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TV’s Diversity Problem

Television in the US is still more white than the population. “Hispanic characters received only 3 percent of screen time in fall 2002 programs on the six major networks, according to the study by the University of California, Los Angeles. Hispanics make up 13.5 percent of the U.S. population. Whites received 81 percent of screen time and blacks 15 percent, the study said – both disproportionate to their population.”

BBC’s Out-Of-Practice Arts Efforts

The BBC debuts its new TV arts series, but the cobwebs are showing. The BBC has become rusty when it comes to arts. “Over the past six years the BBC has all but abolished television arts coverage, scrapping The Late Show, Arena, Omnibus and one-off documentaries. Live performance also died, except at Proms time and Christmas. A corporation that once set the world standard for arts presentation resolved under director-general John Birt to dispense with art as an expensive nuisance. His successor Greg Dyke made a gestural restoration, employing the animal-lover Rolf Harris to enthuse about painting and recommissioning some live performance, though only for the minority channel, BBC4. It didn’t work.”

Is Art Film Quality Dropping?

Sydney has seen a surge in the number of art film theatres. But are the films they’re showing as good as in previous years? “Yes, there is more choice now because there are more screens. But people are putting on some films that once upon a time would have gone straight to video. Because of the number of screens, more and more mediocre films are being released. Standards have dropped.”

Hands Off My Spike!

Spike Lee is trying to prevent an American cable network from changing its name to the Spike Network. But other Spikes are getting into the act. “The latest twist in the case came yesterday, when Spike Jones Jr, the son of the 1950s comic bandleader Spike Jones, filed court papers saying a ruling in Lee’s favour would be disastrous for other well-known Spikes. Jones Jr said Lee’s injunction might interfere with his own efforts to promote, sell and market both his father’s work and other autobiographical commercial projects.” And Spike Jonze, the quirky filmmaker might have something to say…

Vanguard Comes To The Front Again

The legendary Vanguard Classics label is being resurrected. “Artemis Classics, a division of Artemis Records, will begin releasing both Vanguard’s printed catalogue as well as previously unreleased material from this autumn. In addition, Artemis will also be working with a handful of young artists, including violinist Gil Shaham, cellist Matt Haimovitz and composer Michael Hersh.”

Brazil Halts Guggenheim Plans

A Brazilian court has blocked construction of a new Guggenheim Museum in Brazil. “The ban follows public outcry that the $US250 million project is a luxury the city cannot afford. Many of Rio’s citizens said the money should be spent on fighting crime or improving education and health care in the city’s teeming shantytowns. Billboards have appeared showing a photograph of a homeless girl drinking from a puddle on the sidewalk with the caption, ‘Does Rio need such a museum? and the Guggenheim name encircled in red.”

Intervening Against Art

“In a number of recent and high profile instances, certain individuals, card-carrying artists and regular civilians both, have acted upon the urge to respond critically with a physical intervention into a piece of art. It would appear that the art world has gone intervention crazy. You could blame it on Guy Debord and the Situationist International with their fondness for challenging the gallery environment with dynamic interventions. But that’s too obvious. As usual, I blame Brian Eno.”

A Carnegie/NY Phil Rift?

Are cracks beginning to appear in the marriage between the New York Philharmonic and Carnegie Hall? Carnegie officials are looking forward: “People think that we are simply going to graft the current Philharmonic schedule on top of the Carnegie Hall schedule. The opportunity here is to create a merged institution that is forward-thinking. We are looking at new ways of presentation and new types of scheduling.” Forward-thinking. Sounds good. “Except that the Philharmonic, however splendid an orchestra, has not been forward-thinking since the 1970’s.”

Kimmelman: Sloppiest Biennale

By accident, Michael Kimmelman finds himself at the opening preview of the Venice Biennale. “There are gems to find, although the picking is especially tough this year, the 50th edition of the event. This is the largest, most sprawling and also by far the sloppiest, most uninspired, enervating and passionless biennale that I can recall. The curator, Francesco Bonami, has provided the usual nebulous title, pregnant with meaning but signifying nothing. This time it’s ‘Dreams and Conflicts: The Dictatorship of the Viewer.’ It doesn’t begin to account for the miasma that Mr. Bonami has allowed to be assembled.”