What did art filmmaker Ingmar Bergman do in the 1950s when he was short of cash? He made soap commercials. “He had eight children to feed, a long-running strike had paralysed the Swedish film industry, and theatres were closed for the summer. He needed to work. It was inevitable that film historians would track down the missing films…”
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Plagiarism Bad. Very Bad. Isn’t It?
At a “professor-packed” session of the American Historical Association’s meeting in Chicago over the weekend, plagiarism was the hot topic. “Almost everybody thinks that something ought to be done about it, but almost nobody agrees with anybody else about just what that something ought to be. And – oh, yes – there’s also that annoying bugaboo of defining just what truly constitutes plagiarism.”
Record Concert Tour Year Nets $2.1 Billion
The pop music concert industry sold a record number of tickets in 2002, taking in $2.1 billion. “This was the fourth straight year concert receipts reached record levels in America. There were $1.75 billion in sales in 2001. Paul McCartney had the top-grossing tour, pulling in $103 million, with average ticket prices at $130.
Architecture’s Wrong Turns And Faulty Values
Philip Langdon is angry about the current championing of architecture that puts people and context in subordinate roles. “Unfortunately, the spirit of the ’60s is returning in building design; the tragedy of architectural arrogance is now being replayed as farce. Across North America, a rash of anti-social architecture is erupting. Public participation in design decision-making has blocked some of the worst ideas, but alienating buildings are rising in significant numbers. Indeed, advocates of ‘progressive’ architecture proclaim many as instant landmarks, and portray their designers as stars.”
Pitiless TV Critiques From The Web Have Hollywood’s Attention
In an industry where ratings are everything, websites that hash over the latest series offerings have found big influence in Hollywood. One – a site called Television Without Pity – has attracted a regular following of people who run the shows – all who want to know what the fans on the site think of their work. TWoP tends to be merciless…
50 Arts Events Not To Miss In 2003
What 50 arts/cultural events should you simply not miss in 2003? London’s Observer does the rundown…
Looking For Insight – Artists Come To New York
Last month a group of Vietnamese artists came to New York to get ideas and insights from the city’s artists. “We’re living in the twilight. It’s not socialism, and it’s not capitalism. Experimental artists like us have to do things for ourselves, but we have to do it quietly so no one will bother us.”
What Makes A Movie Star?
Talent? Hard work? Not necessarily. “It’s just a personality thing that has nothing to do with acting that most people who are successful have. It’s a certain charisma, an energy you’re attracted to. Established actors usually have it. Some people have it only under certain circumstances. But either you have it or you don’t.
Broadway Comes To Disney
“Disney wants to replicate in the theme parks a formula that has paid dividends for another division: Disney Theatricals, which produces the company’s Broadway shows. Take a beloved Disney property (“The Lion King”), turn it over to an accomplished avant-garde stage artist with a distinctive visual flair (director Julie Taymor), and reap critical kudos and huge profits.”
Music As A Football Match
Football’s popular. So maybe classical music ought to be more like football, writes Julian Lloyd Webber. “In future, all concerts must be refereed. Points for performances will be awarded and performers’ league tables established. Issues of promotion and relegation will be keenly watched by merciless, gum-chewing managers, who will have their chosen substitutes from the youth team eagerly waiting on the bench. Wrong notes will be severely penalised and performers adopting too slow tempi will be yellow-carded for time-wasting. String players using over-sentimental portamenti – and pianists who over-pedal – will be justly punished ‘for bringing the music into disrepute’.”