“It is, I think, a measure of our confused relationship with art if we believe that the general public is better equipped to judge the work of artists than professional juries or peers. Would we pick heart surgeons this way? Architects? Firemen? The ArtPrize reminds me of Komar and Melamid’s spoof surveys of the desirable aesthetic traits of art.”
Tag: 04.29.09
I’m So Excited!!! Exclaim To All!!!
“Exclamation marks – those forms of punctuation derided by the funless and fastidious – are making a comeback, thanks to an internet renaissance that is bleeding over into every form of written communication. Once it was bad form to end a paragraph with an exclamation mark. Now it’s borderline obligatory.”
The Cures For What Ails Arts Journalism?
“Until recently, there was an unambiguous division of labour between arts institutions and the press. One side delivered programming, the other provided exposure, evaluation and public scrutiny. Any suggestion that these roles could blend together would elicit howls of condemnation. But if the marketplace or cultural patrons cannot sustain arts journalism, those with a stake in its survival must come up with alternatives. And it’s already happening.”
Recession Offers Bargains To Museum Buyers
“In a survey of just over 300 museums (one-fifth of the total), half had made purchases in the past six months. Of these, 58% had got a better-than-expected museum discount or had paid less than anticipated at auction.”
Paradise Lost Is Multiplex-Bound (Bonus: It Has A Sequel!)
“It’s time to brush up on your John Milton because the 17th century English poet’s ‘Paradise Lost’ is suddenly on Hollywood’s radar. Veteran producer Martin Poll has joined with Granite Entertainment and STV Networks to mount an indie version of ‘Paradise’ that has been gestating for nearly four decades and could enter production as early as the summer. If so, it could find itself going up against a competing version of ‘Paradise’….”
Dear Common Council: Those Library-Board Firings Bit.
“Four members of a library board in West Bend, Wis., were dismissed last week for refusing to remove controversial books from the library’s young adult section–and yesterday, the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the Association of American Publishers and PEN American Center criticized the firings.”
Mexican Folk Music Chimes In On Swine Flu
“There is a long tradition of folk music reacting quickly to events and commentating on them for those who don’t pay much attention to the mainstream media and the flu-inspired songs are delivered in the accordion-based cumbia style which is popular across the Americas.”
Mendes Bows Out Of Glyndebourne
“Film and theatre director Sam Mendes has pulled out of making his opera debut at Glyndebourne in 2010. Mendes was due to direct Mozart’s Don Giovanni for the festival and his appointment was greeted with excitement in the opera world.” Mendes blamed “massive theatre commitments” for his withdrawal.
Sentence Halved For Scholar Who Cut Pages From Books
“An Iranian scholar who stole pages from priceless books at Oxford’s Bodleian library and the British Library has had his sentence halved. Farhad Hakimzadeh, 61, of Knightsbridge, central London, pleaded guilty to 14 counts of theft and was jailed for two years in January 2009. … The British Library said it was disappointed with the court’s ruling.”
Marketers Give Broadway Audience A Reason To Be Texting
“Desperate times call for desperate text messages. In a bid to attract a younger audience — well, any audience maybe — promoters of [Neil LaBute’s Broadway play ‘Reasons to be Pretty’] have introduced a texting game in which audience members are invited to rate their own attractiveness as well as the attractiveness of those seated next to them on a scale of Carrot Top to Angelina Jolie.”