AJ Four Ways: Text Only (by date) | headlines only
DANCE
IDEAS
- Patrick Stewart, 86
The death, from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, was announced on social media. – The New York Times
- Vincent’s Ear, Jo’s Diaries, and a Missing Premiere
Good Morning,
Minnesota Opera pulled its Halloween premiere of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr until late 2027 because its orchestra had authorized a strike, and president Ryan Taylor wouldn’t gamble on opening night. The union had refused his no-strike deal, and calls the postponement a lockout (MPR News).
Philadelphia’s arts office was closed by one mayor, reopened by another, and slated for elimination by a third. On November 3, voters decide whether to write it into the city charter (Broad Street Review).
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, a five-time Oscar nominee, now faces a lawsuit from Simon Stephenson, writer of Pixar’s Luca, who wants a court order barring further exploitation of the film. His evidence includes a shared mistake: both scripts write “Under Black” for scene cards (The Hollywood Reporter).
Van Gogh cut off his ear the day he likely learned his brother Theo was engaged to Jo Bonger. She inherited 400 of his paintings, some stored under beds, and spent 30 years promoting his work (Time).
All of today’s stories are below.
- Horror Movies Exploit A Weakness In Human Visual Perception To Deliver Some Powerful Scares
A cognitive psychologist explains the phenomenon of inattentional blindness and how filmmakers take advantage of it. – The Conversation
- Reaching More People, But Having Less Influence
Are we becoming better at reaching people, but worse at helping them decide what is worth their time and money? – BachTrack
- Public Spaces In Transit Hubs Are Being Used As Dance Studios
“Around the world, transit hubs and other public spaces are becoming makeshift dance venues, used for rehearsals, battles, and filming content for social media. But these de facto studios offer more than just free rehearsal space. They’re also becoming centers of gravity for the dance community.” – Dance Magazine
ISSUES
- Italy’s Renowned Art Squad Is Training Colleagues In Africa To Fight Antiquities Trafficking
Italy‘s National School of Heritage and Cultural Activities and the École du Patrimoine Africain in Porto-Novo, Benin, are collaborating on a specialized training course, the first of its kind, with faculty from the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage, popularly known as the Carabinieri Art Squad. – ARTnews
- New Details About Van Gogh’s Sister-In-Law Cast Fresh Light On His Struggles, And Her Centrality In Making Him Known
We might never have known about Van Gogh without Theo’s wife. “Jo didn’t seek to put herself at the center of this story, but she is there, nonetheless.” – Time
- Plan For An Ambitious New Design Museum In The Bay Area
The Eames Institute of Infinite Curiosity, the nonprofit established by the family of design and art pioneers Ray and Charles Eames, is set to file a master plan with the city of Novato that will transform the 85.5-acre site into a global design museum, attracting some 200,000 visitors a year. – San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
- Bass Museum Of Art In Miami Beach Reveals Design For Its Planned Expansion
“California architecture studio Johnston Marklee has unveiled designs to expand the Bass Museum of Art in Miami Beach, including elevated galleries and courtyard spaces.” – Dezeen
- Check Out The Newest Memorial On The National Mall In DC
The Desert Shield and Desert Storm Memorial, honoring servicemembers who died during the 1990-91 war to end Iraq’s occupation of Kuwait, consists of two dune-shaped walls made of sand-colored granite, one with a 125-foot bas-relief by sculptor Emily Bedard and the other with inscriptions. – Smithsonian Magazine
MEDIA
- On The Ballot: Philly Voters Will Decide Fate Of City’s Arts And Culture Office
For the first time, we have a chance to free Philly’s office of arts and culture from the whims of the mayor, and make it part of the city charter. – Broad Street Review
- A Humanities Course Has Become Harvard’s Hottest Ticket
Hum 10, as it’s commonly known, has become the surprise hit of Harvard’s academic lineup and something of a campus institution. Demand to get into the class has surged, fueled by word-of-mouth from “Hum Alums” who talk it up on social media. – The Wall Street Journal
- Neighbors Near LA’s Hollywood Sign Have Had Enough
They argue the city is responsible for nuisance conditions on public property in part because 15 years ago a councilman decided to clear some brush to create a viewing spot near their homes. That brought the crowds, they say, and the city has ignored years of complaints. – Los Angeles Times
- Former CEO Of Lucasfilm To Run 2028 L.A. Olympics Opening And Closing Ceremonies
“Hollywood veteran Kathleen Kennedy has been tapped to replace Peter Rice” — just appointed as Netflix’s chief content officer — “as head of ceremonies and content for LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games, … four separate events that will be viewed by an audience of billions across the globe.” – The Hollywood Reporter
- Maine Banned Smartphones In Schools. It’s Changed Students’ Interactions
Students are connecting with each other more in the time between classes, staff across the state said. And during lunch, staff are hearing louder and more lively conversation in the cafeteria — a stark contrast from previous years when phone use stifled talking. – WBUR
MUSIC
- A.S. Byatt’s Papers Are Now Open At The British Library
“The archive allows researchers to follow Byatt as she assembles the raw material of her fiction, tests ideas and repeatedly questions whether they will work.” – The Guardian (UK)
- Life Magazine Will Return To Print Just In Time For Thanksgiving
“Life magazine is making its long-awaited return to print on Nov. 23, exactly 90 years after its landmark 1936 debut, with a $45 quarterly publication that will forgo traditional print advertising as part of a broader push into digital content, video and live experiences.” – TheWrap (Yahoo!)
- One Of Italy’s Largest Daily Papers Expands Into The US, In English
La Stampa, a nationally- and regionally-focused outlet headquartered in Turin, is opening La Stampa USA as an online publication aimed at an Italian-American readership. The newsroom currently has five employees in New York and two in Washington DC and plans to hire contributors around the country. – Press Gazette (UK)
- How Politeness Has Shaped Our Language
Requests that were once directly stated as imperatives were now couched with indirectness as merely suggestions or questions: “Shut the window,” became “Could you please shut the window?” And, in addition to saying “thanks,” responding with an acknowledgment of that thanks, such as “you’re welcome,” became routine. – Time
- The Perils Of Voice-Acting Steamy Romance Books
The 45-year-old actor blames his upbringing for mispronunciations, like calling a “library” a “liberry.” Fans seized on the gaffe. “I was like, you know what? Touché,” Palmini said. “Even though you said you want to burn the book now because I said ‘liberry,’ I get it. Truly. Noted. ‘Library’ it is.” – The Wall Street Journal (MSN)
PEOPLE
- Patrick Stewart, 86
The death, from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, was announced on social media. – The New York Times
- Vincent’s Ear, Jo’s Diaries, and a Missing Premiere
Good Morning,
Minnesota Opera pulled its Halloween premiere of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr until late 2027 because its orchestra had authorized a strike, and president Ryan Taylor wouldn’t gamble on opening night. The union had refused his no-strike deal, and calls the postponement a lockout (MPR News).
Philadelphia’s arts office was closed by one mayor, reopened by another, and slated for elimination by a third. On November 3, voters decide whether to write it into the city charter (Broad Street Review).
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, a five-time Oscar nominee, now faces a lawsuit from Simon Stephenson, writer of Pixar’s Luca, who wants a court order barring further exploitation of the film. His evidence includes a shared mistake: both scripts write “Under Black” for scene cards (The Hollywood Reporter).
Van Gogh cut off his ear the day he likely learned his brother Theo was engaged to Jo Bonger. She inherited 400 of his paintings, some stored under beds, and spent 30 years promoting his work (Time).
All of today’s stories are below.
- Horror Movies Exploit A Weakness In Human Visual Perception To Deliver Some Powerful Scares
A cognitive psychologist explains the phenomenon of inattentional blindness and how filmmakers take advantage of it. – The Conversation
- Reaching More People, But Having Less Influence
Are we becoming better at reaching people, but worse at helping them decide what is worth their time and money? – BachTrack
- Public Spaces In Transit Hubs Are Being Used As Dance Studios
“Around the world, transit hubs and other public spaces are becoming makeshift dance venues, used for rehearsals, battles, and filming content for social media. But these de facto studios offer more than just free rehearsal space. They’re also becoming centers of gravity for the dance community.” – Dance Magazine
PEOPLE
- Patrick Stewart, 86
The death, from Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy body dementia, was announced on social media. – The New York Times
- Vincent’s Ear, Jo’s Diaries, and a Missing Premiere
Good Morning,
Minnesota Opera pulled its Halloween premiere of The Many Deaths of Laila Starr until late 2027 because its orchestra had authorized a strike, and president Ryan Taylor wouldn’t gamble on opening night. The union had refused his no-strike deal, and calls the postponement a lockout (MPR News).
Philadelphia’s arts office was closed by one mayor, reopened by another, and slated for elimination by a third. On November 3, voters decide whether to write it into the city charter (Broad Street Review).
Alexander Payne’s The Holdovers, a five-time Oscar nominee, now faces a lawsuit from Simon Stephenson, writer of Pixar’s Luca, who wants a court order barring further exploitation of the film. His evidence includes a shared mistake: both scripts write “Under Black” for scene cards (The Hollywood Reporter).
Van Gogh cut off his ear the day he likely learned his brother Theo was engaged to Jo Bonger. She inherited 400 of his paintings, some stored under beds, and spent 30 years promoting his work (Time).
All of today’s stories are below.
- Horror Movies Exploit A Weakness In Human Visual Perception To Deliver Some Powerful Scares
A cognitive psychologist explains the phenomenon of inattentional blindness and how filmmakers take advantage of it. – The Conversation
- Reaching More People, But Having Less Influence
Are we becoming better at reaching people, but worse at helping them decide what is worth their time and money? – BachTrack
- Public Spaces In Transit Hubs Are Being Used As Dance Studios
“Around the world, transit hubs and other public spaces are becoming makeshift dance venues, used for rehearsals, battles, and filming content for social media. But these de facto studios offer more than just free rehearsal space. They’re also becoming centers of gravity for the dance community.” – Dance Magazine
THEATRE
VISUAL
- How Our Brains Cope With Uncertainty
Systems fail; unanticipated difficulties occur; things break or rot. To cope with this reality, philosophical and religious traditions such as Buddhism and Stoicism have long focused on transience, unpredictability, and the inevitability of change and loss. – Scientific American
- Don’t Forget: Technology That Serves Creativity
We live in a golden age of digital creativity. Forget A.I.: you, yourself, can record an album from your sofa, or curate a photo-essay on the train. In that spirit, here are some of my favorite creative digital tools. – The New Yorker
- Why Is There So Much Beauty In The World?
“There’s too much beauty to be accounted for by simple utility,” argues Nicholas Humphrey. – MIT Press Reader
- The V&A’s Argument Against AI Slop
Why are humans so driven to make things? In our age of A.I. slop, the V. & A.’s devotion to physical objects is a tonic. And if two new buildings seem like overkill, think of all those data centers. – The New Yorker
- How To Defeat The Style Choices Your Algorithms Point You To
Rather than cycling through distinct eras sequentially as Laver predicted, social media feeds flatten time entirely. Decades of vintage subcultures and instant micro-aesthetics are collapsed into the same endless scroll, allowing a 1990s minimalist silhouette to coexist alongside a week-old “whimsymaxxing” viral trend. – The Conversation