“The podcast exploring the case of Adnan Syed, who was convicted of the 1999 murder of his ex-girlfriend Hae Min Lee, has become a global phenomenon. In an exclusive interview, Adnan’s family talk to Jon Ronson about listening to Serial, toxic Reddit threads and how his imprisonment has destroyed their lives.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Veteran British Actor Gets In Hot Water For Saying “Theatre Is A White Invention”
Janet Suzman, frustrated at the lack of black faces in the audience at a South African play she recently did in London, said, “I rail against that and say why don’t black people come to see a play about one of the most powerful African states? And they don’t bloody come. They’re not interested. It’s not in their culture, that’s why. Just as their stuff is not in white culture.”
As China’s Art Market Explodes, An Old Mandarin Tradition Is Revived
“The literati tradition holds the appreciation of art, calligraphy, music, chess and other ‘gentlemanly’ pursuits in high esteem. … Cultural power-brokers have been keen to promote old-style art collecting values, based on connoisseurship, history and tradition. In this vein, museums have been focusing on important collectors and their collections.”
How Much Does It Matter That “In Cold Blood” Wasn’t 100 Percent Accurate?
Laura Miller looks at some recent controversy over Truman Capote’s account of a Kansas murder case and the relationship between crime fiction, true-crime narratives, and how Americans perceive the criminal justice system.
We’ll Never Find A Unified Theory Of Life, The Universe, And Everything
The idea “that behind nature’s manifest diversity there is a simple, unified explanation” goes all the way back to the ancient Greeks (if not farther) and right up to today’s physics labs and philosophy workshops. Theoretical physicist Marcelo Gleiser argues that we probably just have to live with the mystery. (“42” simply isn’t enough.)
What Makes Someone An Atheist Or Theist?
“Should we express religious categories in terms of people’s beliefs or their behaviors? Commentator Tania Lombrozo examines why we describe (a)theism the way we do.”
Folks Do Not Like Pantone’s New Color Of The Year
Marsala. Pantone describes it as “a naturally robust and earthy wine red color”. The Cut describes it as “a color that makes you want to go to Olive Garden or order Tampax in bulk” – and the online commentariat has lots of equally unappetizing assessments.
Top Posts From AJBlogs 12.08.14
Perelman Vs. Gagosian: A Decision
AJBlog: Real Clear Arts Published 2014-12-08
The New Republic is Not About Politics
AJBlog: CultureCrash Published 2014-12-08
Neil MacGregor Plays Russian Roulette with the Acropolis Marbles
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2014-12-08
Streaming and royalties for musicians – a plea for better reporting
AJBlog: For What It’s Worth Published 2014-12-08
Monday Recommendation: Stefano Bollani
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2014-12-08
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Earthquake At The New Republic: New CEO Pushes Out Editor-In-Chief And Leon Wieseltier (!)
When Guy Vidra came to the magazine in October, he told the staff that “there were peacetime chief executives and wartime chief executives, and he was the latter. He added, using a profanity, that he planned to break stuff.”
Open Rebellion At Seoul Philharmonic: Staffers Demand CEO Resign Over Abusive Behavior
A press release from the orchestra’s own offices accuses Park Hyun-jung of “abusive language and sexual harassment” and violating employees’ human rights, hiring the children of her friends, and driving away half of her staff and three-quarters of the SPO’s patron group. (in English)