Ever since the FCC “decency” crackdown began, US television networks have been slamming disclaimers on any program containing even mildly profane content or innuendo. Even PBS’s award-winning documentary series, “Frontline,” has run with disclaimers about language and content. What’s the point? Well, obviously, the disclaimers give the networks a bit of plausible deniability if the FCC comes calling, but more importantly, studies have consistently shown that viewers want racy, controversial programming, and the disclaimer might even cause a few pairs of eyes to stay tuned.
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Getting The Short End Of The Stick
Lost in all the hype and glitz surrounding Hollywood is a sub-genre of the film industry that never seems to get any respect, and worse, never seems to get an opportunity to be seen by any but the smallest slice of the general public. “Short films can be found in such high-quality, low-glamour places as human rights and children’s film festivals. They also have brief, sometimes one-night-only runs in alternative movie theaters, libraries, museums and foreign cultural centers… It’s as if short-story collections were sold only at book fairs and independent bookstores on special occasions.”
Eton’s PVC Poet
“Patience Agbabi, a bisexual, radical-feminist performance artist with cropped hair and tattoos, has been called ‘the PVC poet’ by the British media because of the lesbian, sadomasochistic and drug themes featured in her poetry. (PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is used to make the shiny black material that is commonly worn by dominatrixes.) Ms. Agbabi earned this label during her recent, unusual assignment: writer in residence at Eton College, one of the oldest boarding schools in Britain, and almost certainly its grandest.”
Long-Overdue Overhaul
Moscow’s historic Bolshoi Theater is set to close this summer for a major renovation which should have started years ago. “The Bolshoi, which comprises both an opera company and a ballet company, will be leaving its historic home for the first time in 150 years. Turmoil at the theater, political infighting and haggling over architectural plans and costs have delayed the project for years.”
China’s Dance Peacock
Yang Liping may not be a household name in the US, but she may be China’s most popular choreographer, with a sold-out run of her signature “Peacock Dance” sparking talk of a European/American tour. “The show is the latest coming-out party for Ms. Yang, who, though not well known outside of China, is known here as a stern but creative and independent force in Chinese dance.”
Collector Wins Suit Against Gallery For Not Selling Him Art
Jean-Pierre Lehmann has won a $1.7 million judgment against a New York gallery he said refused to sell him art. “Mr Lehmann lent $75,000 to the gallery in February 2001 with no interest and no due date, receiving in exchange the right of first choice and price discounts on future purchases. Mr Lehmann sued the gallery in March 2004, claiming it had violated his contract by selling about 40 paintings by the Ethiopian-born US artist Julie Mehretu to just about everybody but him.”
Critics: Conservators Ruined Gaudi Chapel
“Architects and conservators say the Spanish government has caused irreparable damage to the Catalan architect’s Güell crypt. They describe the cleaning of the building as “brutal” and say that it was carried out with abrasive materials abandoned years ago by the conservation industry. They also say that a staircase which provided access to the roof has been removed and they say that the restorers have placed a large stone plinth commemorating their restoration inside the chapel. This distracts visitors and disrupts the circulation within the chapel intended by Gaudí. The restorers also cut down an old pine tree near the building, which Gaudí had deliberately left standing and which he had incorporated in his design for the chapel.”
A New Year-Round Home For Toronto Film Fest?
The Ontario government will give $25 million to help build a new theatre complex for the Toronto International Film Festival. “The centre will include four screening rooms and a large exhibition space, as well as office space for festival staff and housing the festival’s reference library. This will allow the festival to be more of a year-round operation — the goal of making Toronto an international film capital 365 days a year instead of just 10 days. Plans for the development were announced in 2003 with great fanfare, but the original 2006 completion date proved unrealistic. Donors were not lining up to pour money in the project and it has taken two years for the project to gather momentum.”
Amazon’s Best-Selling Books Worldwide
What were the top-selling books in the world last year? Well, at Amazon, at least, Harry Postter tops the list in the UK, Franca and Japan. Dan Brown takes the top spot in Germany and Canada, while in the US it was Jon Stewart. Here’s a list of the top ten lists for each country…
“Gates” Generate $250 Million For NYC
New York City offisicals say the Central Park “Gates” added $250 million of revenue into the city’s economy in the two weeks the project was up. “Hotel occupancy around the park jumped to 87 per cent during the two weeks, compared to 73 per cent the same time last February, and many stores, restaurants and other services in the area compared the crowds to those that gather during the holiday season.”