Stories

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

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

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

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