Freedom of speech is under attack on American college campuses. “On one campus or another, speech that is discomforting, embarrassing, flirtatious, gender specific, inappropriate, inconsiderate, harassing, intimidating, offensive, ridiculing or threatens a loss of “self-esteem” is banned by speech codes.”
Tag: 04.13.05
English National Ballet On the Brink
The English National Ballet is on the verge of bankruptcy and needs emergency cash to survive. But “for the past 15 years, ENB has been the least settled of the nation’s three great ballet companies, not much loved by critics, and torn between its board’s desire for box office populism and the higher aspirations of an alarmingly brisk turnover of artistic directors.” Is giving ENB more money just throwing it away?
Hitler Film Will Show In Israel
An Israeli film distribution company has decided to show a controversial movie about Hitler after polling viewers. “The debate over whether to screen in Israel a movie, which has been criticised for its human portrayal of Hitler, led Lev Cinemas and Shani films, who had purchased the local rights, to conduct test screenings on members of the Lev Cinema subscribers’ club. The decision to poll moviegoers was taken in order not to offend Holocaust survivors and others who might find the film distasteful.”
Proving Martha Graham
There are problems with the current offering of the Martha Graham Company. But “to criticize certain aspects of its current season is not to dismiss the company’s achievement. It’s proved itself. Now we must hope that as it continues to expand its repertory—not with the specious products of Graham’s later years but with major works like Letter to the World and even Clytemnestra—it will grow even stronger and surer of itself. Major choreographers like Doris Humphrey who didn’t leave behind settled institutions can slip away from us. That mustn’t happen to Martha Graham—and it won’t, if the Martha Graham Dance Company holds its course.”
O’Neill Reinstates Cabaret Conference
The Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, in Waterford, Conn has decided to reinstate its annual cabaret conference this summer. “The goal of the new and expanded conference is to “keep pushing the envelope” of cabaret and performance, and that this is another way to “keep the O’Neill at the modern edge.”
Will Indecency Law Pass Congress?
Proposed indecency legislation that includes heavy fines against performers might pass in Congress. “No one wants to be in a position of being in favor of indecency. But very few [in Congress] want to risk trying to state their position in 30-second TV ads — trying to explain the First Amendment and self-censorship and that there are better ways of protecting kids with V-chips and software. It would take a lot of money to reply.”
Marketing The Smithsonian – It’s Big Business
“Last year such marketing ventures grossed $156.3 million, returning $26.7 million in profit to the museums — nearly half the Smithsonian’s unrestricted funds, to be spent any way it pleases. Marketing has become so important that the Smithsonian now knows from surveys that the kids in the school groups that fly through the National Air and Space Museum each have about $5 to $10, and just about that many minutes to spend them. That’s why the gift shop at the world’s most visited museum is stocked with budget-friendly items such as military dog tags and marbles designed to look like planets. That’s why last year 200,000 packs of freeze-dried astronaut ice cream were sold.”
Washington Ballet Cancels Tour Over Meal Money
The Washington Ballet, embroiled in a bitter union dispute, has canceled its first foreign trip in five years because it couldn’t reach an agreement with its dancers over meal money.
How To Choose Piano Competition Contestants
Thirty-five pianists have been chosen for the Cleveland International Piano Competition. “The pianists – 11 women and 24 men – hail from 17 countries: China (seven), the United States (five), Russia (four), Japan (three), Bulgaria (two), France (two), South Korea (two), Australia, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy, Serbia, Sweden, Ukraine, Lithuania and Latvia. The competition’s new screening process began with 243 hopefuls from 43 countries. After viewing applications, competition officials invited 143 pianists to tape videos in Cleveland, Akron, New York, Tokyo, Munich or London.”
Chick Lit Moves Down A Generation
“Since the late 1990s, teen chick lit — think Bridget Jones in high school — has been gaining popularity, reaping profits for publishers and booksellers, prompting established adult authors to target younger audiences and giving teens and tweens (9- to 12-year-old girls) their own heroines. Teen chick lit is still growing each year by double digits.”