ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

MEDIA

NPR Launches A Paid-Subscription Podcast Bundle

"(The package gives) subscribers access to bonus content, ad-free episodes, and other perks from nearly a dozen NPR podcasts including Planet Money, Fresh Air, and Code Switch. To join NPR+, listeners must make a new recurring contribution to their local member station starting at $8/month or $96/year." - Nieman Lab

A Sudden Shift In Culture Of Twitter Users

As a lot of the current people leave and a lot of new people who are there because of what they think Elon is going to do join, that’s going to significantly change the culture of the platform.” - The Atlantic

HBO Grew Out Of Journalistic Impulse (Then Turned On It)

To pull in viewers, HBO’s early executives dreamed up a network that ended up reflecting contemporary culture — its policing and crime, politics and industry news — better than many newspaper sections devoted to those topics. - Washington Post

“The Woman King” Is A Massive Hit At Benin’s Only Movie Theater

The film, headlined by Viola Davis, about the female warriors of the old kingdom of Dahomey (in present-day Benin), has been running at the Canal Olympia in Cotonou (the nation's largest city) for a month — and it's still sold out. - The Guardian

The Resurrection Of Cinecittà, Rome’s Legendary Film Studio

"Over the past few years, Cinecittà has grown enormously. The increase in demand for new series and movies — driven by global streamers — has put a premium on studio space.  'We've gone from a precarious situation, with 40-50 percent occupancy, to about 15 productions per day,' says Cinecittà's CEO." - The Hollywood Reporter

Increasing Inclination To Regulate TikTok

In the US, moves to rein in the video platform have gained momentum only relatively recently, although there’s little debate that the round of regulatory pressure is warranted. - The Guardian

CNN Will Stop Commissioning Original Documentaries And Docu-Series

"CNN is pulling back on the original series and films that have been a staple of its programming. ... Series like (Anthony) Bourdain's Parts Unknown, (Stanley) Tucci's Searching for Italy and W. Kamau Bell's United Shades of America ... were a pillar of the network under its previous leader, Jeff Zucker." - Variety

For The First Time, NPR Will Let Individuals Donate Directly To The Network

In the past, member stations have pushed back hard against any move by the network to raise funds directly from listeners rather than via the dues member stations pay.  This initiative is aimed at "digital natives" who listen entirely online, and proceeds will be distributed to member stations. - Current

Elon Musk’s Twitter Could Be In For A World Of Hurt

If Musk carries through on his ideas even partly, Twitter users could see big and confusing shifts in the platform’s features and social dynamics. - Wired

Disney Animation Stars Its First Plus-Size Heroine. Some Viewers Protest

Social media users have questioned Disney's intentions behind Reflect, saying the two-minute length didn't leave enough room for nuance, and the message of body positivity was muddled by making Bianca's self-image the primary plot driver. - NPR

How Horror Became Hollywood’s Go-To Genre In 2022

Yes, horror has long enjoyed a loyal audience. But 2022 has proved an especially strong year commercially for chilling flicks, producing hits including Universal Pictures’ and Blumhouse’s “The Black Phone,” directed by Scott Derrickson ($160 million in global box office sales). - Los Angeles Times

Has History Finally Moved Ahead Of The Manchurian Candidate As It Turns 60 Years Old?

"John Frankenheimer's thriller ... managed the neat, eerie trick of looking prescient for multiple decades following its 1962 release. ... Watching the movie now, it's striking to see how some of its dynamics have been reversed in US politics." - The Guardian

Just What Did Elon Musk Buy In Twitter?

As of early last year, just one in five U.S. adults said they ever use Twitter—a slice that plateaued by 2018. The research shows Twitter’s general user base skews left-leaning and relatively young and that just one quarter of U.S. adult users produce 97% of Americans’ tweets. - The Wall Street Journal

Not Creepy At All: Disney Wants To Integrate Your Data Across All Its Businesses

Once the company unites data collection capabilities between its various divisions, “we can give you a better experience in the park, because we know what your preferences are in terms of viewing and a better experience on Disney+ because we know what your affinities are.” - The Wall Street Journal

New Study: Playing Video Games May Help Young Brains

The gamers did better than non-gamers in tests where they had to control impulsive behavior or memorize information, according to the National Institute of Health, which promoted the research. - Axios

Our Free Newsletter

Join our 30,000 subscribers

Latest

Don't Miss

function my_excerpt_length($length){ return 200; } add_filter('excerpt_length', 'my_excerpt_length');