Author: Matthew Westphal

Leon Wieseltier, Chastened, Is Starting A New Magazine After All

A literal éminence grise (his hair went white decades ago) best known for editing the books-and-culture pages of The New Republic for 32 years, Wieseltier was about to launch a journal funded by Laurene Powell Jobs and called Idea when, in 2017, a slew of #MeToo allegations (none of which he denied) led both the magazine and Wieseltier to be canceled. Now he’s back, with a new quarterly called Liberties (420 pages of text, no images, no ads) about “the rehabilitation of liberalism” — and, perhaps, of the man himself. – Air Mail

The Memorabilia King Vs. The Studio Detective: The Never-Before-Told Account Of An Epic Battle Over Stolen Movie Props

“Today, the pop-culture collectibles market grabs headlines and brings in between $200 million and $400 million in annual sales. … But back [in the ’90s], entertainment memorabilia was still a small-time game, with studios only starting to think about their productions’ physical assets as valuable brand-building artifacts rather than garbage fetishized by marginal eccentrics. [David] Elkouby’s strange saga — untold until now — marked a key turning point in that industry evolution.” – The Hollywood Reporter

Julian Bream, One Of 20th Century’s Great Classical Guitarists And Lutenists, Dead At 87

“As performer and developer of the guitar and its repertory – and as a leading reviver of the lute’s Renaissance repertory – Bream, who has died aged 87, was one of the instrument’s towering figures of any generation.” All the more notable is that Bream was, to a great extent, self-taught on both instruments. – The Guardian

‘Literally Melting’: Medieval Buildings Of Yemen’s Capital Are Collapsing In Rain And Floods

The multistory, ochre-and-white mud-brick houses in the UNESCO-listed old city of Sanaa had already been weakened by bombs and artillery during Yemen’s six-years-and-counting civil war. But this year’s monsoon season, the rainiest in recent memory, is seeing some of those buildings simply fall to pieces. – France24 (AFP)

Even Before The Blast, Beirut’s Arts Communities Were In Crisis. Some Wonder If It’s Worth Trying To Rebuild

That’s because all of Lebanon was in crisis, with daily demonstrations, the collapse of the currency, and a gridlocked, dysfunctional political class that has been clinging to control since the civil war ended inconclusively 30 years ago. “What is frightening is that we are already so exhausted, so discouraged,” said the director of the city’s leading museum. “I don’t think we’re going to be able to pick ourselves up and move on,” lamented one gallerist. “I am 55. I have reconstructed my life so many times, and this time it’s just the last straw.” – CNN

Geoffrey Nunberg, Sociopolitical Linguist Known From NPR, Dead At 75

“Dr. Nunberg’s day jobs were in academia and in a Silicon Valley think tank, but his deepest preoccupation was in understanding how human beings communicate through words, from slang and vulgar slurs to political messaging and professional jargon. … He published several books, including essay collections and The Ascent of the A-Word, about the popularity of a certain seven-letter term applied to annoying bosses or people who used to be called heels and jerks … and, for more than 30 years, provided commentaries on language for the NPR program Fresh Air.” – The Washington Post

Museum Of The Bible In Talks With Iraq Over Collection Items That May Have Been Looted

“While a final agreement is still pending, the Iraqi government has reportedly consented to a $15 million settlement over 4,000 disputed antiquities in the Museum of the Bible’s collection, which have been handed over to Iraqi control based on the suspicion that they were looted. In exchange, the museum may retain the right to display some of the objects on loan.” – Artnet