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- Whose Name Is On This, Anyway?
Good Morning,
Swap the name on a painting and does it make a difference in how you see it? Psyche digs into “prestige bias” — the well-documented tendency to value the who over the what. Apropos, the director of the Detroit Institute of Arts announces a rediscovered early Velázquez (ARTnews), and a canvas nobody was arguing about last week becomes news.
So today’s AI stories are really attribution stories. Tilly Norwood, the AI “actress,” gets her first feature — and her creators will label her as synthetic rather than pretend otherwise (Variety). And AI trained on human prose is now changing how humans write, a linguistic hall of mirrors in which nobody can say for certain whose name belongs on a sentence (The Guardian).
Getting back to the importance of names: Joe Hisaishi, who scored Studio Ghibli’s films, fills Madison Square Garden with orchestral music, and the Philadelphia Orchestra just made him composer-in-residence (The New York Times).
The highest-stakes version of this idea: the White House report alleging Smithsonian “bias” in the history it tells turns out to be riddled with errors of its own (Washington Post).
All of our stories below.
- The Longest-Running PBS Show In History Is, At 70, Older Than PBS Itself
“Richard Heffner’s The Open Mind, the gleefully eggheaded talk show on which Martin Luther King Jr gave his first sit-down televised interview — continues to soldier on,” with grandson Alexander Heffner hosting since Richard’s death in 2013. – The Hollywood Reporter
- Do We Listen/See/Read Differently When The Name Of The Artist Is Changed?
Why should a name matter so much? Psychologists have a term that might help explain what’s happening here: prestige bias. Developed by the cultural evolution theorists Joseph Henrich and Francisco J Gil-White, the concept describes the human tendency to preferentially attend to, learn from, and value the outputs of high-status individuals. – Psyche
- When Tamara Rojo Danced With Robots
Such an opportunity was bound to present itself to the director of San Francisco Ballet in the 2020s. It’s no surprise that she took the opportunity — but what she has to say about the experience, while quite perspicacious, isn’t much of a surprise either. – The Times (UK)
- Netflix Challenges France’s Requirement On What It Spends On Production In France
“These new rules cross a line,” claims the streaming giant. “They attempt to fix in law the exact genre balance of our slate, constrain our ability to back other types of French works – drama, comedy, unscripted – and do so only for streamers, while traditional broadcasters are spared.” – Deadline
- White House’s “Report” Criticizing Smithsonian History Is Riddled With Errors
The report often doesn’t even bother to engage with many of the claims it ridicules — like obvious and well-documented facts about anti-Chinese sentiment in post-Civil War America — or takes them as self-evident proof that the Smithsonian is misrepresenting history. – Washington Post
- How AI Is Changing How Humans Write
The problem is that not only does AI train on human writing, but humans are stylistically influenced by AI, the interplay creating a kind of linguistic hall of mirrors. Short of an author admitting it, it’s hard to say for certain whether an individual piece of writing is AI or not. That uncertainty is a recipe for paranoia. – The Guardian
- This Year’s Black British Theatre Awards Are Cancelled
In a statement released on social media, the organisers said: “To Our BBTA Community, due to unforeseen circumstances, we have made the difficult decision not to hold the Black British Theatre Awards ceremony in 2026. We know this will be disappointing news … and it was not a decision we took lightly.” – WhatsOnStage (UK)
- When Innovation Scrambled Everything At The Turn Of The 20th Century
At the time, Americans did not understand that they were living through the largest energy transition in human history. Instead, they perceived a series of disconnected events. Unable to discern or conceptualize an underlying cause, they often declared the transformations around them were “kaleidoscopic.” – MIT Press
- Richard Glanton, Combative Former Head Of The Barnes Collection, 79
“The problems at the Barnes were so obvious,” he told The New York Times in 1993, “Ray Charles could see them in a swamp at midnight.” – The New York Times
- Theatre Historian Robert Kimball, 86
Robert Kimball, a musical theater historian and champion of American popular song who unearthed hundreds of pieces long thought to be lost and helped rediscover the work of the seminal Black Broadway songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, died on Wednesday in Manhattan. – The New York Times
- The Legit Classical Composer Who Can Sell Out Madison Square Garden
Joe Hisaishi developed his huge following with his scores for Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films for Studio Ghibli. Yet he’s long had a parallel career as a conductor of standard orchestral repertoire in Japan. Now he’s shifting his focus to classical music, and he’s been appointed the Philadelphia Orchestra’s composer-in-residence. – The New York Times
- Research: Learning From Short-Form Video Doesn’t Stay With You
Using social media applications to digest bite-sized educational content actually reduces a person’s ability to remember the information, according to new research. – Psypost
- AI Labs Are Recruiting Philosophers
A.I. labs, and the related nonprofits around them, have been recruiting workers as versed in Consequentialism and John Stuart Mill as in neural networks and reinforcement learning. – The New York Times
- Get A Load Of Shanghai’s Grand New Opera House
One of the key features is the dramatic spiral roof, which takes cues from an unfurled Chinese folding fan, a space that is accessible to visitors and serves as an observation deck overlooking the Huangpu River and the city’s skyline. – New Atlas
- The Congresswoman Who Sued Trump For Renaming The Kennedy Center — And Won
Joyce Beatty, a seven-term representative from Ohio, became an ex officio Congressional member of the Kennedy Center’s board in 2019. She says that the resolution to add Trump’s name to the complex was introduced without advance notice at a meeting in December, and she was muted when she objected. – The New York Times
- AI “Actress” Tilly Norwood To Star In AI-Scripted Feature Film — And It Will Be Honest About What She Is
“Set inside the ‘Tillyverse,’ a digital world located somewhere up in the Cloud, the film” — titled Misaligned and made by Particle 6, the AI-oriented studio which prompted Norwood into existence — “will follow Tilly, an AI being with no real body … or lived experience of her own, only access to everyone else’s.” – Variety
- Thieves Steal $5.1 Million Worth Of Crystal And Jewelry From Lalique Museum In France
“Three thieves targeted the Lalique museum in Wingen-sur-Moder in northeastern France at around 5:30 am on Sunday, … (and) made off with 27 pieces of jewelry worth an estimated €4.5 million ($5.1 million), prosecutors said Monday.” – AFP (Yahoo!)
- Historians Defend Smithsonian American History Museum Director From Trump Administration Attacks
“(Anthea) Hartig, director of the National Museum of American History since 2019, has commissioned exhibitions that … document the lived experiences of ordinary people, sometimes focusing on race, sexuality and colonialism. … Many historians support her goal of telling a more nuanced story of the United States.” – The New York Times
- What Exactly Does The Trump Administration Think Is Wrong With The Way The Smithsonian Depicts American History?
“Here are some of the report’s main charges, and how they relate to the administration’s broader push to promote what President Trump has called ‘patriotic’ history.” – The New York Times
- Velázquez Portrait Rediscovered By Detroit Institute Of Arts Director
“Salvador Salort-Pons, the director of the Detroit Institute of Arts, recently revealed the discovery of a portrait by Diego Velázquez made during the artist’s earliest years as a court painter to King Philip IV. Salort-Pons, a specialist in Velázquez, published his findings in the current issue of ARS Magazine.” – ARTnews
- New Hampshire Governor Vetoes Book-Banning Bill
“House Bill 434 would require school districts to establish formal policies for removing content from schools that is ‘obscene and harmful to minors,’ … (creating) a standardized removal process in which parents could challenge any book, magazine, film, video, web-based content, sound recording, or live performance offered to students.” – New Hampshire Bulletin
- Artistic Director – Syracuse Stage working with Management Consultants for the Arts
Syracuse Stage, Central New York’s premier professional theatre, seeks its next Artistic Director, who will join Managing Director Carly DiFulvio Allen to lead this storied organization. The company welcomes applications from talented individuals passionate about developing and stewarding Syracuse Stage’s artistic vision and curating theatre seasons of extraordinary quality that engage, entertain, and inspire the Syracuse community. Syracuse Stage has engaged Management Consultants for the Arts to lead the search, and interested candidates may apply for this position by visiting this link: https://www.mcaonline.com/searches/artistic-director-syracuse-stage
The annual salary range for the Artistic Director role at Syracuse Stage starts at $180,000 and includes a full benefits package commensurate with other organizations of its size, including:
- Medical/dental/vision insurance plans;
- Life Insurance, AD&D Coverage and long-term disability coverage;
- 403(b) plan;
- Paid vacation, holidays, sick leave, and personal days.
Founded in 1974, Stage has produced more than 300 plays in 48 seasons including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres. Each season 60,000 patrons enjoy an adventurous mix of new plays and bold interpretations of classics and musicals featuring exceptional theatre artists. As the nonprofit, professional theatre in residence at Syracuse University, Stage has been integral to the success of the Department of Drama, one of the leading undergraduate theatre programs in the country. While embedded in the University, Stage is a separate 501(c)(3) organization, governed by its own Board of Directors.
- The Story Behind The Abrupt Departure Of Arena Stage’s Artistic Director
Former employees describe the tenure of artistic director Hana S. Sharif, who resigned last month, as “three years of terror.” – Notus
- Physical Media Are Dying. The Meaning Of “Buying” Something Has Changed
There is growing opposition to the rent-or-license model that has become increasingly common in pop culture, gaming, and streaming. In California, a law that took effect in 2025 requires digital stores to be clearer when consumers are buying a revocable licence rather than full ownership. – Fast Company
- Huge Shakeup In UK TV: Sky To Buy ITV
ITV confirmed to shareholders on Monday morning that it will sell to its pay-TV rival, meaning a crown jewel of British broadcasting becomes part of the NBCUniversal entertainment empire. – Deadline
- The End Of A Cultural Era: “Hockey Night In Canada” Is No More
Some called for defunding the national public broadcaster and others bemoaned the failures of successive federal governments to properly invest in the CBC. Many other Canadians, however, mourned the loss while simultaneously breathing a sigh of relief. – The Conversation
- The Knowing Beyond Knowledge
“What is the sense that something escapes the conditions of knowledge? It is, I think, the sense, or fact, that our primary relation to the world is not one of knowing it.” – The Point
- Trump White House Launches Scathing Attack On Smithsonian Over Its Portrayal Of History
The 162-page report, by the White House’s Domestic Policy Council, represents a sweeping attack on the museum’s presentation of American history. It is the latest step in the Trump administration’s campaign to pressure the Smithsonian into conforming to what President Trump has described as “patriotic” history.
- Paramount’s Looming $650M Problem In Its Warner Deal
Reuters said the fee would equate to around $650 million in cash to be paid by Paramount every three months, providing the U.K. government some leverage over Paramount if a study drags on to slow the deal’s closure. – The Street
- The Art World Really Is Unsustainable Now
It is extraordinarily difficult for most brick-and-mortar stores in any industry to survive, and that is especially true for art galleries. These large art shows may create a lot of foot traffic, but that doesn’t always translate to robust on-site sales for the galleries. – The New York Times
- What AI Is Doing To Art
Art forms that once expressed creators’ personal visions are reduced to fulfilling the audience’s cravings. In theory, I understand why some people say AI is just another creative tool, like the camera or the keyboard. In practice, that tool is filling our world with the ugly, frictionless, disposable content we’ve quickly come to call “slop.” – The Atlantic
- Chief Executive Officer – SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young
SAY: The Stuttering Association for the Young seeks a visionary, purpose-driven, and tenacious Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization as it prepares for the planned retirement of its Founder and CEO, Taro Alexander.
For 25 years, SAY has provided support, advocacy, and life-changing experiences for young people who stutter. This CEO position is a rare opportunity to guide a pioneering national organization into its next era of impact, influence, and sustainability. SAY’s incoming CEO will manage and propel a respected national brand, a powerful community of participants and alumni, an engaged board, and a talented staff.
The salary for this position begins at $150,000, with an anticipated start date in late 2026. Candidates must be based in the greater New York City region or willing to relocate to it. The role is hybrid. The CEO will work in-person in the NYC office regularly and travel nationally to attend programs, fundraising events, and donor and partner meetings.
The search is led by Brett Egan and Syrah Gunning of the DeVos Institute of Arts and Nonprofit Management. Learn more and apply at https://tinyurl.com/SAYartsjor.
- The Best Architecture Of America’s 250 Years
From California bungalows to New York skyscrapers, from forest retreats to streamlined headquarters, what makes an architecture American, let alone the most significant example of such? – Architectural Record
- The Consequences Of Losing Physical Media
“For decades, the premise behind buying games, VHS tapes, DVDs, and other media was simple. You handed over money, and in return you got the game, show, or movie to keep. That bargain is now breaking down.” – Fast Company