“Traces of ink lettering visible in the X-ray images” — virtually unrolled and scanned for words by a specially-designed AI program — "revealed the text to be part of a multi-volume work, On Vices, written by the Epicurean philosopher Philodemus in the first century BC.” - The Guardian
Rather than passively perceiving music, the brain physically embodies it, synchronizing with musical patterns to produce sensations of timing, musical pleasure, and even the impulse to move. - Earth.com
This year, the list includes not only buildings, but entire communities, such as a smattering of islands off Florida's northwest coast. Cedar Key was renowned for its Old Florida charm. A historic fishing village that bears its name was devastated by Hurricane Helene in 2024. - NPR
On Thursday, the theater company launched a $9 million emergency fundraising campaign, saying that unless it can raise the first part of the funds, $2.5 million, by Aug. 31, “the theater will cease operations.” - The Oregonian
“Chicago Public Schools officials on Wednesday announced a plan aimed at increasing the quality of arts instruction by establishing a comprehensive arts curriculum and a data-driven system to measure effectiveness of teaching.” - WBEZ (Chicago)
“Bey had a multiphase musical career, with peaks and valleys that had more to do with shifting tastes than any fluctuation in quality. But his style did trace an evolution, from churchified soul jazz to astral jazz-funk to smoky songbook reverie.” - WRTI (Philadelphia)
“Martine Gosselink, the director of the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague, whose collection includes Vermeer’s Girl With a Pearl Earring …, said the turmoil had left her team wary of lending pieces to the US … amid the uncertainty wreaked by Donald Trump’s funding cuts and ideological impositions.” - The Guardian
The Muny — officially, the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis — is the oldest and largest outdoor musical theater in the U.S., founded in 1919. Its annual attendance at its home in the city’s Forest Park is over 300,000. - TheaterMania
“President Donald Trump on Thursday fired Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress — the first woman and first African-American to hold the position. She was informed of the decision in a terse, two-sentence email.” - The Washington Post (Yahoo!)
A woman had accused the writer-director of Crash of raping her repeatedly over the course of two days in 2022 while they were both in Brindisi for an entertainment-industry event. A judge has ruled that no nonconsensual sex took place in this instance. - Los Angeles Times (Yahoo!)
“According to governmental documents posted online, Trump has nominated Mary Anne Carter to reassume her post as NEA head, a position she left in 2021 when Joe Biden became President.” - ARTnews
“They may be less all-encompassing than the famous symphonies, but Mahler’s songs are miniature masterpieces, ranking alongside the greatest by Schubert, Schumann, Brahms and Wolf. They are marvels: songs as expressive and finely crafted as the famous symphonies are visceral and overwhelming.” - The Guardian
“Historically, Hollywood has played a double role in U.S. soft power: It gave the country global relevance as a source of popular culture that was attractive in its own right, and it also presented an attractive ethical system and way of life that was distinct from that experienced elsewhere." - The Hollywood Reporter
“Despite the small budget, the film went on to become a comedy classic that influenced Saturday Night Live, The Simpsons and countless other comedies. Now 50 years after its release, it continues to serve as inspiration for new generations of comedians and writers.” - NPR
Ric Grenell, reacting Wednesday to headlines about cast members of Les Misérables who are planning to boycott President Donald Trump’s scheduled appearance next month, demanded career-altering consequences for “vapid and intolerant artists.” - The Daily Beast
