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Battle For The Soul Of American Science

Traditional science is under attack in the US. “A new climate has emerged under the Bush administration: one driven partly by close relationships with big business, but just as much by a fiercely moral approach to the business of science.” Instead of attacking theories like evolution in favor of creationism, critics propose alternative “scientific” ideas like “intelligent design.” “The approach is not exclusively religious, nor exclusively rightwing, but is spreading worry as never before through the nation’s laboratories and lecture halls. These aren’t the old wars of science versus religion. The new assaults on the conventional wisdom frame themselves, without exception, as scientific theories, no less deserving of a hearing than any other.”

Movies On TV? Time To Move On

“Britain has been Europe’s most movie-intensive television market for more than 40 years. Until relatively recently, this has made perfect sense. Before it was possible for viewers to compile their own private film library, the belated television screening of a successful theatrical release was a genuine broadcasting event.” But with so much non-TV access to movies, it’s time for programming to move on.

The All-Important 18-to-24s

The 18-to-49 American TV demographic is “the single most important factor in determining what we see, hear and read. Appealing to young adults and trend-setting teenagers in an effort to sate ad buyers has promoted numerous media trends, among them the proliferation of so-called reality television, since the genre disproportionately attracts them; the 1990s surplus of yuppie-something sitcoms; news channels streaming text up, down and sideways; and even shorter newspaper articles, usually accompanied by pictures the size of a cantaloupe. Now, beyond tailoring sitcoms and dramas to a younger crowd, news coverage increasingly reflects this infatuation, from model-like anchors to gee-whiz graphics that translate the war into video-game language for those conversant in Nintendo and PlayStation.”

Clear Channel Cuts Tied With Paid Promoters

Clear Channel Communications, the biggest radio company in the US, “said it would cut ties with music promoters who are paid by record labels to trumpet songs to radio stations, saying the long-standing practice gives the appearance of ‘pay for play’.” The company has been widely criticized for the practice. “We have zero tolerance for “pay for play,’ but want to avoid even the suggestion that such a practice takes place within our company.”

Visas To get Artists Into US Getting More Difficult To Acquire

It’s getting more and more difficult and expensive (and arbitrary) trying to get artists into America to perform. “In general we are talking $1,000 for the performer’s petition, plus $1,000 for the technical staff petition, plus a $130 per-application fee each. That’s $2,260. Plus, the AGMA and IATSE unions now charge $250 per letter of support. That’s $2,760. You either have a huge budget that can accommodate that kind of extra money, or you’re doing less international work, or you’re more motivated to collaborate with partners.”

Carnegie Hall’s Footprint Expands

This fall Carnegie Hall will open a new hall underneath its main auditorium. “What this new underground hall should mean for Carnegie is clear enough, assuming good acoustics and proper insulation from subway rumbles. But what will its impact be on other New York performing institutions, especially those at Lincoln Center?”

UK: Tax Breaks For Art Donations?

Until now, people donating art to cultural institutions in the UK didn’t get tax incentives. But the government has indicated it is rethinking the policy and might extend tax breaks to art. “Until now, philanthropists have been able to get tax relief on cash and share donations, but there was no incentive to give art or artefacts to museums.”