Florida university creates a doctoral program to turn out “public intellectuals.” So now you need a degree to drop a literary reference at a cocktail party? Chronicle of Higher Education
AND: Camille Paglia retorts: “They’re going to groom people–what? To be me? Slate
Author: Douglas McLennan
HONOR IN ABSENTIA
Clips of movie nominated for Canada’s top film award can’t be shown on national broadcast of this weekend’s awards because Canadian judge has banned it from the air. National Post
“SOBER, SEARING AND CYNICAL”
A review of J.M Coetzee’s “Disgrace,” which won the Booker Prize last week. – Salon
LONDON FILM FESTIVAL –
– opens with American Civil War epic. BBC
MONEY FOR SALE
Leading US broadcasters set up $1 billion investment fund to encourage minority entry into broadcasting. Some critics charge move is attempt to buy off impending regulatory restrictions. Variety
BLOCKBUSTING TEAM
Blockbuster Video and net giant America Online form alliance to rent videos over the net. Variety
NAACP LIFTS BOYCOTT THREAT
won’t boycott one of the major broadcast networks. Instead will hold hearings on the lack of racial diversity on US airwaves. Atlanta Journal-Constitution
WRONG MESSAGE?
US Congress was ready to pass tax incentives for low budget movies encouraging them to keep production in US. Then bill’s sponsors discovered the plan might subsidize pornographers and the bill was quickly nixed. Variety
THREAT TO FREEDOM
Philadelphia theater, America’s oldest African-American theater company in financial bind – “on the brink of tragedy.” Philadelphia Daily News
BETWEEN NAKED AND NUDE
Idealism and reality blur in contemporary explorations of the unclothed body. Artnet.com