“In the past decade, female friends in romantic comedies have been taking on increasingly prominent roles, reflecting the fact that many women are delaying marriage until later in life. In these films, ‘female friendship supersedes heterosexual romance,’ says [media scholar] Leger Grindon.”
Month: June 2012
Nico Muhly On Writing An Opera About Mormon Sister-Wives
“It was hard to write. It’s important not to have a mockery of their faith. … [In 2008] the polygamist women were saying on The Larry King Show, ‘Isn’t this America? Don’t we have religious freedom? We’re not bothering anybody. What’s the problem?’ It was important for this to not become a political tract.”
Jason Alexander Gives The Best Apology For An Anti-Gay Remark Ever
Last week, as a guest on Craig Ferguson’s Late Late Show, the comedian/actor (Seinfeld) went on an extended riff about how cricket is a “gay” sport (as opposed to “manly” Australian rules football). When several of Alexander’s Twitter followers objected, Alexander thought hard about what he’d said and ultimately issued an unusually eloquent and sincere statement.
Kafka’s Final Absurdity: How His Papers Ended Up Being Hoarded By An Israeli Cat Lady
“For the past 40 years, the women of the Hoffe family have held an assortment of Kafka’s primary drafts, letters, drawings and, possibly, unpublished manuscripts.” (Esther Hoffe was the mistress of Kafka’s agent, Max Brod.) “[The] women have guarded [the papers] closely, and to this day no one is sure exactly what they contain.”
Forget The Mariinsky’s Boris Godunov – Here’s Some Real Subversive Russian Theater
“In the ruckus surrounding the Mariinsky production of Boris Godunov, Russians seem to have forgotten that the subject of protest has been taken on by some of the most prominent Moscow theatres for years. Many provocative productions have been staged by a young, punkish director named Kirill Serebrennikov.”
If Someone Pirates Content, Should You Wreck The Road They Took To Do It?
That’s the argument that Big Content seems to be making to the technology community.
E-Books Gain Market Share (But Cannibalize More Expensive Hardback Sales)
“E-books accounted for 7% of consumer spending on books in 2011 and 14% of units purchased, according to the most recent data from Bowker Market Research. In 2010, e-books had a 2% share of dollars and a 4% share of units.”
Canada To Start Charging Royalties For Music Used At Weddings, Other Events
“The Copyright Board of Canada has certified new tariffs that apply to recorded music used at live events including conventions, karaoke bars, ice shows, fairs and, yes, weddings. The fees will be collected by a not-for-profit called Re:Sound.”
But What If The Forgery Is Better?…
The skill of the forger surely should be taken into account. And the skill it takes to create (recreate?) great art is surely worth something in its own right…
The Lessons Of Enduring Culture (Or Not)
“Culture is a precious inheritance, immeasurably more difficult to achieve than to destroy, and, once destroyed, almost irretrievable. It’s not at all clear that we have learned the lesson, though wise men from before the time of Pericles have sought to bring us that sobering news.”