“As the conversation of the physical phenomenon under discussion grows more complex, language is revealed to be inadequate to the task of describing abstract thought. At this point, students resort to drawing on the chalkboard to more clearly demonstrate their questions and hypotheses and the process of emendation continues in pictures. What this reveals is that scientific investigation is primarily a matter of imagination since the realities being investigated are frequently invisible and incompletely understood.” – American Enterprise Institute
Blog
Before The Kremlin Could Stop It, Rap Spread All Over Russia
It was the Web, and especially V Kontakte (Russia’s Facebook), that made it possible, and, as always in such cases, the old fogeys in charge didn’t catch on until it was too late to stop or co-opt it. So now the Kremlin is nervous. – The New York Times
Study: To Teach Music To Students, Ditch Mozart And Add Hip Hop
A four-year study by Youth Music concluded that too many schools fail to include current musical genres and recommended that lessons should focus on “Stormzy rather than Mozart” in order to engage hard-to-reach young people. – The Guardian
Yes, Antonio Banderas Is Totally Playing Pedro Almodóvar In Their New Movie — And Yes, Says Banderas, It Was Weird
“It’s weird to play a character who lived, more weird if he’s still alive — because he’s producing more information every day — and extraordinarily rare that he is behind the camera saying, ‘Action!’ to you. To deal with all of these things was not easy.” – The New York Times
How To Reshuffle The Historical Great Books Canon
The “great anthology” collections of books drew readers’ attention to books of the past. But most of the works chosen were from the historical mainstream. How to change it? A couple of publishers are creating new anthologies and purposefully picking writing from outside the tradition. – Vox
A ‘Movement Installation’ For Dancers With And Without Disabilities
“For an artwork that’s making strides around the world, On Display places remarkable value on motionlessness. ‘It’s a lot of stillness,’ creator-choreographer Heidi Latsky says of the piece, a movement installation — or human sculpture court — that incorporates performers with and without disabilities. Designed to demonstrate inclusiveness and ponder society’s fixation with body image, On Display has been mounted internationally, in different versions, more than 200 times.” – The Washington Post
‘Sex, Money And Idiots In Power’ — Why Restoration Comedy And Drama May Be Just The Entertainment For Our Times
“Ever worry about getting paid, getting laid or finding love? Does social anxiety prickle your palms? Do you despair of a world slipping its moorings? Restoration drama may speak to you.” David Jays makes the case — and looks into why actors find the genre so daunting. – The Guardian
China Has Blocked Access To Wikipedia In All Languages
The obvious explanation would be that the 20th anniversary of the Tienanmen Square massacre is upcoming (June 4). “When Wikipedia’s official account tweeted that the reasons for the total block were ‘unknown to us,’ a Shanghai-based user responded, ‘Don’t be daft.'” – Slate
This Opera Company Went Out And Asked Folks What They Want From Opera
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis did some research to find out what could get new people in the door — and, just as importantly, what doesn’t work. – American Theatre
Alabama Public Television Just Blocked Broadcast Of The Cartoon Wedding Of A Rat And An Aardvark
“When the children’s television show Arthur made headlines last week for an episode in which the beloved teacher Mr. Ratburn marries his male aardvark partner, Alabama viewers saw only a rerun of an old episode.” In explanation, APT’s programming director said in a statement, “parents trust that their children can watch APT without their supervision.” – Slate