"Two decades after theatre’s funding taps were turned off, editor Alistair Smith embarked on a tour from the tip to the toe of the United Kingdom, taking in productions across the four nations and speaking to those behind them, to discover how this period has shaped the industry we see today." - The Stage
Swift’s music still forms the basis of their interest in her. Fans study it like scripture, offering various interpretations of the lyrics. Uniting these interpretations is a desire to understand more about the figure of Swift and who she “really” is. - The Conversation
In The Times, Jason Farago defended an artistic movement against its detractors: “If you find Monet, Renoir, Degas too pretty and popular — if you think Impressionism is the artistic equivalent of a pumpkin spice latte — I want you to taste the espresso beneath the foam.” - The New York Times
From sexy frescoes emerging from the ashes to hidden cities surfacing due to Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) scans, archaeologists continue to make discoveries that transform our understanding of the past and how best to preserve it for the future. - Hyperallergic
Thinking hard makes sense if you want answers; it makes less sense if the highest reward you anticipate from your intellectual efforts is surprise. The difference between a philosophical life and an essayistic one is that the former aims at knowledge, while the latter aims at novelty. - Unherd
"A wax cylinder containing the oldest recorded country song was discovered in Pennsylvania. The track, 'Thompson's Old Gray Mule,' was recorded in 1891 and sung by Louis Vasnier, a Black man from New Orleans." - BBC
Young people today are no less obsessed with climate disasters than Gen X was with nuclear war. Where we had nightmares about missiles, theirs feature mass extinctions and climate refugees, wildfires and water wars. And that’s just the beginning. - The Atlantic
For old time’s sake, we sing “Auld Lang Syne.” We embrace the waltz to remember and ward off depression. Everywhere in the world there are New Year’s concerts featuring Strauss waltzes. - Los Angeles Times (MSN)
"A little blue dog was the biggest star in the streaming world; the most watched cable series in years took a final bow; sports, specifically the NFL, proved their viability on streaming platforms; and the biggest new broadcast show is a meta-remake that stars a 76-year-old treasure." - The Hollywood Reporter
"As we close out the year, we’ve rounded up the artworks that left us unimpressed — pieces that didn’t live up to the hype, ideas that fell flat, or works misplaced in their context." - Artnet
Beginning in 1986, with funding from two foundations and the U.S. Department of State, American Dance Festival director Charles Reinhart sent American teachers to the Guangdong Dance Academy. Four years later, the country's first modern dance company was formed; among its alumni is choreographer Shen Wei. - The New York Times
"Lebanese cultural preservation organisation Biladi said at least nine heritage sites were completely destroyed and 15 badly or partially damaged by Israeli attacks between September … and a ceasefire in November. But archaeological experts also say bomb blasts close to important sites … may have caused 'invisible damage'." - Financial Times
