“It’s hardly surprising that writers and artists should increasingly tackle the subject. But can the arts ever illuminate a condition that by its very nature resists all understanding?”
Why Lonely People Can’t Just Buck Up And Make A Few Friends
“Lonely people do understand social skills, and often outperform the non-lonely when asked to demonstrate that understanding. It’s just that when they’re in situations when they need those skills the most, they choke.”
How ‘Go Set A Watchman’ Solves The Riddle Of Harper Lee
“Watchman may leave Mockingbird fans equally horrified, and critics disappointed, but it’s a crucial biographical document. For every question it raises about its profoundly famous and private 89-year-old author, it also answers a mystery or two about Lee’s life and motivations.”
Hilary Hahn Pays Tribute To Her Two Greatest Teachers
“Nothing wishy-washy or overly enthusiastic: [Klara Berkovich] was practical, very clear, and knew exactly what could be improved. … [Jascha Brodsky] didn’t believe in shortcuts: At 85 years old, he took it upon himself to learn a new concerto in order to teach it to me as well as possible.”
The Couple Who Invented Nordic Noir
“Imagine a parallel universe in which Stieg Larsson and Jo Nesbø wrote gentle detective stories set in country houses and vicarages. This might well have been the world we’d be living in if, more than half a century ago, an eminent Swedish journalist called Per Wahlöö had not fallen in love with a young publisher named Maj Sjöwall.”
The Movie Composer Having An Excellent Summer
“One of the first things I ask [a filmmaker] is, ‘What is the saddest moment in the story to you?’ That is important for me. I want to know if I felt the same way. When I ask the question, I’ll know emotionally if we are going to be in the same place.”
How To Get College Students Interested In Dramaturgy
Don’t have a program: “There was no designated person whose function was to understand the world of the play, to speak up for the playwright and her intent, to argue for the sanctity of the script. That work struck me as vital. Every conversation I had about student theatre I would pull back to this lack of focus on the text. The text must be the crux of all discussion and choices in the theatre.”
Um, Really? A Contest For Women Filmmakers … Set In The Twilight Universe?
“The contest — sponsored by Lionsgate, Women in Film, Volvo and crowd sourcing platform Tongal — was created to help women break into the frat house of film. Aspiring female writers and directors were invited to submit scripts and pitches for short films set in the ‘Twilight’ universe. Winners received up to $50,000 each to produce their 5- to 10-minute flicks.”
Mali Rebuilds Timbuktu Mausoleums Smashed By Islamic Extremists
“The entire city of Timbuktu is listed as a World Heritage Site by Unesco. The city was considered the centre of Islamic learning from the 13th to the 17th Centuries. At one time it counted nearly 200 schools and universities that attracted thousands of students from across the Muslim world.”
Watch A Film On Genghis Khan While In China, Get Deported
“China deported 20 foreigners from Britain, South Africa and India because they watched video clips that advocated terrorism and religious extremism, official state media has reported, while two of the tourists reportedly said they had done nothing more than view a documentary about Genghis Khan.”
When Arizona Teachers Were Forced To Become Book Smugglers
“The irony is that if Arizona lawmakers had never squashed one Mexican American studies class—in a single district in one city—Curtis Acosta would have no interest in duplicating that same class across the country. Certainly, California and Texas public schools would not be considering to offer the course in all its high schools. And Tony Diaz would never have become the book smuggler.”
Top Posts For AJBlogs From 07.19.15
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AJBlog: RiffTidesPublished 2015-07-19
‘Freedom Is A Career’ — An Obituary for Mike Lesser
AJBlog: Straight|UpPublished 2015-07-19
Alex Rocco, Whose Scene-Stealing Moments In ‘The Godfather’ Left An Indelible Impression, Dead At 79
“Mr. Rocco had fairly limited screen time in ‘The Godfather’ (1972), but he emerged from that film with a collection of signature lines, including ‘You don’t buy me out. I buy you out’ and ‘Do you know who I am?’ (both spoken to the Godfather-in-waiting, played by Al Pacino), and a Hollywood reputation for stealing scenes with little more than a Boston attitude and his eyebrows.”
Bilingual Millennials Are Changing The Look, And Sound, Of TV
“‘We cater all our content now to not only linear, but digital,’ says Alberto Ciurana, president of programming and content for Univision. ‘It’s clear that this demographic is growing and their viewing habits are all over the place. It’s not something that can be ignored anymore.'”
The Sneaky Deals Going Down At LACMA
“The email leaks, the Perenchio deal, and other questionable machinations — just how was Zumthor chosen anyway? — should give Angelenos pause. They don’t point to the high road that citizens expect their principal museum to take.”
What Do Ballet Companies Need To Do So Misty Copeland Isn’t A Lone Black Superstar?
“Right now, unfortunately, I would probably point to Europe. … In Europe, they’re actually looking for diversity. There is a lot of opportunity.”
What Will The San Diego Opera’s New General Director Do With The Resurrected Institution?
Under David Bennett’s leadership, “the San Diego Opera will undoubtedly broaden its offerings to include chamber opera, concert opera, musical theater and other forms in which drama is communicated through singing, and the company expects to diversify beyond the Civic Theatre. What’s the exact balance?”
Can Museums Escape The Disturbing Trend Of Relentless Commercialization?
“Nonprofit status subsidizes museums through the public tax code. The status was invented more than a century ago to foster diversity of independent thought, free from the narrow economic demands of business or the ideological commands of government. Today, that independence is being corrupted as the wall separating art museums from business activities is crumbling.”