First, there was a 47-second video that dramatically changed Germany’s concept of its ability to deal with contemporary anti-Semitism. And then there’s the Christian cross: “The situation in Germany has become complicated. Previous certainties are being lost and old battles are being launched anew. In Bavaria, for example, the cabinet of Governor Markus Söder recently moved to require that the cross be displayed at the entrance of every state government building.”
Category: issues
New Voices Enhance, Instead Of Diminishing, The ‘Classics’ Canon
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen: “It’s too late to get rid of all of us. We are here because white people were there, invading — sorry, civilizing — our countries of origin. Americans descended from Vietnamese refugees, undocumented Nicaraguan immigrants and African slaves cannot unlearn English. In my case, I love English and will not leave it, even if some people use it to say, ‘Go back to where you came from.’ (They can’t say ‘Speak English,’ since I teach it.)”
Writer Junot Diaz Accused Of Sexual Aggression And Misogynistic Behavior
Diaz, author of The Brief, Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao and This Is How You Lose Her, has withdrawn from the Sydney Writers’ Festival in the aftermath of the accusations. “Writer Zinzi Clemmons said [an] incident happened when she was a 26-year-old graduate student. She had invited Diaz to speak at a workshop, but Diaz ‘used it as an opportunity to corner and forcibly kiss me,’ Clemmons wrote on Twitter. Other female writers have since come forward, accusing Diaz of mistreatment and misogynistic verbal abuse.”
Why It’s Important To Have Critics Of Color
“When an important work is met with thoughtful, engaged criticism, it gains depth and traction. And when each potent piece of writing reverberates as never before — shared, liked, and debated on social media — the critic has new opportunities to shape our increasingly toxic cultural discourse. For communities that have been historically shut out of that process, that power is pivotal. It’s the difference between being spoken about and being the authority on your own experience.”
France Begins Multi-Billion-Euro Program To Revive Downtowns Of Smaller Cities
“France’s city centers are about to get one of the biggest makeovers in their history. Following an announcement last month, the country is launching a vast €5 billion ($6.1 billion) plan called Action Coeur de Ville (Action: Heart of the City) intended to revamp 222 city cores … in what the French call Villes Moyennes, ‘average cities’ with populations between 15,000 and 100,000 … over the next five years with new stores, offices, co-working spaces, and renovated housing.”
Robots May Soon Have More Intellectual Property Rights Than Animals Do
The final court decision in the famous “monkey selfie” case reaffirmed that animals have no IP rights under U.S. law, which requires human authorship. For now, the same is true for any works created by artificial intelligence – but, as Rachel Withers explains, this may soon change.
Enough With The Standing Ovations!
Call me old-fashioned, but I believe a standing ovation should be a precious thing saved only for that rare occasion where something is so extraordinary and superlative that you can’t help but want to salute it in a special way. I’m obviously in the minority.
The Rise Of The Rural Creative Class (Yes, It’s Real)
“A growing body of research shows that innovative businesses are common in rural areas, and rural innovation gets a boost from the arts.” Richard Florida digests the data.
Here’s One Corporate Foundation That’s Increasing, Not Cutting, Its Support Of The Arts
“The list of regional art organizations receiving support from KeyBank includes Playhouse Square, the Cleveland Orchestra, Cleveland Museum of Art, and now, the Cleveland-based Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, which recently netted a $10 million donation – the largest in its history.”
Arts Orgs Fear They Simply Can’t Afford To Turn Down Donations From Ethically Dubious Sources
“Although the vast majority are concerned that taking the ‘wrong’ sort of money could damage their reputation, just one in four report that their organisation has any sort of ethical fundraising policy. The findings emerge out of a survey of over 500 arts workers who shared their views on ethical fundraising and sponsorship. Their comments also reveal why organisations do or do not have a policy in place, and how useful they consider such policies to be.”