“Abner, he was every stereotype of a poor white that has ever permeated the American story. … Faulkner doesn’t want us to laugh at Abner. He wants us to ask, what would it be like to be him? To feel as though destruction was your only path to dignity.”
Tag: 05.24.16
Why Did Sound Design Lose Its Tony Category?
There was a lot of talk about voters not knowing how to properly measure the art form—to which the designers said, “Let us judge it” rather than eliminate it altogether. How can the art form be measured properly?
Theatre Is Undergoing A Playwright Revolution (It’s Very Exciting)
Michael Feingold: “Yes, our old three-dimensional art form has stepped into an internet world where everything is accessible in one quick click. Today’s playwrights can shift focus, tone, or even subject matter in an eye-blink. Amazingly, they can do it without losing hold of their core meaning.”
Stanford Live Gets A New Director
Stanford Live is one of the most well-respected university-based arts presenters in the United States, and the Bing Concert Hall, which opened in January 2013 and cost more than $110 million to build, is Silicon Valley’s most prominent classical music venue.
‘Thelma And Louise’ Feels Like It Could Be Made Today – And This Is Not A Good Thing
“‘No one would believe us’ runs like a refrain through the film’s taut dialogues … The fundamental fact of Thelma & Louise – the one that ultimately drives its plot, and the one that makes it feel so disappointingly fresh today – is the women’s recognition that they can’t trust the law, because the law doesn’t trust them.”
The Problem With Peak TV (For Some Of Us)
“The shift from network TV’s relatively flat, manageable terrain to our current Wild West is exciting for some viewers (fuck commercials!) and bewildering for others – wait, so I’m supposed to make my own TV-watching schedule now? … That’s what scares me the most about the state of TV – it’s no longer a useful marker of time.”
Yes, Students, The English Lit Canon Is Sexist, Racist, Colonialist, Heteronormative, Etc. – You Have To Read It Anyway
“The canon is what it is, and anyone who wishes to understand how it continues to flow forward needs to learn to swim around in it. There is a clear line to Terrance Hayes (and Frank and Claire Underwood, and Lyon Dynasty) from Shakespeare. There is a direct path to Adrienne Rich (and Katniss Everdeen, and Lyra Belacqua) from Milton. (Rich basically says as much in Diving into the Wreck.) These guys are the heavies, the chord progressions upon which the rest of us continue to improvise, and we’d be somewhere else entirely without them.”
Top Posts From AJBlogs 05.24.16
Cultural Equity
On May 23 Americans for the Arts released its new Statement on Cultural Equity. Before going any further, let me acknowledge that I’m a white guy of a certain age and have no expertise to … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2016-05-24
A big opera problem
Finally saw Twilight of the Gods, the conclusion of the DC Ring. ... And most of it was as powerful as the best of what had gone before. … [But] there were problems beyond that, problems I fear are endemic in opera. … read more
AJBlog: Sandow Published 2016-05-24
If you find one
Unless you live in a very small town, every middle-aged life is full of friend-sized holes. Some, of course, are dug by death, but more arise from the routine friction of everyday existence and the fact that America is a really big country. … read more
AJBlog: About Last Night Published 2016-05-24
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Boy Choirs Are The Ultimate Training Ground For Today’s BoyBands
“Choristers — who in British and American cathedral choirs usually range from eight to 13, with continental choirs retaining their singers until the age of 19—typically rehearse together daily, making their decision to team up in ensembles of their own making less risky. They form an immediate talent pool of skilled musicians who enjoy making music together, and know one another’s musical likes and personalities.”
Broadway Has Yet Another Record-Breaking Season
“Hamilton brought a boost. The Lion King provided ballast. … Broadway seems to be defying the cultural odds: An ancient art form in the digital age, it is strengthening thanks to an ever-increasing influx of tourists and a resurgent enthusiasm for musical theater.”