“Interest in the technology is outpacing actual VR music products, however, and few virtual reality performances have been released.”
Category: AUDIENCE
End Of An Era: The Last VCR-Maker Quits Production
“The VCR itself was outmoded by the DVD player in 2001. That’s the year that people started watching more DVDs than VHS cassettes. So, while it was refreshing to see that VCRs had made it this far into the 21st century, it was interesting that it was eight years after the very inventor of the term had given up on the technology.”
Everyone’s An Artist These Days. But What, Exactly IS An Artist?
“Is artist defined by talent and skill, by length of practice or legacy? Are there common characteristics of all artists beyond the attempt to create? Do we include those only within our sphere or all of those beyond our recognition? If creation alone does not constitute conferring the appellation of artist, can one grow into the post? If art is a process, are you an artist only when you have practiced your “art” for a term? Or is the definition of an artist and art best left to each of us to ponder for ourselves?”
What Makes A Local Orchestra Local?
Civic pride – the pleasure of saying, “This beautiful thing is ours” – is a powerful force in maintaining any expensive performing-arts institution. But anyone who thinks an orchestra’s leadership and membership should be exclusively planted in their community is living in the last century.
Only In Portland: A Food Truck For Opera
“At each stop, the cart – actually a converted truck that carries a foldout stage as well as set pieces – offers a ‘menu’ of arias, duets and ensemble pieces. When a selection is ‘ordered,’ a cast of three singers and a pianist gives a short performance.” And what is Portland Opera calling this venture? We’re afraid so: “Opera à la Cart”.
We Live In A Public Time. So What Is The Role Of Public Intellectuals?
The real interest in the term “public intellectual” lies in what its usage can tell us about ourselves: how we imagine the links between politics and prose, thought and action, individual contemplation and social congregation. Why, for example, has the notion of publicness itself become such a high value for some, practically synonymous with benevolence, as if to attach “public” to the name of a discipline grants it a special dignity?
The Troubled Relationship Between Creators And Fans
Author Neil Gaiman: “Fans are still creators. Fans demand and make things happen. Mostly, that’s great. But it can tip, and when it tips, it goes into strange places where people feel that by having watched a TV show or bought a book, they feel that you owe them something huge for having done that. Watching the level of crazy that can sometimes happen is hard.”
In Publishing, One Format Is Growing Much Faster Than All Others
“Carrying around a pocket-size entertainment center stuffed with games, news, music, videos and books has conditioned people to seek out constant entertainment, whether walking to a meeting or sitting in a doctor’s office. For more multitasking book-lovers, audiobooks are the answer.”
The People Who Decide What We Listen To
“For a while we thought we could choose our own music. Remember that? In the wake of the last century we seized the right to take our pick from all of the songs in the world (All of the songs in the world!) and told anyone who didn’t like it exactly where they could go. And when it turned out that was too many songs after all (how many lifetimes are needed for a complete survey of Memphis soul? Or Brazilian funk?), a new category of music services appeared to ease our burden.”
This Week In Audience, Virtual Versus Real Edition
This Week: Is it possible that the virtual museum experience could beat the in-person visit?… After ten years, mixed verdict on whether HD streaming builds arts audiences… We need a new definition of selling music to reflect new audience realities… Will Pokemon Go change the ways we use public spaces?… We may have just seen Facebook streaming video’s breakthrough moment.