Today’s AJ highlights: In Washington, the debate over the Kennedy Center’s business model has reached a point of absurdity, with critics warning that corporate aesthetic preferences are determining what counts as art at the nation’s premier center (Washington Post). This tension between commerce and culture is mirrored in the film industry, where Netflix is reportedly pushing for action movies that restate their plots multiple times in dialogue to keep phone-distracted viewers engaged (Variety).
The existential impact of Artificial Intelligence is being felt across the culture. Researchers argue that AI is a tool being used with “astonishing alacrity” to hollow out democratic institutions (Gary Marcus) , while others question if the next wave of technology will fundamentally change the nature of human attention (Big Think). The line between human and machine is further blurred by the rise of AI “singers” like Sienna Rose, whose synthesized tracks are built from refined white noise (BBC).
Travel bans and visa pauses are currently stymying international musicians, creating a logistical mess for U.S. audiences and producers (The New York Times). And we look at the Poverty of the Novelist, where even accomplished authors earn mere fragments of a living wage (The Guardian).
All our stories below.
