A show of political art at Arizona State University focuses on presidential democracy. But Richard Nilsen writes that it’s difficult for contemporary art to not be partisan. And is that bad? “It raises in important question about politics and art: Can they be reconciled? Politics is about answers; art is about questions. Politics is about taking sides; art is about ambiguity. Politics is about making a commitment; art is about exploring all the options. Politics values simplicity; art values complexity. And, worse for the sake of visual art, politics is about words; art is about things.”
Tag: 09.07.04
Where’s that Good Political Art?
There’s a long proud tradition of political protest art. But though passions are high in this political season, the quality of the little political art that is being produced makes little impact. So why?…
NEA Reading Report Is Misleading?
The recent NEA report on the decline of reading in America is a flawed document, writes Paul Collins. Its methodology isn’t clear, and the premise – that people aren’t reading literature any more reveals a narrow perspective and misleading…
Gramophone Finalists
Finalists for the Gramophone Recording of the Year have been announced…
MGM Sale Could Signal Market High
Does the sale of the MGM movie studio signal a perception that Hollywood has maxed out its profitability? As far as the entertainment business goes, there are more profitable games…
Foreign Student Applications Down At US Schools
As it’s become more difficult for international students to get entry into the United States to go to school, the number of students applying to US schools has dramatically declined. “U.S. graduate schools this year saw a 28% decline in applications from international students and an 18% drop in admissions, a finding that some experts say threatens higher education’s ability to maintain its reputation for offering high-quality programs.”
Electronica Linz
This year’s Ars Electronica Festival in the Austrian town of Linz transformed the city into a giant art installation. “Huge speakers lined the banks of the Danube River as well as the streets and rooftops of Linz. Music — classical, folk, cyberpunk and sounds that simply defied classification — were piped in through some speakers. Others produced interesting sound effects intended to enhance or alter a listener’s experience of a place — a loop of placid brook babble playing at a crowded bus stop, for example.”
FCC Fines 20 CBS Stations Over Superbowl Breast
The FCC has fined 20 CBS stations a record $550,000 for singer Janet Jackson’s bare breast flash earlier this year during the Superbowl halftime show.
Moore: Fahrenheit Could Forego Oscar Contention
Michael Moore says he’s willing to make Fahrenheit 9/11 ineligible for the documentary Oscar by showing it on TV this fall. Academy Award rules say movies shown on TV within nine months of their theatrical release are not eligible for an Oscar.
News Alliance – Public Radio And Newspapers
An increasing number of public radio stations are getting their news reporting from newspapers. “The journalistic and promotional deals range from occasional on-air interviews of newspaper reporters to elaborate newscasts based in print newsrooms, but they carry similar benefits. Pubcasters gain access to large news staffs, investigative resources and the credibility of the area’s news leader. And the dailies, eager to retain or build readership, gain exposure to news consumers who may not be in the habit of subscribing.”