“It’s possible, then, that an animal’s failure to pass the mirror test says more about a human lack of imagination than the animal’s lack of a self-concept, as de Waal argues … Because, think about it: Why should a mirror mean anything to most animals?”
Tag: 05.23.16
What Happens When A Mathematician Sets Out To Create The ‘Ugliest Piece Of Music Ever Written’?
Well, this particular mathematician, Scott Rickard, started with the premise (which he attributed to “most musicologists”) that “repetition is a key aspect of beauty.” Then, as he explains in this 2011 TED talk, he employed the math behind sonar pings to create a work employing all 88 notes on the piano keyboard and avoiding any sort of repetition. (video)
Neurotic City Folk, It’s True: Peace And Quiet Really Do Make You Crazier
“When you’re incredibly stressed and have a million things to sort out there can be nothing more annoying than zen yoga and deep breathing and people who tell you to chill. … Such irritation isn’t simply irrational, as researchers found that neurotic people find anxiety-inducing environments more restorative than traditionally calm ones.”
Nigeria Has Become A Global Scrabble Superpower
“Scrabble has been a government-sanctioned sport in Nigeria since the 1990s. Tournaments get corporate sponsorship and offer big cash prizes. Results are reported in the media. When the 32-year-old [Wellington] Jighere captured the 2015 world championship in Perth, Australia, he received a congratulatory call from Nigeria’s president. … As a result, Nigeria boasts 23 players in the top 100 in the world rankings, compared to 18 for the United States, 13 for Australia, and 11 for England.”
Rowdy Children Smash Glass Sculpture In Museum As Parents Capture It All On Video
“Just when you’d thought you’d seen it all when it comes to art-breaking mishaps (selfie seekers, I’m looking at you), along comes this incredible footage from China of two boys fracturing a sculpture in the Shanghai Museum of Glass.”
The ’80s Were Wonderful And The ’90s Ruined Everything, Says Dale Peck
“If the angst reached its zenith in the 1970s (Watergate, the fall of Saigon, gas lines, the hostage crisis), its nadir came in the 80s. Enervated by the tremors of punk and disillusioned by the failures of the Congressional class of ’74 and the impotence of the Carter presidency, America sighed a collective ‘What the fuck’ and decided to ring out the end of empire/end of days with the indulgence of third-century Romans.”
Are Live Streams Of The Arts Cannibalizing The Live Theatre Audience?
ETO’s 2014 research with Guildhall School of Music and Drama found that 81% of cinema opera attenders were over 60, had an age profile “slightly older” than that typically found at live opera, and reported no increased motivation to attend live opera afterwards.
Afraid Of Being Bored? Then You Might Be Less Creative
“While boredom may threaten your ability to work quickly and efficiently, it may be essential to working well. As writer and philosopher Robert Pirsig claimed, “Boredom always precedes a period of great creativity.” Even if that isn’t always the case for you, chances are you need to be a little bored in order to generate your most inventive ideas and produce your highest-quality work.”
Qatari Royal Family And Gagosian Client Settle Lawsuit Over That Picasso Bust Of Marie-Thérèse
“A settlement was reached in an international legal drama over Picasso’s plaster Bust of a Woman pitting two of the world’s biggest art buyers against each other, New York billionaire Leon Black versus a member of Qatar’s royal family. But who now owns the 1931 sculpture, depicting the artist’s then-mistress and muse, Marie-Therese Walter, remains a secret.”
Ohio Orchestra To Fold After 75 Years
“Middletown Symphony Orchestra’s 75th anniversary next year will also mark its grand finale. Steve Ifcic, the symphony’s board chairman, said the board ‘has unanimously made the decision to close the curtain on the orchestra and end our musical programs in May of 2017 at the end of the 2016/2017 concert season.'”