“Many people like to think they have discriminating tastes when it comes to romantic interests. An Indiana University study, however, found that men and women are greatly influenced not only by what their friends think of their potential fling or relationship partner, but also by the opinions of complete strangers.”
Tag: 06.07.10
‘Studying The Elusive ‘Fag Hag’: Women Who Like Men Who Like Men’
Jesse Bering: “Now I’ve never seen myself as a ‘fag’ … but more importantly I’ve certainly never regarded my many close female friends as ‘hags.’ So I was curious to learn more about the unflattering stereotypes lying at the etymological root of this moniker, which describes straight women who tend to gravitate toward gay men.”
Budget Woes Cause Delay In Rebuilding Kaisers’ Palace In Berlin
“The reconstruction of Berlin’s royal palace, a 552 million-euro ($660 million) project that aims to restore the former residence of Prussian rulers to the center of the German capital, will be delayed by three years” due to budget cuts announced by chancellor Angela Merkel’s government. The landmark “was razed by the East German government in 1950 under international protest to make way for a Red Square-style marching ground.”
The Secret Of Ira Glass’s Success: Wrongness
“I don’t go looking for stories [for This American Life] with the idea of wrongness in my head, no. But the fact is, a lot of great stories hinge on people being wrong. In fact, we’ve talked as a staff about how the crypto-theme of every one of our shows is: ‘I thought it would work out this way, but then it worked out that way’.”
Scaling Antony Gormley’s 84-Foot Squatting Sculpture
“I’ve climbed up to its testicles, but not much further,” the artist says. “It’s like a bridge or a piece of civil engineering. … The smallest bit of it is the bit that’s closest to the ground, that is the complete reverse of the way that stable structures are made.”
One Of The World’s Best Dance Festivals Is In … Venice?
The Festival Internazionale di Danza Contemporanea “was set up through the largesse of the larger Art Biennale, and it continues to be subsidised handsomely from crumbs that drop from an entourage of art world sponsors. Being funded by the visual arts doesn’t make this festival feel like it’s a poor relation, though.”
When The Stage Is A Tunnel Beneath Waterloo Station
“Although not specifically written for a subterranean stage, the drama is a perfect match for the dimly-lit, dank location. The play itself unfolds on a pit of earth, surrounded by a moat of water. As you might expect, audiences are advised not to wear their best shoes.”
Curation Is Missing From Arts Venues Across America
Nearing the end of his 69-city tour, Michael Kaiser reports that he “was depressed to see how many venues I visited presented performances that were entirely interchangeable with performances at other venues. It is not that the art was bad. It simply was not special or unique to the organization.”
Fela! To Hit Movie Screens Before It Tours
“London’s National Theatre said Monday that it will broadcast its production of ‘Fela!’ in January 2011 as part of its NT Live series. The high-definition broadcast will take place in approximately 300 cinemas and performing arts centers in 22 countries.”
Bumper Crop Of Remakes, Sequels Fails To Entice Public
“It’s the original films that are the wild cards. Year after year … they are the surprise hits that really drive the business. Original movies create a palpable sense of verve and excitement that not only propel themselves to box office glory, but expand the audience for films that follow in their wake.”