“The Americans go for self-help books, the French buy unreadable philosophy books and the British buy books filled with trivia, which are often made up and generally aimed at being funny. Those are the stereotypes, and they’re not completely misleading.”
Tag: 12.15.07
Senators Confront FCC Chairman On Media Ownership
“Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) sent a letter Friday to Kevin Martin urging to postpone the vote until the commission studies the facts and reasons underlying the low rate of women- and minority-owned media outlets. If Martin goes ahead with the vote – expected to pass 3-2 along party lines – the two legislators said they will ask the Appropriations Committee to deny funding need to implement a looser cross-ownership rule.”
Inside The Paris Opera Ballet School
“The manner of presentation might serve as an example to any ballet school in the world. The teachers introduce each exercise with intelligence and grace, and treat their pupils with respect. Humor, charm and good manners emerge. At times, joy in dancing is mentioned as a goal, but the general tone is objective, sober.”
Record Labels Struggle With Mix Tapes
“Mixtapes, which often include previews of unreleased songs and casual freestyle rhymes, were seen as instrumental in the rise of stars including 50 Cent and Lil Wayne. Now, Tyree Simmons and others argue, the industry’s crackdown on unlicensed mixes has backfired by quieting buzz and contributing to a sharp slide in rap sales.”
NYC Opera To Be Homeless For A Season
The Opera’s home at Lincoln Center, which it shares with City Ballet, is getting a makeover. “The plan, approved by the ballet and opera boards on Friday, would seem to leave the opera at a considerable disadvantage. The company will be virtually homeless for a year, potentially losing revenue, visibility and momentum.”
Umberto Eco: The Power Of Charm
Beauty has been out of fashion with serious artists since the early-20th century, he says, but “the concept of beauty has migrated to popular art, and to design. We are surrounded by objects that want to be beautiful.”
Researcher: World Isn’t Really So Flat
Pankaj Ghemawat “found that the average level of globalization in investments, phone calls, tourism and immigration is just 10 percent. And some measures, like the international share of total Internet traffic, are actually decreasing. This calls into question the other common myth that even if the world isn’t quite flat today, it will be tomorrow.”
Nacho Duato’s Traveling City Of Dance
“The members of the troupe, presently numbering 30 (including Duato), ‘come from all over the place’, the choreographer says. ‘I hold an audition once a year. I have now a second company; they jump from that into the main company. Dancers in the main company are choreographing for the second company, which goes to smaller houses.’ Another 20 staffers accompany the troupe on tour.”