Today’s AJ highlights: This morning, the commercial pressures eroding artistic integrity, the search for meaning in a fast-paced media landscape, and celebrate the enduring impact of dance and architecture.
The integrity of creative forms is being challenged by the economics of streaming. Critics argue that Netflix has completely upended the movie business by removing the need for films to be “profitable, pretty, sexy, intelligent, funny, well-made,” and other qualities that once defined cinema (n+one). This same commercial logic is blamed for both the soaring popularity and wreckage of the documentary form, which has been degraded by the demand for cheap, time-consuming “docuseries” (Stat Significant). Meanwhile, the Golden Globes have returned to the spotlight, but critics argue the for-profit structure of the revitalized awards body may be more problematic than ever before (Los Angeles Times).
In response to the unstoppable tide of technology, Eurythmics producer Dave Stewart argues that musicians must embrace AI and immediately begin licensing their voices and skills, warning, “Otherwise they’re just going to take it anyway” (The Guardian).
And then there’s the permanence of great art and the need for new leadership. Paul Taylor’s masterpiece, “Esplanade,” turns 50, and the landmark modern dance continues to inspire new generations (The New York Times). On the institutional side, the Pew Arts and Culture program has named Christina Vassallo as its new leader, following her work in Cincinnati and Philadelphia (Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)).
All our stories below.
