“Not every traditional program needs a nonmusical draw. But I don’t think drawing connections between pieces of music — and making those connections clear to the audience — would dumb down the orchestra’s product. In fact, it may make the PSO’s programming as unique as its sound.”
Author: Douglas McLennan
Long Time Ago Our Culture Was Passed On Orally. Then Writing Came Along And Changed Everything
“The freezing in text of dialectical reasoning, with a heavy admixture (however impure or problematic) of poetry, aphorism and myth, became the model for what, in the European tradition, was thought of as ‘philosophy’ for the next few millennia. Why are these historical reflections important today? Because what is at stake is nothing less than our understanding of the scope and nature of philosophical enquiry.”
Demographer Looks At World Population Trends To Make Some Predictions
For example, he said that over the next 20 years, the world as a whole won’t have the demographic ingredients to keep the global economy humming at a “pre-2008 tempo.” The main reason: not enough educated people with the necessary skills. He also argued that the demographic fundamentals of the US and Canada look “quite positive” through 2035—perhaps the best in the world.
Who Are Today’s Great Cultural Critics? (Are There Any?)
“Cultural criticism, we should remind ourselves, can be almost as important as the art itself, can indeed be part of the art. There have been great creative critics, from Alexander Pope (in The Dunciad, Epistle to Lord Burlington, etc) and Dr Johnson onwards, who combined the two arts with the skill of genius. Byron was another, in his English Bards and Scotch Reviewers, Vision of Judgment, and parts of Don Juan. Can you name a great contemporary cultural critic? Someone who could, in writing about literature and other aspects of our culture, hold a candle to T. S. Eliot on poetry, or Herbert Read on modern art? I asked several highly knowledgeable people, who struggled to do so.”
A Long Tradition Of British Writers Collaborating In Pairs
“For more than 200 years, male British authors (usually poets, usually in pairs) have co-written or co-edited collections, anthologies or scholarly travel journals. It’s a tradition that is in surprisingly rude health, with recent examples and forthcoming festivities marking the 50th anniversary of a collaboration that sold shedloads.”
Here’s A Problem: A Failure To Fail
“Learning resilience is fundamental to a successful career as a scientist. The experiments we try will fail many times before they work, whether as an undergraduate, a PhD student, or a postdoc gunning for a faculty position… But actually overcoming failure is challenging. Many students who began science degrees with me switched to other majors the first time a project failed. One failure and they were gone.”
Wexner Center Hires Lane Czaplinski As Director Of Performing Arts
The Wexner Center is about a $10 million organization, while On the Boards has a $1.7 million operating budget. “It’s a much bigger staff, much bigger institution,” Czaplinski said. “I want to work more on being a curator, being a producer, writing and making trouble in Ohio.”
This Neighborhood Is Helping Artists Buy Vacant Homes For Cheap
“In Indianapolis, one block in the Garfield Park neighborhood south of the city’s downtown is experimenting with a different model. An arts nonprofit worked with other partners to buy and renovate vacant houses and is now offering to co-own them with artists. Artists will pay half the cost–one $80,000 home, for example, will sell for around $40,000.”
Exit Interview: Doug Sonntag Reflects On 30 Years Of Dance At The NEA
“The level of dancing has improved tremendously. It’s especially notable in the ballet companies. The depth of technique really extends from the principals all the way to the corps de ballet. That’s quite astounding. There are also changes in the system of dance and not necessarily in a good way. When I came here 30 years ago, touring was still a viable option for most dance companies, in particular the modern companies. We had grants to dance presenters, to dance companies. There was a network of support for touring activity, which is crucial to dance. There were multiple streams of income that went towards those presentations.”
Rochester Art Center In Deep Financial Distress
The center is an important piece of the city’s Destination Medical Center economic development project, which aims to raise Rochester’s national and international profile by boosting its downtown. Cultivating the arts as a magnet to draw younger people to the region is key to the plan.