An exhibition in Shenzhen – China’s Silicon Valley and its counterfeit capital – considers the fading of the distinction between “real” and “knockoff” as well as the genuine benefits that the latter can provide.
Author: Matthew Westphal
Why ‘Hamilton’ Probably Isn’t The Start Of A New Style Of Great Musical Theater
Jesse Green: “[The show’s] success has depended too much on the nearly unique combination of influences, talents, and tastes of one man, and on his will to deliver the results himself. What are the chances of another such person coming along anytime soon?”
‘He Was One Of The Naughtiest Of Great Artists’ – Gerard McBurney On Pierre Boulez
“His humour, like that of many amusing people, is hard to recapture in written words. It depended on his twinkling eyes, his perfect timing, his infectious schoolboy giggle, and his reckless compulsion always to say what the other person would not expect. And, when speaking English, on his Inspector Clouseau accent, which he sometimes played to the hilt.”
Actor David Margulies Dead At 78
“[He was] a versatile character actor who performed in scores of supporting stage, film and television roles but was most conspicuous as the common-sense mayor in Ghostbusters and as Tony Soprano’s sleazy lawyer.”
Britain’s Strapped Regional Museums Are Starting To Charge Admission
“More than one in 10 museums intend to introduce entry charges this year, in moves that underline the vulnerability of cultural organisations to cuts in local authority funding. Since 2010, when the government embarked on widespread cuts as part of its efforts to reduce the deficit, some 44 museums have closed.”
‘I Am Becoming More And More Afraid,’ Says Choreographer Akram Khan
“I am ageing here [points to head] much quicker than in my body. I’m terrified that in a simple movement my body will give in and I won’t be able to do it. I can do it, and can do it really fast, but it’s psychological.”
What, Ultimately, Is Prayer Meant To Accomplish?
“Prayer is religion’s hermit crab; it scuttles recognisably from age to age and purpose to purpose, while attempts to refute or confirm are left to grasp its shells. It endures, shaping the mind, altering the body, or reflecting and resisting the forces of modern life. In its irreducible variety and seeming gratuitousness, it remains a puzzle. But if prayer itself resists explanation, it can still be illuminating to map its dimensions.”
For First Time, Debut Collection Wins TS Eliot Poetry Prize
“A new voice, who judges say ‘will change British poetry’, has won the TS Eliot poetry prize. Sarah Howe, a fellow at Harvard University’s Radcliffe Institute, was awarded the £20,000 prize for Loop of Jade, which explores her dual British and Chinese heritage.”
Big Changes Coming To Philly’s Wilma Theater
“In an announcement late Monday, the Wilma Theater announced … a makeover, a name change, a fund-raising campaign, and the establishment of a permanent company.”
Choreographer Mats Ek: Rumors Of My Complete Withdrawal From Dance Are Exaggerated
Reports all over European media last week said that Ek, 70, would both stop creating new dances and withdraw rights to perform all his previous works. He says that the hiatus is only temporary.