Category: issues

“New rules being finalized in November state that—across this country’s gloriously beautiful, endlessly photogenic, 193 million acres of designated wilderness area administered by the USFS—members of the press who happen upon it will need permits to photograph or shoot video.”

Among the honorees this year were scientists who investigated the differential in pain thresholds of people looking at beautiful art versus ugly art, the neuroscience behind people who see the face of Jesus in a piece of toast or the Virgin Mary in a stain on a wall, and the physics behind one of the hoariest gags in all of slapstock comedy.

This summer, Miami street artist David Anasagasti “hired a lawyer and filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit, accusing American Eagle of stealing his work and seeking monetary damages. … Lawyers who work in this area say it’s not clear anyone has ever tried this in court. Copyright law, as its name suggests, lays out the rules for when it’s okay to copy something. But does it extend to art that’s on public walls?”

“As manager of Bamiyan’s tourism association, Ibrahim is the brains and muscle behind a push to convince foreigners to visit a town made internationally famous by one of the worst acts of cultural terrorism in recent history. Having enjoyed years of relative stability, Bamiyan wants to open up its cultural heritage to intrepid travelers curious to see more of the country than war.”

“Caricature aside, reflections on the role of the humanities in education and in society have recently entered a predominantly reactive, plaintive mode. This is hardly surprising, given the alarming decrease in funding for these fields, not only in the US but also in Europe.”

“With culture already devolved, there was little focus on the potential impact of independence on the country’s artistic scene, with many artists simply focused on the wider picture. The fate of BBC Scotland was one of the few genuine talking points. … I suspect many artists will simply return to creative work and trying to make a living. The campaign is likely to have been a major distraction and an energy-sapping experience. Others will realise they have divided their audience by speaking out.”

“The task force wanted to send a message: The decades of impunity were over. Agents called the operation Cerberus Action — after the three-headed dog in Greek mythology that guarded the gates to the underworld.”

“Autobahn bridges are the most visible sign that a significant portion of Germany’s infrastructure is ailing. Autobahns and federal highways, bridges and locks, railway networks and shipping routes — much of this infrastructure has gotten old.”

“Imagine a writer named John Gallant … who settled in Paris and published nearly every story he wrote in the New Yorker. Even if he was reclusive, he would be internationally famous. You would know what was thought of as his best work without ever having read it. His stories would be taught in every intro class, in high schools and college both.”

‘Project Row Houses’ artist Rick Lowe’s “award, in many ways, helps confer mainstream prestige to the form. But it also highlights the level of commitment that well-produced activist art can demand.”