AJ Four Ways:
Text Only (by date) | headlines only
- (no title)
Good Morning,
Two hours a day. That’s the average screentime of the 700 million people now watching microdramas — cheap, vertical, minute-long episodes — and the case is being made that they are the artform of our time (New Left Review). The sophisticated science programming legacy media used to produce now draws tens of millions on YouTube, made by individuals (TheWrap). Whatever else those stories say, demand for culture isn’t the problem.
Institutions, meanwhile, are arguing about who pays. Staff at the Whitney, Brooklyn Museum and American Folk Art Museum voted to strike over wages below what a single adult needs to live in New York (ARTnews). San Francisco Opera is dark through Sunday as its orchestra strike continues (San Francisco Chronicle). The Louvre’s new director is in Tokyo and Hong Kong passing the hat for a €1 billion renovation (South China Morning Post). And a proposal to privatize the Smithsonian as its cleanest defense against political interference (The Wall Street Journal) assumes donors want less control than governments do.
The generative exception: MoMA has handed its atrium to choreographer Sarah Michelson for four weeks, and her piece’s animating question — what is a dance? — is the one institutions should be asking about their own forms (The New York Times).
Ruben Santiago-Hudson says he and August Wilson fought constantly; every time the cast predicted he’d be fired, Wilson wrote him another role instead (The New York Times). Note to managements.
All of our stories below.
- Assistant Professor of Dance in the College of Fine Arts
The School for Classical & Contemporary Dance (SCCDance) in the College of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University invites applications for the position Assistant Professor of Dance to teach contemporary dance technique and related courses. The SCCDance seeks candidates who are experienced, committed, engaged, and passionate artist-educators who will provide a balance of expertise with current faculty members. This is a full time on-campus tenure-track faculty position. The successful candidate will join a collaborative faculty, dedicated staff, and motivated students in a community of artist-scholars and a culture defined by care and excellence. The start date of the position is August 2027.
Required:
• Terminal degree in Dance or related area; or with degree completion expected by start date; or MA with minimum seven (7) years of professional performing/teaching experience in Dance.
• Minimum three (3) years pre-professional teaching experience.
• Evidence of creative or scholarly research activity, and/or trajectory, consistent with tenure track expectations.Preferred:
• Experience teaching at the university or college level in dance and related courses.
• Experience teaching a diasporic or culturally rooted dance form, including but not limited to: West-African, hip-hop, house, folklórico, Gaga, Dunham, técnica cubana, Butoh, Bollywood, etc.
• Experience teaching classroom-based courses in dance (theory, history, teaching methods, anatomy, etc.).Required Application Materials & Application Instructions
- Cover letter/Letter of Application including the following: teaching philosophy, research/creative activity
- (2 pages maximum);
- Curriculum vitae with links to website or professional activity;
- Contact information for three professional references.
Review of applications will begin on November 1, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. All applications will be held in confidence.
After the initial review of applications, candidates advancing to the second round of consideration may be asked to submit supporting materials, including evidence of academic and artistic excellence, and research and/or creative work. These may also include evaluations, teaching observations, syllabi, links to a professional activity website, and/or letters of recommendation. All materials are to be submitted online.
Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Human Resources at hrtalentacquisition@tcu.edu or 817-257-7790. Other questions may be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Suki John, Professor of Dance, at s.john@tcu.edu.
- Director of the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance
The School for Classical & Contemporary Dance in the College of Fine Arts at Texas Christian University invites applications for the position of Director of the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance (SCCDance) and Associate/Full Professor of Dance. The Director serves as the senior administrator of the academic unit and reports to the Dean of the College of Fine Arts. This is an in-person on-campus tenured faculty position with an administrative appointment. The start date of the position is Summer 2027.
This leadership role offers an opportunity to shape the future of the performing arts at TCU by continuing our established record of creative and scholarly distinction, interdisciplinary collaboration, and national visibility for the School for Classical & Contemporary Dance. The next Director of the SCCDance will serve as an active steward of programs and initiatives, joining a collaborative faculty, dedicated staff, and motivated students in fostering a community of artist-scholars and a culture defined by care and excellence.
The Director will:
● provide academic and artistic leadership and contribute to TCU’s goal of becoming an R1 institution, ensuring that the strategic plans of the School, College, and University are aligned and effectively implemented.
● manage the SCCDance’s budgets, financial resources, and facilities; work with College of Fine Arts leadership on the renovation of Ed Landreth Hall as a shared performance space.
● oversee personnel matters including faculty and staff recruitment, retention, mentoring, evaluation, and the promotion and tenure process; make hiring recommendations to the Dean.
● develop and oversee activities related to student recruitment, auditions, admissions, and retention, including scholarships and awards, in collaboration with faculty and staff.
● coordinate faculty course loads, teaching assignments, and scheduling.
● facilitate program development, curriculum design, assessment, and university accreditation requirements; maintain accreditation from and serve as the Institutional Representative to the National Association of Schools of Dance (NASD).
● collaborate with faculty and staff to produce SCCDance concerts and sustain the guest artist program.
● support and develop the health and wellness initiatives that distinguish the School; maintain and foster the SCCDance culture of collaboration, care, and community with all faculty, staff, and students.
● positively represent the School to TCU and the public; work with the Dean on fundraising initiatives, including cultivating relationships with alumni, donors, and community partners.
● work with faculty to strengthen and expand the SCCDance’s research/creative activity portfolio, with a focus on increasing externally funded research output that enhances Dance programs.
● teach a reduced load in the candidate’s area of specialty and maintain a record of scholarly/creative activity and service.Required Application Materials & Application Instructions:
● Cover letter/Letter of Application including the following: administrative and leadership experience and philosophy, teaching experience and philosophy, research/creative activity highlights (3 pages maximum)
● Curriculum vitae
● List of three references with contact information for eachReview of applications will begin on November 15, 2026. The position will remain open until filled. All applications will be held in confidence.
After the initial review of applications, candidates advancing to the second round of consideration may be asked to submit supporting materials, including evidence of administrative, academic, and artistic leadership, and research and/or creative work. These may also include evaluations, observations, links to a website, and/or letters of recommendation. All materials are to be submitted online.
Questions regarding the application process may be directed to Human Resources at hrtalentacquisition@tcu.edu or 817-257-7790. Other questions may be directed to the search committee co-chairs, Dr. Jessica Zeller, Professor of Dance, at j.zeller@tcu.edu or Dr. Marc Reed, Director of the TCU School of Music, at marc.reed@tcu.edu.
- Assistant or Associate Professor of Dance, Vassar
R00035771
Poughkeepsie, NYVassar College is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and welcomes applications from individuals of all backgrounds. Decisions concerning employment are made on the basis of an individual’s qualifications to contribute to meeting Vassar College’s educational objectives and its institutional needs, which includes promoting a respect for difference and creating a learning environment where students from all backgrounds can thrive. Candidates who can contribute to these goals through their teaching, research, advising, and other activities are encouraged to identify their strengths and experiences in this area. If you need to request an accommodation to fully participate in the search process, please contact mailto:employment@vassar.edu
Job Description
Position Introduction:
The Dance department invites applications for a full-time, Assistant or Associate Professor of Dance, to begin in the fall 2027 academic year. We are especially interested in advanced Assistant or recently tenured Associate Professors. We seek an accomplished artist-scholar with expertise in teaching contemporary and modern dance techniques, a distinguished record of professional creative achievement, and a demonstrated commitment to excellence in undergraduate teaching within a liberal arts environment.
Job Description:
The successful candidate will teach undergraduate courses in contemporary and modern dance technique at beginning through advanced levels, choreograph an original work annually for Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre, and teach seminar and/or lecture courses that examine dance through critical, historical, cultural, and theoretical frameworks. We welcome applicants whose creative and scholarly work advances understandings of dance through diverse cultural, historical, aesthetic, and embodied perspectives. Experience with interdisciplinary artistic and scholarly collaboration is highly valued. The teaching load in the first year is the equivalent of four full credit courses, following which the load is the equivalent of five full credit courses per year, or four plus intensive work with students which typically involves directed student research.
Responsibilities will include maintaining an active creative and/or scholarly practice, mentoring and advising undergraduate students in their artistic, academic and professional development. Additionally, contribution to the curriculum development and continued growth of the department while fostering interdisciplinary collaborations within the department and across the College is expected.
Qualifications:
Candidates must have a Ph.D., MFA or equivalent professional accomplishment in Dance or a closely related field at the time of appointment with demonstrated excellence in teaching contemporary and modern dance technique at multiple levels as an academic and artist. A sustained record of professional creative work, including choreography and/or performance is also required. Candidates must also have demonstrated commitment to inclusive, equitable, and student-centered pedagogy and the ability to contribute to the intellectual and artistic life of a liberal arts college through teaching, creative practice, scholarship, and service.
Preference will be given to candidates with previous college-level teaching experience; an active professional network and sustained engagement within the contemporary and modern dance communities; experience developing collaborative projects across artistic disciplines; a record of effective student mentorship and support for students’ academic, artistic, and professional growth; and experience integrating technologies such as video, photography, sound, and digital media into creative practice and/or teaching.
Application Materials:
- – Cover Letter and CV
- – Teaching Statement
- – Community Impact Statement (https://offices.vassar.edu/dean-of-the-faculty/positions/community-impact-statement/)
- – Contact information for three references who will provide reference letters upon request. Note: Candidates will be prompted for the contact information following the submission of the application.
- – Course evaluation material along with Syllabi of courses taught for advanced candidates
- – Links to videos demonstrating original choreography
- – Portfolio of creative work (can include published writings, choreographic documentation, selected press, or links to videos demonstrating teaching)
How to Apply:
Applications should be addressed to John Meehan and submitted online at: https://vassar.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/Vassar-External . Please contact John Meehan at jomeehan@vassar.edu with any questions. Review of applicant materials will begin on October 30, 2026 and will continue until the position has been filled. There is no guarantee that applications received after October 30, 2026 will be reviewed.
Pay Transparency Disclosure:
The annual base starting salary range for this position is $100,000 to $130,000 (USD). This range includes advanced Assistant Professors as well as recently tenured Associate Professors. When extending an offer of employment, Vassar College considers factors such as (but not limited to) candidate’s education/training, work experience, internal peer equity, as well as market and organizational considerations. This salary range represents the College’s good faith and reasonable estimate at the time of posting.
To apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/9833763.
- The Village Bistros Of Rural France Are Disappearing
“In 1900 there were an estimated 500,000 such establishments; by the 1960s more than half had closed. Today, only about 30,000-40,000 remain and even they are reportedly shutting at a rate of two a day. … The reasons for the closures … are economic and sociological.” – The Guardian
- Doomsday Days: The Growing Awareness Of AI Dangers
Jacob Coxon, the engineer who recently resigned from Anthropic to protest its safety policies, says A.I. could “kill us all by the end of the decade.” But if A.I. is so outrageously dangerous, why should we accept modest proposals to “pace” its development? Why not call in the Turing cops, and pull the plug? – The New Yorker
- Ruben Santiago-Hudson On His Long, Lively Relationship With August Wilson
“August Wilson and I were very close, but also we fell out a lot. Every time he and I had a debate, the word from the cast was always ‘They’re going to fire you.’ And instead of firing me, he would write another role for me.” – The New York Times
- How Threats Of A Dismal Future Are Shaping Gen Z
Their perception is that jobs that feel meaningful are being slashed by government or stolen by AI. As a result, she reported, members of Gen Z may just need to find meaning in their hobbies and interests outside of work and pursue jobs that allow them to fully check out at the end of the day. – 3 Quarks Daily
- A Phenomenon: The Microdrama Might Be The New Artform Of Our Time
Few cultural forms have commanded such a vast audience. As of February 2026, over 700 million viewers were registered across the micro-drama platforms’ monthly user bases, with daily screentime averaging two hours per person. – New Left Review
- The Problem With Museum Wall Texts – And How To Fix Them
Good texts take time. The field of visitor studies even recommends workshopping texts with an audience. Curators working on relentless deadlines don’t have that kind of luxury. Yet the particular genre of bad text I am thinking of, paradoxically, seems worst at the most elite levels of the industry. – Artnet
- New York’s Museum Of Modern Art Has Just Made Itself A Hotbed Of Dance
For four weeks, MoMA is turning its large second-floor atrium over to choreographer Sarah Michelson, who has made a piece titled “nowhere.” “At the forefront of ‘nowhere’”, writes Gia Kourlas, “is a question that only seems simple: What is a dance?” – The New York Times
- Toronto Theatre Soulpepper To Part Ways With Its Executive Director
Arthurs’s departure is the latest in a series of big shakeups in recent months at the upper echelons of Toronto’s major arts institutions, including Hot Docs, the Art Gallery of Ontario and Factory Theatre. – Toronto Star
- Canadian Jazz Icon Oliver Jones, 91
The Little Burgundy legend received numerous honours in his illustrious career. Among his accolades are numerous Juno and Félix awards. Jones was also appointed an officer of the Order of Canada in 1993 and awarded the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award in 2005. – Montreal Gazette
- The Problem Behind The Opera Problem
If we cannot even agree that classical music is indeed obscure to most people, how can we understand the current state of affairs so that we might do something about it? – San Francisco Classical Voice
- Russia’s Most Famous Medieval Icon Has Suffered Exactly The Damage Conservators Warned About
In 2023, on Putin’s personal orders, the 15th-century icon of the Trinity by Andrei Rublev, Russia’s most revered icon painter, was moved from Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery and is now at the Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery. Conservators said that, without museum-quality climate controls, the piece could be severely damaged. Well, guess what’s happened. – Meduza (Moscow/Riga)
- Why Italianness Is A State Of Mind
Descendants of Italian migrants generally express an intense pride in their heritage, and many continue to live by its sociocultural tenets in spite of decades, or more, of absence. It is as if time away from Italy, and geographical distance, only amplify a yearning for it. – Aeon
- Study: Why Our Brains Mix Up Memories
Scientists already know that confusing memories happens more often than forgetting them altogether. What’s less clear is how the brain gets confused. – The Conversation
- Is It Time To Privatize The Smithsonian?
The surest way for the Smithsonian to free itself from the unwanted attentions of the current administration or any future one would be to adopt a business model that doesn’t involve government funding. – The Wall Street Journal
- Science Videos Have Become Big Hits On YouTube
“YouTube … has evolved into a home for sophisticated STEM programming that can attract audiences in the tens of millions. They’re the type of programs traditional media companies used to produce, but now individual creators have taken the baton.” – TheWrap (MSN)
- Author Annie Dillard Is Dead At 81
“With the publication of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek in 1974, Ms. Dillard, just 28, was recognized as a major new voice in American letters. … In the years to come, she would publish essays, meditations on religion, poems, a theory of literature, two novels, journalism, (and) a best-selling autobiography.” – The New York Times
- San Francisco Opera Cancels More Performances As Orchestra Strike Continues
“San Francisco Opera has canceled all performances through Sunday, Sept. 20, as its orchestra musicians remain on strike, putting the opening stretch of the company’s 2026-27 season on hold.” – San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)
- Former Assistant Conductor Sues Rochester Philharmonic And Eastman School
Jherrard Hardeman says he got two years of high praise from management; then, last September, he was abruptly told by the CEO to resign and Eastman barred him from its premises. Only later, he says, did he hear “rumors” accusing him of inappropriate conduct with minors, a charge he strongly denies. – WROC (Rochester)
- Louvre Looks To Asia For Donors To Help Fund Its Very Expensive Renovation
The overhaul, badly needed to ease overcrowding, remedy deferred maintenance, and improve security, is expected to cost well over €1 billion (US$1.2 billion). Christophe Leribault, who became the museum’s director in February, went to Tokyo and Hong Kong to talk about the necessity of the project. – South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
- Barnes & Noble Buys Another Distressed Indie Bookseller
Joseph-Beth Booksellers, which has two locations in metro Cincinnati, is the third independent retail business that B&N has acquired in three years. The chain bought Denver’s Tattered Cover in 2024 and the Bay Area’s Books Inc. last year; both companies had filed for bankruptcy. – Publishers Weekly
- Unions At The Whitney, Brooklyn Museum, And American Folk Art Museum Vote To Strike
“In a statement on behalf of the unionized staff, Local 2110 UAW said all three museums must raise their minimum pay rates, noting that average wages for their staff fall below … the minimum required for a single adult to afford to live in New York City.” – ARTnews
- Ed Sheeran Tour In Shambles After Supporting Musicians Pull Out After Macklemore Ouster
- Trump Calls In To Kennedy Center Board Meeting, Rants, And Board Votes To Shut Down Indefinitely
An unnamed board member described Trump’s phone call as “fucking crazy” to CNN, while another source told the news outlet that Trump screamed throughout the call. – The New Republic
- Nearly Intact Pre-Inca Tomb Discovered, Complete With Funerary Treasure
The burial chamber was found at Chan Chan, once the capital of the Chimú people, whose culture flourished on what’s now Peru’s northern coast from the early 10th century CE to 1470. Because the tomb was never looted, researchers will be able to learn more about Chimú society than ever before. – Smithsonian Magazine
- Bookstores Warn Of Threats To Publishers Of Left-Wing Literature
The criminalization of left-wing literature and those who publish or distribute it, the booksellers said, should also concern mainstream bookstores, which should be able to carry “a broad range of viewpoints without fear of government scrutiny or interference. – Publishers Weekly
- Burning Man Is Now Middle-Aged — In More Ways Than One
It’s not just that the festival itself has been happening for 40 years, or that people have been complaining that it’s not what it used to be for decades. It’s that Burners themselves are older, with 40% of them over 40 last year and only 10% of them in their 20s. – The Guardian
- Arkansas Public Television Has Flourished Since It Left PBS
Arkansas TV gained half as many new donors between July 1, 2025 and June 30, 2026 compared to the previous year. The percentage of repeat donors from the 2025 to 2026 fiscal years dropped from 87% to 78%. – Arkansas Advocate
- How To Repurpose All Those Centuries-Old Japanese Temples?
There are around 77,000 temples across the country, but as many as 17,000 no longer have a full-time resident priest as congregations have shrunk — particularly in rural districts experiencing rapid depopulation — and financial pressures have taken their toll. – Deutsche Welle
- Making Dance In Kyiv Between Bombing Runs
The Ratmanskys’ arrival coincided with one of the worst periods of the war, a time of constant attacks on the capital that sent them and others scurrying to bomb shelters multiple times a day. “It is difficult in every sense,” Tatiana said, “mental, physical.” – The New York Times
- Lawsuit Alleges International Racket In Fake Andy Warhols
“(A family of art collectors) is suing more than a half-dozen individuals and companies across Florida, Philadelphia and Peru, whom they claim served as ‘suppliers, fake authenticators and distributors’ in an elaborate and far-reaching forgery scheme.” – The Wall Street Journal (MSN)
- Why It’s Increasingly Difficult For Museums To Tackle Complicated Topics
Donors underwrite celebration. Nobody endows a wing to say “it’s complicated.” That’s why the critical museum barely exists as a category. I’d rather build a Howard Zinn People’s History Museum than rehash a heroic retelling of our glorious past, but I have no idea how that gets funded. – Josh Goldblum