“Audiences of Bruce Lee biopic Birth of the Dragon have criticised the film’s portrayal of the martial arts star, as well as the extent to which it relegates his story below that of a white co-star. … IMDb users who have seen the film protest that it actually focuses on a fictional white friend, Steve McKee, who learns kung fu and romances a Chinese woman.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
In 2016, Why Is Hollywood Still ‘Whiting Up’ Asian Characters And Stories?
“There are huge differences between whitewashing and the ‘white saviour’ trope, but both exist due to a sense in Hollywood that audiences won’t turn out to see a movie unless there are Caucasian faces involved somewhere. This is especially strange given research shows that people of colour, Hispanics in particular, make up a sizable portion of the US cinemagoing public.”
Pittsburgh Symphony Management Makes, Then Disavows, Threat To Hire Replacements For Striking Musicians
“The management of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra has told its musicians that it ‘has an obligation to keep Heinz Hall open’ and may ‘hire replacement workers, either on a temporary or permanent basis, as will be determined by the business necessity we face.’ But COO Christian Schörnich, who sent the letter to the orchestra players on strike, said that statement is simply a legal formality … and that the organization has ‘no intention’ of hiring replacement musicians to play orchestra concerts.”
Dressed As Cossacks, Russian Nationalists Vandalize Moscow Photography Shows
“Another photography exhibition in Moscow was raided by protesters dressed as Cossacks, others in camouflage and a municipal legislator – the third such attack in the Russian capital this week. The back-to-back attacks centred on images of Ukrainian soldiers who fought against pro-Russian rebels that are part of a photojournalism show at the Sakharov Center.”
And What Are The Odds On This Year’s Nobel Prize For Literature?
With a week to go, the favorite was running at 4:1, followed closely by candidates at 6:1 and 7:1.
Here Are The Finalists For The 2016 National Book Awards
“Memory, childhood, and the legacy of race in America are preoccupations that propelled works in each of the categories for this year’s finalists … The winners will be announced at the National Book Awards ceremony on November 16th.”
Bernard Labadie’s Chamber Orchestra, Les Violons Du Roy, Selects His Successor
Jonathan Cohen, a British cellist and harpsichordist who serves as one of William Christie’s associate conductors at Les Arts Florissants and runs the period-instrument collective Arcangelo, will become music director as of 2019. Labadie founded the Quebec City ensemble in 1984 and announced in 2013 that he would step down from its helm.
Can A Dancer Win A Competition Without Spectacular Technical Feats?
“Many people argue that we’ve gone too far, and competitors shouldn’t be so focused on double-digit pirouettes and flips. Dance is an art form, and there must be ways to judge a performer that have to do more with quality than quantity. But can a dancer take home a medal without pyrotechnics?” It depends …
Top Posts From AJBlogs 10.06.16
Diversity at the NSO — what could have been
Four things the National Symphony could have done to bring diversity to the classical half of their season-opening gala: … read more
AJBlog: Sandow Published 2016-10-06
Music, Music Everywhere, And Not a Chance To Think
Whether the music is by The Beach Boys, Bill Evans, Bach (unlikely), Bartók (more unlikely) or The Beatles, does a store have the right to impose its taste – or lack of it? … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-10-06
So you want to see a show?
Here’s my list of recommended Broadway, off-Broadway, and out-of-town shows, updated weekly. In all cases, I gave these shows favorable reviews (if sometimes qualifiedly so) in The Wall Street Journal when they opened. … read more
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2016-10-06
[ssba_hide]
Joyce Carol Oates, Twitter Troll
“Prolific across all mediums, it is not difficult to imagine Oates delighting in the act of tweeting, of tossing thoughts into the world, both for the enjoyment of the craft and to see what happens, like tiny crystalline bombs. … Joyce Carol Oates has poked 28,000 140-character holes in the notion that anyone can or should serve as a universally competent public intellectual.”