“As technologies have changed, however, a former totalitarian standby has fallen out of favor: the propaganda poster. Communist China viewed through decades of propaganda posters was a uniformly cheerful and confident nation.” (Sample title: “Tempering Red Hearts in Stormy Waves”)
Tag: 06.30.11
The Internet Filter
“When so much information is available, it makes sense for websites you visit to filter it using information about you, your interests and your friends. Essentially, you trade personal information in return for more useful results. But this neuters the internet’s potential to break down social barriers between people or groups who might otherwise not connect with each other.”
It’s Good Ai Weiwei Was Released. Now, About Those Other Artists…
“Many more dissidents remain behind bars–notably Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, the disappeared lawyer Gao Zhisheng, journalist and poet Shi Tao and detained activist Ran Yunfei. Human rights watchers cite dozens of activists that have been detained or silenced. Both Ai and the recently released Hu have refused to comment to the press as a condition of their release.”
The Kimbell Museum Statue’s Nazi Past
“The bust is on display in the Kimbell’s galleries with the permanent collection. Lee says the photograph of “Isabella” being transported out of the salt mine may be included on the label with the information that at one time she was intended for the Führer museum.”
Projection: Arts Jobs Will Show Strong Growth
“Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the NEA projects a growth rate of 11 percent for arts-related occupations over the next seven years. Perhaps surprisingly, that’s a bit higher than the projected increase of 10 percent for the overall labor force.”
How The Toronto Symphony Draws An Audience That’s One-Third Young Adults
“A new after-work concert series catered to commuters and a shorter Saturday night series was followed each time by a party in the lobby … The TSO’s biggest success, however, has been the ‘tsoundcheck’ program (the ‘t’ is silent), which offers $14 tickets to those from 18 to 35.”
Rose Art Museum Settles Lawsuit, Won’t Sell Art
The sad saga of the Brandeis University museum, “whose collection university trustees had voted to sell in 2009, ended today when the university announced the settlement of a lawsuit filed by museum supporters and the promise to keep the museum open without putting any of its art up for sale.”
London’s O2 Arena To Host More Ballet – Nutcracker
“Birmingham Royal Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker will play at the O2 between Christmas and New Year, and is expected to feature more than 60 dancers, who will be accompanied by the Royal Ballet Sinfonia.”
Another Iranian Filmmaker Thrown Into Evin Prison
Mahnaz Mohammadi, “a prominent Iranian documentary film-maker and women’s rights activist, whose work includes banned films about Iran’s society, … was picked up from her home in the capital Tehran by security officers who refused to show a warrant for her arrest and was taken to Evin prison.”
Forgotten Charlie Chaplin Film Fails To Sell At Auction
“Zepped, believed to be a propaganda film made in Britain during World War One, was discovered inside a battered old film reel tin” purchased on eBay for about $5. “The reserve price on the reel at Wednesday’s sale was £100,000 ($160,000) at Bonham’s auctioneers, but apparently it was too high.”