“A common argument is that art should be a strict meritocracy, i.e., that the best music should be programmed regardless of who the composer is. But then, who determines what is of artistic quality, really? So goes one of the more philosophically heated debates in the classical music world at the moment.” – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
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Thirty Years Ago, The Corcoran Canceled A Mapplethorpe Exhibit, Setting Off Washington’s First Big Battle In The Culture Wars. Now The Corcoran Has A Show About That Cancellation
Few of the people involved in the controversy at the time imagined that the culture wars would still be raging three decades later. Kriston Capps reconsiders that battle and the way museums have addressed the wider issues, then and now. – The Washington Post
Calder & Noguchi Air Balls: SFMOMA Lobs Some Foul Shots for the Golden State Warriors
Having controversially deaccessioned a classic Rothko (given to it by the artist himself) in order to fund future acquisitions, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is now raiding its collection for another dubious purpose — adorning a new for-profit sports arena. – Lee Rosenbaum
Eye On San Diego – For Art!
San Diego is not only the eighth largest U.S. city by population, but also among the fastest-growing. And it has a lot to offer in art — and if the current exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art is any indication, it has great ambitions, too. – Judith H. Dobrzynski
Samantha Boshnack’s ‘Seismic Belt’
During her years in Seattle, trumpeter Samantha Boshnack has become intrigued not only with volcanoes but with the overall seismic behavior that continues to be a major and often disruptive aspect of life on Earth. Seismic Belt combines her musical and scientific interests in a powerful work of chamber music. – Doug Ramsey
JFK’s TWA Terminal Is One Of The Great Buildings Of The 20th Century. Here’s What It’s Like Now As A Hotel
Saarinen’s TWA terminal, like the great cathedrals of Europe, the giant domes of the Renaissance and the miraculous infrastructure of the 20th century, asserts a truth far deeper than its original purpose: If man can build miraculous buildings, he can remake the world itself into something more equal, more fair, and more decent. – Washington Post
‘Little Fresh Meat’ — A New, Androgynous Style Of Masculinity Arises In China’s Pop Culture
“[The phrase is] a nickname, coined by fans, for young, delicate-featured, makeup-clad male entertainers.” (The Chinese Communist authorities, it seems, prefers to call them niangpao — “sissypants.”) “These well-groomed celebrities star in blockbuster movies, and advertise for cosmetic brands and top music charts. Their rise has been one of the biggest cultural trends of the past decade.” – The New York Times
New York City Landmarks Strand Bookstore Building Over Owner’s Objections
The decision came despite strong opposition from the owner of the Strand, Nancy Bass Wyden, who argued that the designation would mire the bookstore “in a lifetime of needless red tape.” – Publishers Weekly
Big Mood Machine: How Spotify Gathers And Sells Its Customers’ Emotional Profiles
“Spotify is currently running a campaign centered on moods [and its mood playlists] — the company’s Twitter tagline is currently ‘Music for every mood’ — complete with its own influencer campaign. But a more careful look into Spotify’s history shows that the decision to define audiences by their moods was part of a strategic push to grow Spotify’s advertising business in the years leading up to its IPO — and today, Spotify’s enormous access to mood-based data is a pillar of its value to brands and advertisers.” – The Baffler
TV Academy Disqualifies Actors For Conspiring To Vote Emmys Together
According to a Wednesday memo sent to the group and obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, a few members were found to have engaged in or advocated for block voting. That is to say, they discussed voting with other members of the group with the intention of all voting for one or more specific projects. – The Hollywood Reporter