Culture and Stuff

…just went to go see Shrek 2. Sweet Jeebus, was that a hysterical movie. I was frankly half-certain that it was going to suck, but I was happily proved to be wrong. I still don’t want to see a third one, though. There’s a limit to how many times you can go to that particular … Read more

A fire in an east London warehouse has destroyed “millions of pounds” worth of art by important “YBA’s” (Young British Artists; a group centered around Damien Hirst and other East End stars made [in]famous worldwide via the Sensation exhibition that stirred controversy on both sides of the Atlantic). A good portion of the work lost … Read more

And, no, I’m not talking about the President’s overdue speech tonight with (hopefully) details about the transition to a sovereign Iraq. (Names! Mr. President…we want names!) I’m talking about something a bit more sublime: Gallery Finishes Restoration of ‘David’ And, for the curious, some details about the (suspected) rationale behind David’s infamously surrealistic proportions and … Read more

What would you pay for this colorful portrait of a boy holding a pipe? Wait! Don’t answer. What if I told you this painting is now nearly 100 years old and was painted by a young man who would dominate the art world in the 20th Century, whose name is virtually synonymous with the revolutionary … Read more

“You don’t make art when nothing’s wrong.” –Jill Giegerich ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So the arts in New York are being energized by an unexpected source of inspiration: the upcoming Republican National Convention. Could it be that President Bush has made politics cool again for the arts in New York? Nothing in recent memory has stirred the far … Read more

As clearly I’ve had to take it upon myself to serve as the US-Kyrgyzstan Tourism Director / Diplomacy Chief (Colin Powell rudely ignoring my suggestion that he do some high-profile PR for our Central Asian ally), and as it’s a beautiful spring day here in the North East, I thought I’d share these awesome photos … Read more

I’m going to join the chorus flitting around the blogosphere and say that Salon’s interview of Neal Stephenson was well worth sitting through the ad. Not that I actually watched it, of course, but even if I had it would have been worth it. Stephenson’s the sort of guy you want around when you’re channel-surfing … Read more

At least, according to this article, which is essentially about how wonderful it is that kids are getting more conservative these days. Of course, to support its thesis it uses anecdotal evidence, umpteen billion polls that aren’t even linked to, surveys ditto and shows some signs of having the graph drawn first, then picked out … Read more

It’s funny, after all: Pictures of candidate in women’s clothes surface (Registration required) AUSTIN – His family made a fortune on men’s work clothing. But it’s Sam Walls’ apparent fondness for women’s apparel that is dividing the Johnson County Republican Party. Short version: this guy’s running for state office in TX and some photos of … Read more

While Jesse Walker’s Reason article about movies starring politicians doesn’t precisely break new ground – you get the feeling that you’re being told things that you could have easily worked out on your own – it’s pretty well written and mentions some films that I’ve never heard of. That’s always nice to see, especially the … Read more

It’s not usually my habit to post before going to work, but I have a little time and this unintentionally hilarious (in a not-happy-shiny way) rant about the death of books was too interesting to let pass. I understand that losing one’s business is traumatic, and that people in the grips of strong emotions do … Read more

To liberal talk radio, that is. Several thoughts: 1). I’d be interested to hear what the people planning to tune into it are hoping to get out of the new service. 2). I’m surprised that there isn’t a more easily-findable website. 3). OK, to tell the truth I’m still perplexed about why they’re busy reinventing … Read more

/snob alert/ A fellow gallerist who was born in Russia tells the joke about two New Russians who go to an art gallery and haggle with the dealer over a newly available van Gogh (estimates for any of which run in the tens of millions). Eventually they secure it (after an exchange that must be … Read more

I’m posting this open literary thread for three reasons: 1) It amuses me to reinforce Short Hope Unfiltered’s Stephenson meme; 2) I think that this is the first time that this site got called a blog ‘of note’ (you’d think we’d get more trackbacks/links, though); 3) I’m going to take a mini-vacation to Kitty Hawk, … Read more

There’s been some general dislike of Jame Joyce expressed around these parts as of late, and although I fully support the freedom of expression it represents, I’d like to submit, on this snowy St. Patrick’s Day (in New York City, anyway), as evidence of why he’s considered the genius he is, this final passage from … Read more

…I’m not precisely my chipper self today. A good deal of it has to do with this: I happen to live within spitting distance of UMD. Close enough to smell the burning mattresses, in fact. Now, normally I’d be saying that “It’s not so much…” blah blah blah, and then go into what really bugs … Read more

William Safire’s op-ed piece today notes how the times are changing. How the right is now embracing the NEA in its nearly 40-year-old mission of “bringing the arts to all Americans, and providing leadership in arts education.” From Safire: Remember the hoo-ha a while back about the funding of edgy art, offensive to some taxpayers, … Read more

Jonathan Last takes the time out from committing HERESY!!!!! HERESY MOST FOUL, YES, MY PRECIOUS!!!!! (pause) Umm, right… anyway, he’s got an interesting article up about this years Oscars: Four out of the last five years the award has been given to a beautiful woman who has bravely turned herself into a hag. This string–Hilary … Read more

Because there are actually films out there playing right now that have nothing to do with the death of Jesus Christ, and I’d thought that it’d be nice if we had some recommendations about them.