for the position of Marketing Director, available in the summer, 2025.

President/CEO- OPERA America

OPERA America seeks an accomplished, innovative, & collaborative strategist to lead this essential national service organization as President/CEO advocating for the opera field

Classifieds

Project STEP seeks Executive Director

The Executive Director will serve as the chief executive of Project STEP, working in...

Chief Philanthropy Officer – Kansas City Ballet

Kansas City Ballet seeks a collaborative, data-driven philanthropy executive to foster donor relationships, and champion accessible, world-class dance.

Manhattan Theatre Club seeks Director of Learning & Community Engagement

The Director of Learning and Community Engagement will be an innovative thought leader, strong collaborator, and skillful public advocate, with a fervent commitment to community engagement and relationship development.

Opera Colorado: Director of Advancement

Opera Colorado seeks a dynamic, experienced, and strategic communicator and fundraiser to lead the next chapter of the company’s growth.

Folger Shakespeare Library seeks Director of Learning & Education Programs

The Director of Learning and Education Programs will lead the strategic development and implementation of educational programs that support local, national, and digital engagement with Shakespeare and the early modern world.

Executive Director – Goh Ballet

Goh Ballet Canada is seeking an accomplished and visionary Executive Director to lead its strategic and operational initiatives, ensuring the ongoing success and sustainability.

Artis–Naples seeks Vice President, Marketing & Sales

The Vice President, Marketing and Sales (VP-MS) leads all earned revenue activities at Artis—Naples, overseeing approximately $18 million in earned revenues.
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