Is this the most discouraging development ever, or is it just a sign of how many writers are forgotten as the relentless pressure of the new takes hold? Nancy Hale holds the record for the most short stories to appear in The New Yorker in a year – 12 between July 1954 and July 1955 (TWELVE?!). “She also put out seven novels and was a 10-time recipient of the O. Henry Prize for short fiction. Her writing is progressive and tackles issues such as infidelity, abortion, domestic abuse, motherhood, mental illness and female sexuality. … And despite this, most readers of short stories haven’t even heard the name Nancy Hale.” – NPR
Blog
In Dijon, This Museum Features Not Mustard But The Goddess Of The Waters
Long before tourists came to Dijon in search of mustard (“Dijon” mustard actually comes from Canada, but never mind), pilgrims were heading to the area temple to buy mass-produced icons of a goddess and to worship at the nearby source of the Seine. – The New York Times
London’s National Theatre To End Funding From Shell
The National Theatre joins the Royal Shakespeare Company, which had been deliberating for quite some time before ending its longtime “relationship” with BP (formerly British Petroleum). Pressure from youth, climate activists, and even its own artists means that “the National Theatre has announced it will end Shell’s membership from next year, as the arts organisation accelerates plans to make itself carbon neutral in the face of the climate emergency.” – The Guardian (UK)
The Woman Who Changed Hawai’i – And International – Theatre Forever
Jane Campbell, who died in March at 87, served as the managing director of Honolulu Theatre for Youth for more than four decades. “At a time when theatre for children was seeking a place at the American professional theatre table, Jane quietly yet determinedly guided her company from a tiny community ensemble to a fully professional company with national and international recognition.” – American Theatre
Breaking All The Rules Of The Tango To Make It Better, And To Make It Safe
Argentine feminists are fed up with the patriarchal, rigid roles of traditional tango, and they’ve published a new protocol that breaks old rules – and reinforces new ones. “The protocol provides suggested guidelines for tango venue organizers, including acceptance of couples who depart from heteronormative roles. It also offers guidance on how to handle instances of harassment and abuse, advising, for instance, that men accused of acting inappropriately on the dance floor be asked to leave.” – The New York Times
The New Museum That’s Expressly Designed For Selfies
People love museum selfies, and here’s the logical conclusion of that love: A museum designed expressly for uploading cute artsy self-portraits to Instagram. The museum in Vienna “joins a number of establishments across the world targeting heavy users of social media.” – BBC
Julie Delpy Was Paid One Tenth Of What Ethan Hawke Was Paid For ‘Before Sunrise’
And for the big sequel, Before Sunset, Delpy got half of her co-star’s salary. For the third movie in the trilogy, Before Midnight? She refused to do it without equal pay. – Variety
Marcello Giordani, Italian Tenor Of Beauty, Has Died At 56
Giordani sang hundreds of performances at the Met and, at a relatively young age, stepped back from the spotlight and began to mentor younger singers. He was the son of a prison guard who owned a gas station. He said, “That’s mostly where I made my debut, making coffee. … “People still remember me when I was 12 or 13, singing or bringing coffee.” Yahoo News (AP)
Roger Taillibert, The Architect Of Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, Has Died At 93
The French architect also designed the Olympic Pool and the vélodrome for the Olympics, a building that has become the Montréal Biodôme. The stadium was controversial at the time, and has stayed controversial – and costly – ever since. But the mayor who asked him to design these 1976 Olympics buildings had a different view. “‘Taillibert is the kind of architect who built the cathedrals of ancient times,’ said [Jean] Drapeau, calling Taillibert’s designs ‘poems in concrete.'” – CBC
Letters From A Young Jerome Robbins When He Was Trying To Make It As A Dancer (And Failing)
“I shall be firm straight and even cruel to be faithful. I SHALL DANCE. Yes . . . I shall dance. Say it over and over and over to infinatum [sic]. I shall dance I shall dance . . . I will live to dance, eat to dance, sleep to dance. My classes shall be my daily worship and workshop. Every moment shall be devoted to these purposes.” – LitHub