In her 2017 essay collection, No Time to Spare, she argues that fantasy has a subversive streak, because it doesn’t take the current reality for granted. “Fantasy not only asks ‘What if things didn’t go on just as they do?’ but demonstrates what they might be like if they went otherwise,” she writes. – Humanities
Author: Douglas McLennan
There’s A Fundamental Problem With Trying To Justify Why The Arts Are A “Good” Thing
Carter Gillies: “Either we say that improving health, wellbeing and social outcomes is our proper motivation, or we admit that the value of the arts is different to this. If instrumental benefits are what truly matters, then it may be necessary to sacrifice some art that doesn’t meet these criteria. We can hold on to the ideal of instrumentality, or to art that does not show evidence of instrumental benefits. But we can’t have it both ways.” – Arts Professional
Historians Set Out Their Case Against “Hamilton”
It’s not just the portrait of Hamilton that has drawn fire. Critics also say Miranda’s portrait of Burr is horribly distorted and argue that Hamilton’s sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler, was in no way a feminist, as she is portrayed in the musical. – The Star-Tribune (Mpls)
The Absurdity Of The Debates Around The Leonardo Painting
“Of course, we are all entitled to our opinions. But how did we come to live in a day when the opinions of those who are not experts can stand head and shoulders alongside science-informed and specialist pieces? Are all opinions and judgements really equal?” – 3 Quarks Daily
So What Happened To The News Business?
Last week there were thousands of layoffs at news organizations. Not just at traditional newspapers either. Buzzfeed, one of the buzziest new digital titles, downsized itself in an attempt to find a model that works. The news business has a number of business models at work right now, but it’s still unclear what will be successful. – The New York Times
An Anti-Commercial Theatre Ad For Skittles That Mocks Super Bowl Ads
This year, the candy company Mars expanded their reach considerably with a (still pretty limited) one-night-only show in New York starring Michael C. Hall called Skittles Commercial: The Broadway Musical. While proceeds from Sunday’s performance are going to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the production is a commentary on Super Bowl advertising and product placement that is, itself, a feature-length advertisement full of product placement. Even if you didn’t get a ticket, you can listen to the songs (and four minutes of Hall noisily eating candy, if that’s your thing). – Slate
Ratings For “Mrs. Maisel” Are In (Sorta – And Who Can Trust Them?)
So “Mrs. Maisel” is a hit, according to Nielsen, averaging 1.9 million views in its second season. But the difficulties in coming up with an estimate of audience points to the chaotic state of ratings measurement these days. What, exactly, constitutes a hit in the era of streaming? – The New York Times
Study Of History Has Declined Sharply. What’s The Consequence?
“A nation whose citizens have no knowledge of history is asking to be led by quacks, charlatans, and jingos.” – The New Yorker
London Police Arrest Rappers For Performing A Song In Concert
Police say the duo’s song is incitement to violence. They’ve been cracking down. Police interference has undoubtedly had an impact on the scene’s lyrics. “A lot of rappers are censoring their music now. Even down to what they name their video, or what hashtag they use to promote it. They want to go under the radar. You put all that hard work into it, you gas everyone up – ‘Listen to my song!’ – and it gets taken down in 10 minutes. This is our livelihood, and it’s a serious financial loss to have a tune banned.” – The Guardian
Is Netflix A “Colonial Power” Subverting Foreign Cultures?
That’s the contention of the CBC’s Catherine Tait. Netflix is such a force in Canada it’s difficult for homegrown productions to compete. As countries struggle to protect their national cultures, streaming services such as Netflix have threatened the media ecosystem. – Toronto Star [paywall]