“While American Francophobia can seem transient, news oriented, associated with the political right and theatrical in character, French anti-Americanism – like a venerable Old World tradition – reaches far and deep. It is championed by both the left and right. And over its long evolutionary course, various scientific, philosophical, political, social and racial justifications have been offered. Its convictions are so fundamental that they are barely recognized, and they are spreading.”
Tag: 03.14.05
The New African Dance
African choreographers are inventing new forms of dance, but no one seems to be sure what to call them. “African dance is, by nature and tradition, both multidimensional and heterogenous. To suggest that choreographers should stay within the boundaries of some preconceived national dance expression is relativistic; to describe their work as derivative of American or European modern dance choreographers is elitist.”
The Hotel And The Munches
What kind of hotel has original Edvard Munch artwork on its walls? “Munch would seem the least likely artist to be at home among the chat and cheer of a posh restaurant overlooking Oslofjord, across the water from the village where he used to summer in the 1890s when he was painting The Scream and other images in his cycle The Frieze of Life. Yet here he is, watching over the business lunchers in the Hotel Refsnes Gods’ Restaurant Munch (no pun intended).”
Muti Refuses To Conduct La Scala
Riccardo Muti has refused to conduct the La Scala orchestra, saying that the company is in crisis. “I believe that, at the moment, there are not the conditions for us to play music together.” His announcement forced the theatre to scrap a concert by La Scala Philharmonic that was to have been performed on Friday, the latest in a string of cancellations pitching the house into financial crisis.
A Picture’s Worth…
“The art world, layered with prestige, the weight of history, serious scholarship and not a little pretense, has finally embraced photography, but the verdict is still out about the medium’s position as an arriviste. Serious collectors of art are now seriously collecting photographs, but so are people with cash on their hands who view photography as just another status collectible. That status depends in part on the belief that these fantastic prices reflect some inherent worth, not just canny marketing. Do they?”
Pols, Players Rally To Save Tasmanian Orchestra
Australia’s musicians’ union is joining forces with politicians and members of the public to lobby the country’s arts ministry to reject the proposal laid out in a new study which recommends downsizing the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra to a chamber ensemble. Union representatives accuse Australia’s conservative ruling party of trying to “wreck” the orchestra more than once, and calls any plan which would redistribute funds from one ensemble to another unacceptable.