“There he is, sawing wood.”
Tag: 07.18.11
Must We Really Pay Any Attention To Thomas Kinkade?
“More than a generation after Pop Art became holy writ, it is rather tiresome to be announcing yet again that we live in a democracy where one person’s treasure is another person’s trailer trash, and that their masterworks are not necessarily inferior to the Picasso’s and Matisse’s in our museums.”
Writers’ Guild Accuses BBC of “Cultural Vandalism” Because Of Cutbacks
“Writers’ Guild general secretary Bernie Corbett has accused the BBC of “pointless cultural vandalism” following the news that Radio 4 is to cut the number of dramatic readings it broadcasts from next year.”
Detroit Institute Of Arts Diverts Acquisition Funds To Operations
Facing a deficit, Graham Beal “approached the trustees of the estate of one benefactor two years ago, asking if the income generated for acquisitions could be diverted to operations. (The original donor may have helped pay the DIA’s staff wages during the Depression, the museum believes.) The trustees agreed. Beal also sought permission from probate court. The transfer of the funds became effective 15 months ago.”
How Come “Really Old” Isn’t Getting Older
“It’s no surprise that it’s hard to stay the “world’s oldest” for very long. These people are, after all, really old. What’s surprising is just how consistent the numbers have been. Just seven people whose ages could be fully verified by the Gerontology Research Group have ever made it past 115.”
Weinstein Bros. Kill Finding Neverland Musical
“Finding Neverland, a planned stage musical based on the popular 2004 movie, has been officially grounded. … The La Jolla Playhouse said Finding Neverland was canceled because Weinstein Co. withdrew from the project.”
Chinese Government Holds Back Harry Potter, Pushes Communist Party Epic Instead
“The latest installments of Hollywood blockbusters like Transformers: Dark of the Moon and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 have been delayed … In the meantime countless moviegoers have been driven into cinemas as part of a government campaign to promote a sprawling epic about the Chinese Communist Party.”
Illuminating California’s Prop 8 Trial, Onstage
“A new play based on the Proposition 8 trial over same-sex marriage in California, written by the Academy Award winner Dustin Lance Black (Milk), will be performed in a staged reading on Broadway in September and then produced at Carnegie Mellon University, Northwestern, the University of Michigan, and elsewhere.”
Borders Faces Liquidation As Latest Bidder Withdraws
“Borders Group Inc., the bankrupt bookstore chain, faces a sale to liquidators after Najafi Cos. declined to bid. … Najafi had made an offer that would have kept some of the retailer’s remaining 400 stores open.”
Egypt’s Replacement Antiquities Minister Dropped Before Swearing-In
“Antiquities professor Abdel Fatah al-Banna, who was announced as Egypt’s new minister of antiquities has been removed from the list of the new Cabinet members as worries over his character surfaced.” Banna was to replace the famous and controversial Zahi Hawass, who was fired (for the second time) over the weekend.