Poet Gale Marie Thompson: “I think it’s the job of a writer (or poet!) to come up against the ineffable, time and time again. We compulsively work to make meaning out of something that can never completely have meaning, to put words to things that can’t be verbalized. Space is full of things that we know exist, some of which we can see from far away, but we can’t touch them or actually be in their presence.” – LitHub
Blog
The Loudness Of Bossa Nova’s King Of Quiet [AUDIO]
Bossa nova had a golden age, ushered in by its creator, João Gilberto – and “the reign of bossa nova — as it was originally intended — was brief. It was an engagement with and a rejoinder to the samba that preceded it, and by the late 1960s, the Tropicalia movement had captured the center of Brazil’s creative imagination. But bossa nova has had a long and not always substantive afterlife; it has become the stuff of car commercials, beach bars and other places a dash of cosmopolitanism is needed.” – The New York Times
In An On-Demand World, Movie Marketers Are Shortening Their Campaigns
Blockbusters as recent as Suicide Squad and Pets 2 had 18 months to two-year marketing campaigns, but now? People don’t want to wait that long, and they actually get annoyed. Now, four to five months is all we can take. – The New York Times
Helping The Prime Minister (And The Rest Of Parliament) Pick Prime Art
There’s a very strict pecking order for art asks, of course. It’s kind of a big job, especially with a new government. “This week, the climate and humidity-controlled store room in the bowels of the building has been a frenzy of activity as the department gears up to adorn the walls of the 46th parliament.” – The Guardian (UK)
Andrea Camilleri, Author Of The Detective Montalbano Series, Has Died At 93
Camilleri picked up the Sicilian-Italian mystery series mantle almost by accident: At 69, he thought he was a “sloppy” writer who would be served by trying to write mysteries. To put it mildly, that worked. – The New York Times
When Plays Have Rape Scenes, What’s The Right Thing To Do For Theatre Profs And Students?
Should a theatre prof be responsible for taking her students to a play that has scenes with violence and rape? And perhaps more to the point, does theatrical responsibility extend to warning those in the potential audience who have experienced gendered violence? (And finally, why are some people worried that warnings might be required – what’s it to them?) – Howlround
There’s An Absolute Wave Of Music Documentaries Coming To Our Screens. Why?
The short answer: Money. Longer answer, well, still money: “The reason for the sudden glut is not only that documentary makers have been inspired by the surprise success of documentaries such as 2012’s Searching For Sugar Man, or Asif Kapadia’s Amy in 2015. What investors have also noticed is the great power of these films to promote a music label’s back catalogue. … ‘A compelling synergy exists between movies and music.'” – The Observer (UK)
Music Festivals Are Starting To Be ‘Gamified’
At multi-day music fests, just like at Disneyworld, cashless wristbands prepare the way for ‘gamifying’ listeners’ experiences. And sure, it’s for pop music now, but could this also be the future for BBC Proms and other classical music multi-day festivals? – BBC
What’s Up With Our Fascination With Women Who Kill?
It’s a longstanding thing – consider the ways that Clytemnestra became “an archetypal domestic murder plot” after the play premiered in 458 BCE. “Killing Eve is just the latest example of popular culture’s preoccupation with attractive young women who conceal a dark psychopathy: Villanelle is the embodiment of the classic female killer, who both seduces and repels.” – The Guardian (UK)
A Ballerina Tries To Dislocate All Of Her Body Parts, Including Her Eyes [VIDEO]
Maria Kachetkova is classically trained, and danced with American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet before striking out on her own – and learning some new techniques. “I thought it would be nice to show what ballet is today,” she says. – The New York Times