And some of them are earning $100,000 a month. In the Amazon self-publishing universe where authors earn a share of revenue based on how many people are reading, scammers have so gamed the system that quality legitimate books are being edged out, and money is going to clickbait. – The Guardian
Author: Douglas McLennan
Are There Really Any Reasons Left Not To Repatriate Plundered Cultural Artifacts?
“The British Museum is currently facing repatriation demands from Italy, Greece, Egypt and the Easter Island; the idea that it is a better host to the Parthenon Marbles than Athens’ state-of-the-art Acropolis Museum is preposterous, as is the idea that the Rapa Nui don’t know how to look after Hoa Hakananai’a, the Easter Island stone statue they believe is the living incarnation of a prominent ancestor.” – Prospect
“La Forza Del Destino,” “Alice in Wonderland,” And A World-Gone-Mad Brexit
“Everything is in confusion,” sings Fra Melitone. That was also true for the world outside of the opera house during Brexit week. As many have commented, English political life is hurtling “down the rabbit hole,” and it’s perhaps worth noting that “La Forza del Destino,” in 1862, was an unlikely cultural sibling of that quintessentially British masterpiece “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland,” which Lewis Carroll began writing in that same year and was published soon after, in 1865. Brexit is the maddest of mad tea parties, and, if, somewhere, the Cheshire Cat is grinning at the confusion, we are unlikely to enjoy the humor anytime soon. – The New Yorker
London’s Mayor Says The City Needs A “Game-Changing” Approach To Cultural Infrastructure
London has one of the most vibrant cultural scenes in the world. So why does it need a new plan for cultural infrastructure? For the same reason cities need to plan for any other services or physical amenities. And this isn’t just about preserving or building buildings or creating cultural zones. – Arts Professional
Frank Rich Goes To A New Production Of “Oklahoma” And Is Taken Aback By The America It Portrays
The musical was groundbreaking for its time (for many reasons), and portrayed an optimistic version of America. A new production startles Rich into a reevaluation and the discovery of its darker side of that America. – New York Magazine
It’s Getting Almost Impossible To Judge Plagiarism In Pop Music
In 2019, the ways in which music is borrowed is more subversive. That’s because the job of a pop star is different than what it used to be. Once, you were expected to craft and curate your own musical pocket universe alongside a team of trusted collaborators. Today, it’s a game of ceaseless, crafty annexation. – New York Magazine
The Higher Education Scandal: Exploitation Of Adjuncts
Tuitions have soared. Student debt is unsustainable. Meanwhile, more and more of the actual teaching is delivered by adjunct faculty who are woefully underpaid, have little or no job security and whose employment can end on a whim. Here’s a collection of first-hand stories. – Chronicle of Higher Education
On Becoming American Music: Mixing Vernacular, High Art And Language
Joseph Horowitz looks at American composers of the early 20th Century and their attempts to forge a unique language for American music. – Raritan Quarterly
Sing-A-Long Musicals Are Becoming A Thing
Of course, in your traditional theatre experience, you go to listen to the performers. But just as audiences have been joining in for showings of Rocky Picture Horror and Sound of Music, they’re now coming to musicals to join in with the cast singing. So what’s the appeal? – The Guardian
To Celebrate April Fool’s Day: A List Of Famous Literary Hoaxes
So what makes a good literary hoax? Well the world needs to be sucked into believing it of course. And that means of course that you don’t know the fraud until the deception has been revealed. Tragedy (usually for the hoaxer) ensues. Is there a common thread through these examples? – The New York Times