Douglas McLennan
Doug is the editor of ArtsJournal
Today’s AJ Highlights
Good morning: Technology has often upended notions of what art is. And artists have pushed and pulled at existing definitions to redefine and expand...
Why The Notion Of “Zero” Is Difficult To Grasp
It takes children longer to understand and use zero than other numbers, and it takes adults longer to read it than other small numbers....
AI Will Revolutionize How Movies Are Made. But First The Copyright Issue
“I was at the forefront of CGI over three decades ago, and I’ve stayed on the cutting edge since. Now, the intersection of generative...
Unlocking The Secrets Of Ancient Cement To Combat Climate Change
In contrast, ordinary Portland cement must be baked in a kiln at around 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit. “It’s a huge saving” in energy, she said,...
Protests In Spain Over Proposed New Guggenheim Museum
Critics argue that the new museum, which would be spread across two sites – one in Guernica and one in Urdaibai – will ruin...
Why Are American Theatres Producing Less Shakespeare?
Over the past 10 years, as American politics and culture have grown more contentious, Shakespeare has become increasingly politicized. - The New York Times
How Artists Are Driving An Industrial Part Of Seattle
This wedge of South Seattle thrums with the rumble of trucks and planes, brims with warehouses and lacks green space and clean air but...
Seeking Wisdom — But What Is It?
Our findings revealed that, when people make judgments about wisdom, they are essentially linking wisdom to two key dimensions that we call reflective orientation and socio-emotional awareness....
An AI Revolution: Disrupting Notions Of Art
AI-created artworks are disrupting the accepted norms of the art world. As philosopher Alice Helliwell from Northeastern University London argues, if we can consider...
Today’s AJ Highlights
Good morning: Is it possible to still make a living playing in a working band? Apparently not. There used to be something of a...
Art Of The Farm (With A Bit Of Opera And Ballet Thrown In)
The world’s first ever “Hay Rake Ballet” was a high point of what may be the last iteration of Farm/Art DTour, a 50-mile circuit of...
The Rich Hidden World Of The Music Archivist
For every song that is in print and available, there are at least 10 that are mothballed in storage, an estimated 2.5m pieces that...
Thirty Years Ago Arlene Croce’s Non-Review Review Of Bill T. Jones Ignited A Firestorm
Has a piece of criticism, much less of dance criticism, made such a mark on the culture since? “Discussing the Undiscussable” was in conversation...
Can AI Be Taught To Sing Opera?
The challenge of how to bridge the final gap for synthetic voices will occupy scientists for a while to come. Along the way, opera...
Decline Of The Working Musician
Some of the musicians have mixed feelings about their chosen careers. “It depends on the day,. Today I feel like a tired old whore....
“My Fair Lady” At 60: A Linguist Takes A Look
It is no coincidence that women and working-class people (and Cockneys who are often seen as emblematic of the working class) often bear the brunt of...
Penguin Random House Adds Anti-AI Statement To Its Copyright Notice
It’s a notable departure from other large publishers, such as academic printers Taylor & Francis, Wiley, and Oxford University Press, which have all agreed to license...
The Idea Of Who Owns Ideas In The AI Age Is Getting Blurry
Whether AI can achieve true imagination is an open question, but for now, what separates humans from machines is not the ability to invent...
Writing Across Difference
Writing across difference is often maligned in contemporary conversations of literary craft—and for good reason—but I am of the opinion that the skill, in...
How Romance Novels Became A Hit In The Digital Age
“Why did romance writers, arguably the most mocked, maligned, and mistreated group of authors in history, become the most successful and innovative writers in...
This Weekend’s AJ Highlights
Good Morning: Here are this weekend's highlights:
Fired Dallas Black Dance Theatre Members Aren’t Giving Up The Fight "The dispute threatens to cloud the company’s...
This Week’s AJ Highlights
Good morning: Is the creative economy recovering? The Atlantic magazine reported this week it is now profitable and will return to publishing monthly in...
Today’s AJ Highlights
Good morning. London's National Gallery has now banned visitors from bringing liquids into its building after climate protesters have hurled liquids at art work....
A Small Demonstration Of The State Of AI-Created Movies And What’s Possible
Figuring out what’s possible is a fraught proposition when it comes to AI in Hollywood. - Wired
We Celebrate The Rise Of Indie Bookstores As A Victory. But What Are We...
The indie bookstore is a dialectical synthesis of the crusty old bookstore and the rationalized superstore. - The Baffler
