Surprise, surprise – the Chinese government also banned one of Hong Kong’s leading political commentators, whose books criticize communism and advocate Taiwanese independence. – China Times (Taiwan)
Author: Douglas McLennan
NEW INTEREST IN BLACK WRITERS?
African-American writers have long complained that big publishers have ignored them. But “in the past year, Time Warner, HarperCollins and Kensington Publishing are among those who started or acquired imprints specifically to release books by African-Americans.” – Chicago Tribune
BEHAVING BADLY
One of Britain’s top music administrators has launched an attack on violinist Kennedy for his manner of dress and the way he speaks. In return Kennedy fired back with a letter in The Times: Such comments “merely serve to demonstrate the typical arrogance of a self-appointed guardian of the arts world,” he wrote. He went on to lambaste “ill-informed classical music administrators who consciously encourage exclusivity, refusing to embrace those outside their spectacularly precious world.” – Sonicnet
AUSTRALIAN BALLET PICKS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Six months after Australian Ballet artistic director Ross Stretton announced his departure, the company fills his position: 36 year-old David McAllister, a principal dancer in the company for 11 years. While lacking the managerial experience and international contacts of his predecessor, McAllister is said to be well-liked by the dancers and intends to focus his energies on re-connecting with contacts abroad. – The Age (Melbourne)
- SOMETHING OF A SURPRISE: “Some expressed concern about his lack of management experience and that he had not danced for any length of time with any other company.” The Australian‘s Melbourne dance critic said he was “absolutely gobsmacked by the appointment, having rated McAllister as an outside chance”. The Australian 08/31/00
WHY BOLSHOI LEADER HAD TO GO
While some were surprised by Russian president Vladimir Putin’s dismissal of Bolshoi director Vladimir Vasilyev this week, others were not. “While critics could forgive Mr. Vasilyev his shortcomings as an administrator, they were angry about his failure to revive the Bolshoi artistically. His staging of ‘Swan Lake’ was deemed a flop, but what critics found even more dismaying was his inability to introduce the new ideas he had promised when appointed.” – New York Times
FASTER, LOUDER, PAINTIER?
A former Canadian Olympic athlete has proposed an Arts Olympics. “The plan is to create an Olympics that will celebrate emerging artists from around the world in five categories: film, dance, music, literature and visual arts. The effort also proposes to bring an element of competitiveness back to the arts, which has always played a large role in the Olympic movement, dating back to the beginning of the modern Games in 1896.” – National Post (Canada) 08/31/00
US AGAINST THEM
Norman Jewison says “The Hurricane” is the best film he ever made. “It seemed to have Best Picture written all over it,” wrote the Washington Post. But the movie sank w/o much of a ripple. Jewison is angry at the way directors are treated by studios. – The Globe and Mail (Canada)
“MILLIONAIRE” MAULS MOVIES
The Indian version of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” is such a ratings hit in India, movie theatre owners say it’s killing their business. “If things continue the way they are, our trade will be almost finished. Nobody is interested in coming to the theatres when the game show is on.” – BBC
DEALING WITH THE LAW
Andrew Crispo, a Manhattan art dealer who was “acquitted in a 1980s sex-torture case, was sentenced to seven years in prison on Wednesday for threatening to kidnap a lawyer’s daughter in an attempt to get money from a bankruptcy trustee.” – Yahoo! (Reuters)
FRINGE BENEFITS
As part of his job Thomas Foley, U.S. ambassador to Japan, gets a mansion to live in, a driver, full in-house staff…and his own private art collection. A beneficiary of JFK’s 1964 “Art in Embassies Program,” Foley is particularly fond of American Abstract Expressionist paintings…as you can tell by looking at his website. – Japan Times