Blog

BC – A Place Where The Arts Don’t Matter?

Why do British Columbia politicians ignore the arts? None of the major parties has much helpful to say to the arts. “Is it any wonder that arts organizations are screaming? The B.C. government spends the least on arts—$1.98 per person—of any province, according to Statistics Canada research cited by local umbrella group the Alliance for Arts and Culture. Quebec spends $19.32 per person. Alberta spends $5.69. ‘We look like idiots when we go to national conferences. They’re like, ‘What’s with your province?’ It’s embarrassing!”

Court Blocks FCC-Imposed “Broadcast Flag”

“The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia reversed a Federal Communications Commission order that required makers of consumer-electronics devices capable of receiving broadcast digital TV signals to recognize a “broadcast flag,” which is code that allows content owners to place limits on redistribution of digital content streams. The rule was to apply to devices manufactured on or after July 1, 2005. Specifically, the court admonished the FCC for exceeding what’s known as its “ancillary authority” over some reception devices (consumer-electronics products) by trying to regulate a function not directly related to the actual transmissions themselves.”

“National” Obsession – What Does It Mean?

“What is the purpose of a national theatre, a national opera or ballet company, a national orchestra, or a national gallery? What is the meaning of the word ‘national’ in those famous organisations? Is it simply a matter of pride and funding, an indication that those particular institutions have the backing of an entire nation, its hopes and dreams of excellence? Or is it more complicated than that: do we expect these arts organisations, above all others, to embody in their work something essential about the nation?”

Of Critics, Friends, And Conflicts

Critic Dominic Pappatola finds himself uncomfortable about descriptions of Mel Gussow in obituaries last week. “If my obituary happens to focus on my career as a critic, I guess I’d much rather be known as a Champion of Audiences than a Champion of Playwrights. As a journalist, if you begin writing for your sources instead of your readers, you enter an echo chamber. Inside of that chamber, your voice might be resonant. Outside, it’s irrelevant.”

Akron Symphony Says Goodbye To Music Director

The Akron Symphony Orchestra says goodbye to music director Ya-Hui Wang, who has led the orchestra for five years. “If the conclusion of the concert was subdued, that was appropriate, given Wang’s history. She has been earnest in her efforts, but concerts under her direction have often been below the orchestra’s standard. It was to the credit of everyone on stage that they did so well by Saturday’s challenging program.”

Pakistan’s Massive Indian Film Piracy Business

Piracy of Indian films in Pakistan is woven deeply into the country’s culture. “To crack down on pirated Indian DVDs now would be a massive undertaking. Pakistani cinema houses lost their clientele years ago. The decade of the 1980s saw the video rental business mushroom into one of the largest retail businesses in the country, employing an estimated half-a-million people. Not just that: Pakistan’s fashion and modelling industry has come to be deeply dependent on the Indian film culture.”

£400 Film Chosen For Cannes

The Cannes Festival has chosen a film made by a British civil servant with no formal training and cost only £400 for this year’s competition. It is the only British film included in this year’s festival. “This is just a fairytale for us. None of us have ever been to film school. We just decided to make it when Ben sold his mandolin to raise money to buy his camera. It’s about the doppelganger myth, what happens when a person comes across their own doppelganger.”