ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Stories

A New Record Label Devoted Solely To Women Composers

"The label, called La Boîte à Pépites (the jewel box), will record compositions that have rarely, if ever, been heard before, yet deserve 'a good position in the standard musical repertoire'."  To make the music available to more musicians, a publishing division will open next year. - The Observer (UK)

Should James Franco Play Fidel Castro In The New Biopic? (Cue Outcries)

On Friday, after the casting of a white U.S. actor in the role of a prominent Latin American political figure had drawn widespread condemnation online (including some very pointed criticism from actor John Leguizamo), one of the film’s producers came forth with an explanation. - Los Angeles Times

How An Indian Film From Beyond Bollywood Became A Hit On U.S. Screens

"The Telugu-language Indian action spectacular RRR, or Rise, Roar, Revolt, ... (is) the rare Indian hit to catch on with American viewers outside the Indian diaspora, thanks to the unusual decision to relaunch the film weeks after it had already played across the country." - The New York Times

Report: A Third Of Seattle’s Arts Workers Are Thinking Of Leaving The Field

Roughly a third of respondents indicated they were thinking about leaving the sector, and 4 in 10 respondents said they were considering a change in job or location within the next year. Younger respondents were more likely to be considering leaving the sector. - Crosscut

To Make Fun Of Politicians Or Not? At This Year’s Edinburgh Fringe, Believe It Or Not, This Is Actually A Question

"Performers are split on how to respond to turbulent times in a way that entertains audiences. After the BBC's cancellation of (a) long-running satirical panel show, the public appetite for political comedy is in question." Several comics say they're now simply too angry about politics to be funny. - The Guardian

Mass-Market Paperbacks Are In Trouble

Over the last five years, sales in the category are down 32% by units sold and 43% by revenue.  Some authors and titles, especially romances and mysteries, have moved to trade paperbacks; a bigger issue is the rise of very cheap self-published ebooks in a highly price-sensitive category. - Publishers Weekly

Pulitzer-Winning Historian David McCullough Is Dead At 89

"(His) lovingly crafted narratives on subjects ranging from the Brooklyn Bridge to Presidents John Adams and Harry Truman made him among the most popular and influential historians of his time." - AP

These Ukrainian Ballet Dancers Will Be Returning To The Army In A Month

The male members of the Ukrainian Freedom Ballet, which is currently performing in the Edinburgh Fringe, had to get special permission from their government to go on this tour, since every male of age in the country is required to remain and fight against the invading Russian military. - BBC

The Enormous Effort To Protect And Rescue Ukraine’s Art And Monuments, Organized More Or Less On The Fly

Institutions in Ukraine hadn't been prepared to pack up and evacuate their collections, certainly not on a large scale.  But (as Putin himself has made clear), this is a war on Ukraine's existence as a nation and culture, and the country's visual heritage is at severe risk. - The New York Times

Actors’ Equity UK Adopts “Comedian’s Charter” Governing Safety And Employment Conditions

The measures included "will ensure pay transparency, a safe working environment, late-night safety, and anti-harassment and discrimination policies. ... In the months ahead, we'll be reaching out to venues and promoters across the country and seeking to work with them to make the Charter the industry standard." - Yahoo! (Press Association UK)

Actor Anne Heche In “Extreme Critical Condition” After Driving Her Car Into Two Different Buildings

"She has a significant pulmonary injury requiring mechanical ventilation and burns that require surgical intervention. She is in a coma and has not regained consciousness since shortly after the accident." Her car first hit an apartment building, then, several minutes later, a house, which burned down. - MSN (The Washington Post)

Olivia Newton-John, Pop Superstar Of The 1970s And ’80s, Dead At 73

"Through a career that included 100m album sales and a starring role in Grease (1978), one of the most successful musicals in film history, she was the entertainer least likely to court controversy, ... one of the few young stars who were more popular with parents than with their children." - The Guardian

Two Years Ago Keith Jarrett Had A Stroke. Here’s How He’s Doing

"I sit down at the piano. Last couple of days, I was there every day. I don't get much back from my right hand, though." - NPR

Marvel’s Special Effects Artists Are Speaking Up About Working Conditions

The work is contracted to a VFX house at a set price. An effects artist might manage grueling hours to meet hard release dates but work overtime unpaid. If the final product fails to satisfy audience expectations, VFX artists often take the blame. - CNET

The Bookstore As Expedition

The Internet dealt a major blow by creating a massive single market for used books, undercutting the bread-and-butter lower end of the secondhand market. Amazon, in turn, depressed the prices of new books. And then there are rising rents, which have devastated small businesses of all kinds. - The New Yorker

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');