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The Women Who Have Interpreted Dylan

Cher "ran into Dylan in a New York recording studio as her version was climbing the charts. He told her that he dug what she’d done with it, which, Cher writes, 'made me feel like floating away.'" - The New York Times

Even The Best Directors Are Going Franchise, But Why?

Chloe Zhao followed up Nomadland with a Marvel tentpole. Greta Gerwig is about to release Barbie. Barry Jenkins is directing ... a Lion King sequel?! Studios used to have more on offer. "Now this is all there is: franchise content, continuing endlessly until the heat death of the universe." - Irish Times

How The Heck Did ‘Barbie’ Find Itself At (Cold) War With China?

A crayon drawing, maybe. "Vietnamese censors have banned or altered several other movies that showed disputed areas as being under Beijing’s control. The list includes Crazy Rich Asians (2018), Abominable (2019) and Uncharted (2022), among others."- The New York Times

Actors Step Up Strike Preparations, Share Them On Social Media

"The union that is in the midst of tense contract negotiations with Hollywood’s major studios published a 42-second video on that showed members wielding staplers and duct tape in the grunt work of making dozens of picket signs." - Variety

Pianist, Crossover Artist, And Pops Conductor Peter Nero Has Died At 89

"Nero was a national treasure. He appeared with Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis and other headliners; released 72 albums; conducted the Philly Pops for 34 years, often with one hand while the other played a piano." - The New York Times

Watermelon Woman Finally Gets Long Overdue Honors At The Criterion Channel

Why did this take so long? Blame the GOP. "In 1997 Michigan Republican Congressman Pete Hoekstra derided The Watermelon Woman as 'possibly pornographic.' ... He decried that the film had been funded by taxpayers." - NPR

When A TikToker Approached A ‘Looking Defeated’ YA Author, You Won’t Believe What Happened Next

Or, you might. "The video was posted to TikTok on Sunday and was flooded with supportive comments. ... On Monday, Warner tweeted that the novel became No 1 in Amazon YA sales, and soon after it was No 1 across all book genres." - The Guardian (UK)

One Dance Principal’s Mission Is To Be ‘As Human As Possible’ In Classical Ballet

American Ballet Theater principal Cassandra Trenary says, "I’m trying to find a balance between being the most human and the most stripped down and keeping it like a classical ballet. That’s an interesting struggle." - The New York Times

How Indigenous-Owned Record Labels Are Changing Canada’s Music Scene

The people are doing it for themselves: "Indigenous musicians are building their own foundation within Canada's music industry after years of feeling excluded from or limited by the system's unspoken glass ceiling." - CBC

Macron Blames Protests And Riots In France On Video Games – A Long-Debunked Theory

"Seeing him mention this is almost anachronistic. The evidence is very clear that whatever may be going on in France, whatever violence is occurring, it certainly is not due to violence in video games." But politicians - even Gen-Xers like Macron - apparently can't stop, won't stop. - NPR

Drawing Birds Can Change Your Life

David Sibley: "Drawing is a way of slowing down to take the time to look at something, and drawing also gives you a record of what you thought you saw. It’s not like a photograph; it’s your interpretation of what you saw." - The New York Times

Libraries Across The Country Made Digital Books Accessible To All Students, So Mississippi Banned Access

The openly homophobic and transphobic law means that "even if granted parental permission, minors may not have materials available to them." Texas is likely to follow suit, even more harshly. - Book Riot

The Rise and Fall Of “Smooth” Jazz

It really was just a marketing niche. This pressure to program for the broadest, least attentive listenership possible could lead to absurdity. - The New Yorker

Taylor Swift Studies: A Growing Number Of Universities Are Offering Courses On Her

Rather than an excuse for fans to talk trivia and swap comfort songs, these courses seem to incorporate a measure of academic rigor. For example, the NYU class, taught by a Rolling Stone writer, examined Swift’s career in relation to feminism, race and the music industry. - Los Angeles Times

Using VR At The Theatre

He realised that in this case technology had triggered deeper emotions than a stage performance. "VR is a very personal experience as opposed to theatre, which is communal." - BBC

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