“Britain’s multiculturalism rests on political correctness. This means the mediator becomes more important than the message. Minority writers get a disproportionate amount of space on the bookshelves, but what is being said is seemingly willfully neglected. That partly explains why so many–including their neighbors and much of the British establishment–were surprised to find that three homegrown British Pakistanis became suicide bombers.”
Blog
Broadway’s 20-Week Winning Streak
The movies may be having a dreadful year at the box office, but Broadway has had 20 winning weeks. “According to the League of American Theatres and Producers, Broadway ticket sales and attendence for each of the past 20 weeks have bested the marks set during that time period last year.”
The UK’s Great Year At The Movies
British movies did well at the UK box office last year, with admissions up sharply. Movie business was up to its highest level since 1972. Nearly a quarter of the films Brits saw were homegrown. But what exactly constitutes “Britishness”?
Edinburgh Fringe – Does The Money Add Up?
Has the Edinburgh Fringe become too expensive? It costs performers to stage their shows, and ticket prices are up. It all adds up to a lot of pressure to try to lure crowds… and that means taking fewer risks.
We Knew It – Pianists Are Just Smarter
A study reports that practicing the piano in early childhood boosts the brain. “Childhood is the best time in life to boost the brain’s so-called white matter, according to the study, and boost the pyramidal tract, which is a major pathway of the central nervous system, transmitting signals between the brain and the pianist’s fingers. The scientists, who investigated the brains of eight concert pianists in their 30s who started practicing as young children, found that the pyramidal tract is more structured in pianists than in non-musicians.”
Maazel Cancels Concerts For Surgery
Conductor Lorin Maazel has canceled performances with the Sydney Symphony to have unexpected surgery. “Maazel withdrew as music director of an epic outdoor production of Carmen for the Seville International Music Festival last year due to emergency cataract surgery. The Sydney Symphony did not comment on whether his latest medical treatment involved similar problems, except to say that he was expected to make a full recovery.”
Convenience And Art In A Prettier Package
After four long years of contruction, Washington, D.C.’s Kennedy Center has finally removed all the orange barrels and concrete barriers, and unveiled its new look. “The front is now swept and polished with two fountains churning away in front of its grand entrances… Other improvements include a broad staircase facing the Watergate complex, an extended bike path that leads from the center’s front to the Roosevelt Bridge and granite sidewalks, replacing the sometimes slippery marble. New bus shelters east of the center are fitted with polished wooden benches and a wavy canopy. All the roadways and sidewalks are freshly paved, and there is a circle for taxis.”
Oh No, Yoko!
The new musical based on the life of John Lennon has New York’s theatre world all abuzz – but for the wrong reasons. Two directors have already left the production, and retooling has been constant and contradictory. “There are also complaints that the show… has become nothing but a Lennon whitewash job, turning one of the 20th century’s most complex cultural icons into a bland, peace-loving hippie. His drug use is just hinted at; his bisexuality ignored; and his serial philandering only dealt with head-on in one scene. Backstage, the mood at Lennon is grim.” So who’s behind all the problems at what ought to be a blockbuster show? Why, it’s Yoko Ono, of course.
Settlement In Nazi Art Looting Case
“As the result of an out-of-court settlement, Bay Area resident Thomas Bennigson will receive $6.5 million from Marilynn Alsdorf of Chicago for a Pablo Picasso painting reportedly stolen by the Nazis from Bennigson’s grandmother years before Alsdorf acquired it in 1975… The settlement ends a protracted legal battle over Picasso’s 1922 oil ‘Femme en blanc’ (Woman in White). The dispute began in 2002, when Bennigson sued to have the painting returned to him.”
Who Trusts Movie Critics, Anyway?
Sony Pictures settled a lawsuit last week over the imagiary critic it invented to say good things about terrible films, agreeing to pay $5 to anyone who claims to have seen one of the flicks because of the supposedly good review. This is madness, says Jeremy Dauber. “Isn’t it the case that anyone who is willing to be convinced under any circumstances to see the Rob Schneider picture ‘The Animal’ deserves what they get? You would think they might be thankful for the lesson.” Besides, how is what Sony did any worse than the common studio practice of twisting a critic’s words into a positive statement with the clever use of ellipses?