The Art Of Revision

“Revisions emerge as a favorite authorial pursuit, more ecstasy than agony. For this reason, writers like talking revisions, turn expansive, reveal themselves. What they say about revisions provides readers, fans and writing students with startling insights into the confounding and convoluted creative process-what works, what does not.”

What Oscar-Winning War Movies Tell Us About Ourselves

Unlike “The Hurt Locker,” Oscar winners “Patton,” “The Deer Hunter” and “Platoon” were box-office hits. “[N]ot only were audiences eager to see a complex portrayal of a World War II warrior at the height of the Vietnam War, but they were just as willing to embrace two very dark, disturbing portraits of the Vietnam quagmire in the years following the end of that war.”

Karaoke Yiddish Theatre

“The newly expanded Jewish Museum in north London has built a tiny interactive theatre – a karaoke machine – so you can declaim the Yiddish classics.” Hear, and even recite, for instance, Shylock’s famous speech: “Hot a yid nisht keyn oygn, nisht keyn hent, glider, gelfiln, laydnshaftn?”

Conservatory Students May Be Turning To Beta Blockers

Use of the little white pills, which suppress such physical effects of adrenaline as trembling, rapid heartbeat and sweating, is widespread among professional musicians facing major performances or auditions. “Most [conservatory] students say beta blockers are not commonly used, but some quietly acknowledge that the drug is more common than outsiders would imagine or administrators might like to admit.”

Selling The Idea Of An Arts Center In Vegas

“On two occasions Don Snyder approached one of the nation’s largest private philanthropic organizations about supporting a performing arts center in Las Vegas. Both times, Snyder says, the foundation said it wasn’t interested in getting behind the project.” Ultimately, Snyder convinced the foundation to provide more than $150 million. How did he do it?