Archaeologist Pietro Gaietto has found what he believes to be the earliest evidence of art. “Gaietto believes the sculpture is 200,000 years old, and would have been used in rituals. He says it would have been made by an extinct species of human called Homo erectus, of which there is evidence in the region. Gaietto’s claims are controversial because hominids such as Homo erectus are not thought to have been capable of the symbolic thought needed to create art.”
Tag: 10.20.03
iTunes Windows A Hit
Apple’s iTunes service for Windows computer users is a hit. “More than a million copies of the Windows version of its iTunes music software have been downloaded in the past three days. The program offers PC users the same services, prices and catalogue of songs, which Apple hopes to increase to 400,000 by the end of October.” Since debuting earlier this year, Apple’s Mac iTunes stores has sold 14 million songs.
Greek PM To Tony Blair: Return Marbles, Re-elect Me
The Greek Prime Minster Costas Simitis is being attacked after TV cameras recorded him telling British Prime Minister Tony Blair that England’s returning the Parthenon Marbles would help his re-election chances. “It is sad for him to use a national issue, such as the return of the Parthenon marbles, for petty party-political ends.”
Retailer Attacked By Shareholders For Buying Art
Some shareholders of the fashion retailer Monsoon have criticized the company for adding to its art collection and not paying out the money to shareholders. “They are prepared to pay money adding to what they have on the walls of their headquarters but are not prepared to give anything to long-suffering shareholders.”
Museum Looting Report From Baghdad
The lead American investigator of the looting of Iraq’s National Museum says that more than 10,000 artifacts are still missing. “What we are finding is well known and otherwise respected members of the art community are in fact authenticating stolen pieces for a fee. The second point of this is many of these items are either destined for less scrupulous museums or art dealers or are placed with art dealers in transit, as the middle location. We need the art community first to stop that.”
A “Golden Age” Of UK Theatre?
Judges of a major UK regional theatre awards program, after years of warning of the dire state of regional theatre, have declared a new “golden age” of regional theatre. “It seemed to all of us that there were significantly more productions on a larger scale, lots of work for actors, lots of Shakespeare, lots of new plays, and lots of touring and co-production, with companies exploiting new productions by taking them around to other theatres.”
Out Of Africa – The Continent’s Most Innovative Dance Company
“Burkina Faso – or “Land of Men of Dignity”, surely the most beautifully named country in the world – is the home of Africa’s most important film festival, held twice a year in the capital, Ouagadougou. The city also has a thriving music scene. Against all the odds, Burkinas had found ways in which they were not poor”… But “it is still a surprise to find that Burkina Faso is home to one of the most innovative contemporary dance companies on the European circuit.”