Ferrante: “I chose to write out of a fear of handling more concrete and dangerous forms of power. And also perhaps out of a strong feeling of alienation from the techniques of domination, so that at times writing seemed to be the most congenial way for me to react to abuses of power.” – The New York Times
Blog
The Problem With Facebook And Twitter, And Politics? Flow
You know Flow. It’s a psychological idea that basically, psychologists say, describes “a state of engagement that arises when people are completely focused on an activity, such as tennis or rock climbing.” Turns out marketers know we get just as much into the flow of YouTube or Facebook – and that’s why we can’t quit. – The Atlantic
When Two Genre Writers Talk To Two Creative Writing Teachers, Sparks Fly
For a podcast – transcribed here – writers Daniel José Older and Marlon James (Booker prizewinner for 2015) talk with creative writing profs about what genre even is, and why it’s better not to be a snob. Older: “They put up the series of two albums, that were Duke Ellington albums, and one of them was called Piano in the Forefront. And one of them was called Piano in the Background, right? And that’s how I think about some of these terms. It’s like, if the plot is foregrounded, if most of the time that we see them, they’re on their mission, and they’re trying to solve the crime or get the bad guy or do what they have to do, that’s going to feel, rhythmically, like a genre novel.” – LitHub
After Trump Blacklists China’s Huawei, Google Suspends Some Business With The Company
Google said it’s reviewing the orders; meanwhile, it’s complying. “The move could hobble Huawei’s smartphone business outside China as the tech giant will immediately lose access to updates to Google’s Android operating system. Future versions of Huawei smartphones that run on Android will also lose access to popular services including the Google Play Store and Gmail and YouTube apps.” – Reuters
At Cannes, The EU Examines Gender Disparity Among Critics
Last year, the festival kicked off a 50/50 pledge – but there’s much work to be done, and the EU commission will gather Europe-wide data and report on best practices. As for now, a report says of France’s film reviewers who are women, “When they were writing, it was primarily for general interest or women’s magazines rather than publications specialized in cinema or culture, the report found. Men were significantly more likely to review thrillers, documentaries and action films.” – Variety
The Fruits Of Alexei Ratmansky’s 10-Year Partnership With American Ballet Theater
Ratmansky has been with ABT longer than anywhere else – and it shows. “By now, some Ballet Theater dancers have spent their entire careers performing his dances; the famously difficult choreography has shaped their technique and stage personas.” – The New York Times
Planets Are Piling Up, But There’s A Size Missing
Seriously. There are small planets, Earth-sized planets, huge planets, and humongous planets. What there aren’t are planets that are 1.5-2 times as big as our Earth. Uh? Where are they? (No, this isn’t a Doctor Who episode, but it sounds like one.) – Wired
Ruth Beckford, Often The Only Black Dancer In Modern Dance Companies, Has Died At 93
Beckford danced with the companies of Florelle Batsford, Anna Halprin, and Welland Lathrop – and “when Beckford came onstage, the audience would gasp in surprise.” In 1947, for the Oakland Department of Parks and Rec, she created the first modern recreational dance department in the country. – San Francisco Chronicle
The Vanishing Stars Of Bengali Folk Theatre
Jatra stars used to be major celebrities, but now they have to work second (or third) jobs to make ends meet. “Jatra originated in Bangladesh and the eastern Indian states of Odisha and Bihar. It’s a living and vibrant form of theater, usually performed on open-air stages, inspired by Hindu mythology, popular legends and contemporary events.” – NPR
Herman Wouk, Author Of ‘The Caine Mutiny’ And Perennial Best-Selling Writer, Has Died At 103
Wouk shot to the top of the lists with The Caine Mutiny in 1951, and he remained there “for most of a career that extended past his 100th year thanks to page-turners like Marjorie Morningstar, Youngblood Hawke and the World War II epics The Winds of War and War and Remembrance.” – The New York Times