“In short: Perhaps the only thing more irritating than the act of public food photography is knowing that those walking their $16 plates of eggs Benedict over to a window could be getting more out of their dining experience than you.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
The Cowshed: A Victim Remembers The Cultural Revolution
“I had the good fortune not only to have seen a cowshed – or rather, to have been forced to see it – but to have lived in one for about nine months. It was no life of luxury, but I did gain a rare opportunity to witness the Cultural Revolution from the inside. … Would anyone these days build a prison for me, and ensure its security by guarding it day and night?”
A Bestiary Of Bosch
Under the headline “Art Goes to Hell,” the Times gives us an illustrated guide to the wonderfully bizarre creatures that populate (if that’s the word) Bosch’s paintings.
When The Man Went All ‘Reefer Madness’ On Dungeons And Dragons
“These days your life isn’t complete if you aren’t part of a role-playing gaming group, but it wasn’t that long ago that playing Dungeons & Dragons was seen as a surefire ticket to madness and damnation.”
U.S. Supreme Court Declines Appeal Of Apple Ebook Price Fixing Case
“The Supreme Court on Monday refused to review an appeals court’s determination that Apple had conspired with book publishers to raise the prices of digital books. The court’s order, which following custom was issued without any accompanying explanation, puts into effect a $450 million settlement that Apple had agreed to pay if it lost the case.”
Why ‘Downton Abbey’ Became An American Cultural Phenomenon
“If the number of homages and parodies a TV show inspires are a reflection of its impact – and I would argue they are – you don’t have to look far to see how much the ongoing saga of Carson & Co. mattered. … Downton was so big, even LeBron watched it. But why? What was it about this show that gave it such cultural stickiness and kept so many tuning in, every January, for more than half a decade?”
The Met Breuer’s Opening Show Is Actually Terrific
Peter Schjeldahl: “Most critical responses so far to ‘Unfinished’ … seethe with unstated resentments. The writers quibble with a theme that tracks changing notions of ‘finish’ through almost seven centuries of Western art … They find it a gauzy sort of curatorial idea – which it is, but with one overriding, tremendous virtue: calling attention to visual facts.”
When Donald Trump Produced A Broadway Show
“The show was a flop, and its closing brought an abrupt end to Mr. Trump’s career as a Broadway producer. But his approach to producing … foreshadowed his approach to other businesses.”
Are Women Still Being Discriminated Against In Orchestras?
“While string sections are largely gender-balanced, the same could not be said for the woodwind, brass and percussion players. Women were also under-represented in principal roles. … [BBC] Radio 3’s Tom Service looked into the issues behind the statistics.” (audio)
Berlioz Manuscript Of ‘Les Troyens’ Rediscovered After 100 Years
“Considered lost for more than a century, the manuscript of the piano-vocal score for Berlioz’s Les Troyens has just been acquired by the National Library of France. Personally transcribed by the composer, it is the most complete version of the opera known today.” (in French; includes audio)