Okay, so Tom Wolfe changed journalism. Nonetheless, when he starts lecturing about art, he’s tiresome. – Salon
Blog
STRANGE DAYS
Where did the contemporary novel come from, and where is it going? Five writers write about the future of fiction. – Village Voice Literary Supplement
A GOOD YEAR FOR BOOKS
Preliminary sales figures suggest 1999 was an excellent year for the book business, with sales increases registered by most publishing houses. – Publishers Weekly
NEOLOGICAL NOTHINGNESS
When “Seinfeld” went off the air two years ago, the media frenzied around the idea that – gasp – all along it had been a show about nothing, an existential sitcom. But to philosophers that nothing is quite meaningful. A Gen X philosophy prof explores relationships between serious philosophical ideas and the late television program in a new collection of essays by philosophy professors/hard-core Seinfeld fans. The fun includes “George’s Failed Quest for Happiness: An Aristotelian Analysis,” and “Kramer and Kierkegaard: Stages on Life’s Way.” – Lingua Franca
THE END OF VIDEO STORES
Movie piracy is rampant on the web. And not just old stuff, but movies that are currently in theaters. Get yourself some broadband and the quality rivals today’s VCR. For free. Tick, tick, tick… – CBC 02/01/00
FILM SET IN INDIA ATTACKED —
— and destroyed by protesters. Director Deepa Mehta, a leader of India’s new wave of filmmakers was trying to film in Varanasi. Hindu nationalists destroyed the set because they said it was disrespectful to their religion. – BBC 02/01/00
COURTS SHUT DOWN iCraveTV.com —
— after American and Canadian TV networks sue to stop it. The Toronto internet site had been live-streaming television networks over the web. – CBC 02/01/00
VOYEURS FOR VIOLENCE
New classes examining violence: “Starting in Violence 101, ‘Introduction to the Comparative Study of Violence,’ and on through ‘The Causes of Crime and Violence’ and ‘Violence in Film and History,’ students are encouraged to look at history, arts and sciences through a single lens: the infliction of injury and death.” But are such classes anything more than voyeuristic rubbernecking? – Salon
ARTS CUTS?
Whether in reaction to the Brooklyn Art Museum fiasco or to woo the state’s conservatives for the impending Senate election, New York mayor Rudy Giuliani is said to be ordering up cuts in the city’s arts budget. Arts funding defenders are gearing up. – Backstage
EARWORMS
Why is it that certain tunes – and bad tunes at that – get stuck in our heads? As a student of Freud’s put it: “Whatever secret message it carries, the incidental music accompanying our conscious thinking is never accidental.” – Feed