“It has been an intellectual spat of some savagery, so far largely confined to the refined pages of one of Britain’s most respected literary magazines. This weekend, however, it seems ever more likely that a court will have to adjudicate between the historian Niall Ferguson and writer Pankaj Mishra over Ferguson’s claim that he had been accused of being a ‘racist’.”
Author: Matthew Westphal
Tony Kushner Wins $100K Puffin/Nation Prize for Creative Citizenship
“The playwright Tony Kushner has been named the recipient of a $100,000 award honoring artists and others for ‘socially responsible work’ and challenges to authority.”
When Hedy Met George (The Composer And The Starlet Who Changed Telecommunications)
During World War II, the twenty-something Hollywood beauty Hedy Lamarr, full of ideas for new inventions, and the mechanically-minded “misfit musician” George Antheil hit on an idea that now – decades later – “GPS, Wi-Fi, cell phones, and Bluetooth.”
The Return Of The Sitcom Laugh Track
“[John] Bickelhaupt, whose formal title is ‘re-recording mixer,’ is one of just four or five craftsmen hired by showrunners to perfect the sounds of laughter. He spends his days traveling from mixing stage to mixing stage, carrying a custom-built computer that can quickly adjust the tone, volume, and even gender of an audience.”
Arts Council England Rules That Funded Organizations Must Pay Interns
“Arts Council England and Creative and Cultural Skills have published guidelines for arts organisations wanting to take on interns, including that they pay them at least national minimum wage.”
Are Humans The Only Animals Who Teach?
“There’s no culture on Earth without teachers. … And in the animal kingdom, teaching is exceedingly rare. In fact, it’s not clear whether any other animal can teach. I know this may come as a surprise, but it does so because we tend to mix up teaching and learning.” Indeed, not all behavioral scientists (or pet owners) agree on the distinction.
In Praise Of Professional Book Critics
“People who earn a salary reading and critiquing books have one of the sweetest jobs on earth, except that it’s harder than it looks.”
The Great Walls In Our Heads
The Berlin Wall. The Great Wall of China. The Israel-West Bank barrier. The US-Mexico border fence that Republicans keep proposing. They may or may not keep people in or out, but they keep themselves in our minds. “Walls, then, are built not for security, but for a sense of security. The distinction is important, as those who commission them know very well.”
Newport Grandees Fight Over Maya Lin’s Doris Duke Memorial
“The tenor of the dispute is distinctly Newportian. Many of the combatants have known one another for decades, as did many of their mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers. … Despite the air of politesse, the fight has taken on the intensity of a debate over the soul of Newport itself.”
The World’s Most Argued-Over Monuments
“Some of the world’s most impressive monuments have backstories of bickering, which, in addition to good gossip, give travelers insights into local culture, history, and priorities. Even when a monument’s construction is well publicized, a positive reception isn’t guaranteed, whether because of differing aesthetic tastes, costliness, or partisanship.”