[VIDEO] Charlie Haden & Gonzalo Rubalcaba: Nightfall
Posted: July 11, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Al Dimeola, Arts, Charlie Haden, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Herbie Hancock, Liberation Music Orchestra 1 Comment[VIDEO] LUCY Movie Trailer HD – Writer Director Luc Besson, Stars Scarlett Johansson
Posted: July 8, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Analeigh Tipton, Arts, Fifth Element, La Femme Nikita, Luc Besson, Morgan Freeman, Scarlett Johansson, Thriller 2 CommentsA woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
Director & Writer: Luc Besson Stars: Scarlett Johansson, Analeigh Tipton, Morgan Freeman| See full cast and crew »
A Hand-Cranked Sculpture that Makes a Mean Manhattan
Posted: June 26, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Food & Drink, Science & Technology | Tags: Arts, Kinetic art, Manhattan, New York, Sculptors, Sculpture, Visual Arts Leave a commentA hand-cranked sculpture that makes a mean manhattan? Yes please. Come with us inside Instructables’ Kooky Creative Warehouse Workshop.
[VIDEO] ‘HAND’ – 寄木細工職人
Posted: June 23, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Japan | Tags: Arts, craftsmanship, design, Japanese, Stop motion, woodworking Leave a comment寄木細工職人、本間 昇さんとヅクを作る。
“…parquet craftsman”.
[VIDEO] ‘Baby Got Back’: Sir Mix-A-Lot with the Seattle Symphony at Benaroya Hall
Posted: June 9, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Arts, Baby Got Back, Benaroya Hall, Gabriel Prokofiev, Ludovic Morlot, Mix-A-Lot, Seattle, Seattle Symphony 2 CommentsNow in its third year, Seattle Symphony‘s critically acclaimed Sonic Evolution project creates a bridge between the Symphony and Seattle’s storied reputation as launching pad for some of the most creative musicians on the popular music scene. Each year, in celebration of the past, present and future of our city’s musical legacy, Ludovic Morlot and the Seattle Symphony commission world-class composers to write orchestral world premieres inspired by bands and artists that launched from, or are related to, Seattle.
In addition to writing a brand new composition inspired by Seattle’s own Sir Mix-A-Lot, composer Gabriel Prokofiev also orchestrated two of the legendary rapper’s most famous hits for this year’s concert, including “Baby Got Back,” for which Sir Mix-A-Lot joined Ludovic Morlot and the Orchestra on stage at Benaroya Hall. Read the rest of this entry »
[VIDEO] Godzilla 2014 Trailer With 1954 Gojira Footage
Posted: May 7, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Asia, Education, Japan, Mediasphere | Tags: Arts, Bryan Cranston, Godzilla, Japan, Legendary Pictures, Monster, Toho, YouTube 1 Comment
May Day, First of May, Ancient Passage
Posted: April 30, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, History | Tags: Art, Arts, Beltane, History, Les Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry, May, May Day, Maypole, Middle Ages 2 CommentsMay Day, the first day of May, was a time to celebrate the arrival of spring. In the Middle Ages it was the custom to gather wildflowers and green branches, weave floral garlands, and dance around a Maypole.
image: Folio 5v: the calendar page for May of Les Trés Riches Heures du Duc de Berry.

Children’s Hospice Easter Appeal Gets Unexpected Flock of 6,300 Knitted Chicks
Posted: April 18, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Global, Mediasphere | Tags: Arts, BBC News, Canada, Club Penguin, Down Under, Easter, Easter egg, New Zealand Leave a commentChildren’s hospice Easter appeal gets “unexpected” flock of 6,300 knitted chicks http://t.co/3GpW6iZTq4 pic.twitter.com/vD3Zxhsg1R
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) April 18, 2014

Pulp Fiction Book Cover Art of the Day: ‘The Man in the Moonlight’ by Helen McCloy
Posted: March 21, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Reading Room | Tags: Arts, Basil Willing, Book, Crime fiction, graphics, Helen McCloy, HVAC, Illustration, John Dickson Carr, McCloy, Paperback, pulp fiction, typography Leave a commentFrom Pretty Sinister Books: Helen McCloy would have made a great writer of TV crime show scripts these days. While readingThe Man in the Moonlight (1940), her sophomore detective novel featuring Dr. Basil Willing, I was struck by the abundance of arcane bits of scientific knowledge that made up the clues and evidence in her usual fascinating plot. She introduces biochemistry, anatomy, abnormal psychology, symbology, and even the construction of heating and air conditioning units in to her multi-layered plot. The story of the murder at Yorkville University could easily have been an episode onHouse or Elementary or any of the dozen of shows in which the plot hinges on little known medical, psychological and historical facts.
David Mamet’s Legal Drama ‘Race’ Takes No Prisoners
Posted: February 16, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: American Buffalo, Arts, David Cecsarini, David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross, Jonathan Smoots, Lee Palmer, Literature, Mamet, Theatre, Tiffany Renee Johnson Leave a comment
“Race” by David Mamet performed by Next Act Theatre. (l-r) Tiffany Renee Johnson, Jonathan Smoots, David Cecsarini, and Lee Palmer. Credit Timothy Moder
Lake Effect’s Bonnie North speaks with Next Theatre’s David Cecsarini, Tiffany Renee Johnson, Lee Palmer, and Jonathan Smoots.
WUWM‘s Elanor Peterson and Bonnie North:
Of all the “isms” that are out there, racism is one of the most enduring, and in this supposedly post-racial age, the most pernicious.
It can be hard for people of different races to even talk openly with each other about how race has impacted them without the conversation devolving into accusations. And that makes any change in race relations that much more difficult to achieve.
Listen to a scene from “Race” featuring David Cecsarini and Tiffany Renee Johnson.
Next Act Theatre is throwing open that conversational door with its production of David Mamet’s play Race:
A wealthy white man is accused of assaulting a young black woman. He denies the charge, claiming it was consensual. Two law partners – one white, one black – are considering the case, but they’re doubtful of the man’s veracity, and highly concerned about racial politics. Mamet pulls no punches as he cross-examines our views and prejudices of what is, arguably, the most complex and intransigent socio-political issue in America.
Mamet is known for his biting and unsparing dialogue, and he is true to form here. Director Edward Morgan says the playwright offers a fresh take on the subject.
[VIDEO] Un-Valentine Celebration: Everything Wrong With the Movie ‘The Notebook’
Posted: February 14, 2014 Filed under: Entertainment, Humor | Tags: Arts, Holidays, Movies, Notebook, Rachel McAdams, Romance, Valentine, Valentine Day, YouTube 1 CommentFrom The Daily Caller: If you are a single, white female who is planning to pop in your 2004 copy of “The Notebook” into your DVD player on Valentine’s Day night and go to town on some Pinot Grigio, just remember that “The Notebook” is terrible.
Read more here…

[VIDEO] Un-Valentine: Couple Breaks Up Using Only Movie Titles for Dialogue
Posted: February 11, 2014 Filed under: Mediasphere | Tags: Arts, Breaking up, comedy, Humor, Movie Titles, Performing Arts, POYKPAC, Valentines Day, YouTube Leave a commentFound on PopWatch: The latest sketch from New York-based comedy group POYKPAC features a very public breakup between a cheating husband and his pregnant wife. The plot twist to this seemingly overplayed scenario? The couple’s entire breakup conversation is had using only movie titles.
More POYKPAC, featuring Ryan Hunter, Jenn, Ryan Hall, Maggie and Taige here, and more POYKPAC YouTube Channel humor here

This Day in History: Langston Hughes Is Born
Posted: February 1, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, History | Tags: African American, Arts, Carl Van Vechten, Harlem, Hughes, Langston Hughes, Literature, Wikimedia Commons 2 Comments
Photo: Langston Hughes photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1936 (Wikimedia Commons)
February 1, 1902: Langston Hughes Is Born
On this day in 1902, James Mercer Langston Hughes was born in Joplin, Missouri. A poet and novelist, he became known as the “Shakespeare of Harlem” during the 1920s and 1930s.
Originally from the Midwest, Hughes traveled the world and worked in a great variety of jobs. He is especially well-known for his perceptive and sympathetic portrayals of life in black America.
Learn more about Langston Hughes with Masterpiece’s Langston Hughes biography.
[VIDEO] Late Night Dynamite: The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain – ‘Miss Dynamitee’
Posted: January 29, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Arts, Cheltenham Town Hall, Lady Gaga, Music, Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Stringed, Ukulele, YouTube 1 CommentThe Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain – Miss Dynamitee – Anarchy In The UK – Teenage Kicks, played at Cheltenham Town Hall for Lincs Cancer Charity
[The Ukulele Orchestra Of Great Britain at Amazon]

[VIDEO] MAD MEN Moment – Joan’s accordion: “C’est magnifique!”
Posted: January 24, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: Accordion, Accordionists, Arts, Joan Holloway, Mad Men, Music, Squeezebox 1 CommentJoan entertains Greg’s colleagues with her hidden talents. Ooh la la!
“C’est magnifique!” (Joan’s accordion) 3.3 – YouTube

[VIDEO] Herbie Hancock Headhunters LIVE in Japan 2005: ‘Watermelon Man’
Posted: January 22, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Japan | Tags: Arts, Cantaloupe Island, Herbie Hancock, Jazz, Kennedy Center Honors, Miles Davis, Watermelon Man, Watermelon Man (composition), YouTube 1 Comment[Check out Amazon’s Herbie Hancock selection]
Headhunters ’05 – Watermelon Man – YouTube

[VIDEO] Late Night Jazz: Dave Brubeck Quartet – “Blue Rondo à la Turk” Live
Posted: January 19, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, History, Mediasphere | Tags: Arts, Blue Rondo à la Turk, Dave Brubeck, Duke Ellington, Eugene Wright, Music, Paul Desmond, YouTube 1 CommentFrom the YouTube description:
Circa 1959. Excellent live performance for broadcast. Time signature is 9/8 with a 4/4 swing. Paul Desmond is smooth (as always) on alto. Dave Brubeck plays a very energetic piano solo. Keep an eye out for the smoking babes.
Hackers, Makers, and the Next Industrial Revolution
Posted: January 16, 2014 Filed under: Reading Room, Science & Technology, U.S. News | Tags: Arts, Arts and Crafts movement, Buckminster Fuller, Craft, Free Speech Movement, Mary Dennett, Steve Wozniak, Stewart Brand 1 Comment
Enthusiasts of the maker movement foresee a third industrial revolution. Illustration by Harry Campbell.
Evgeny Morozov writes: In January of 1903, the small Boston magazine Handicraft ran an essay by the Harvard professor Denman W. Ross, who argued that the American Arts and Crafts movement was in deep crisis. The movement was concerned with promoting good taste and self-fulfillment through the creation and the appreciation of beautiful objects; its more radical wing also sought to advance worker autonomy. The problem was that no one in America seemed to need its products. The solution, according to Ross, was to provide technical education to the critics and the consumers of art alike. This would stimulate demand for high-quality objects and encourage more workers to take up craftsmanship. The cause of the Arts and Crafts movement would be achieved, he maintained, only “when the philosopher goes to work and the working man becomes a philosopher.”
In a long rebuttal, Mary Dennett, who later became an important advocate for women’s rights, pointed out that the roots of the problem were economic and moral. Reforming the school curriculum wouldn’t do much to change the structural conditions that made craftsmanship impossible. The Arts and Crafts movement was spending far too much time on “rag-rugs, baskets, and . . . exhibitions of work chiefly by amateurs,” rather than asking the most basic questions about inequality. “The employed craftsman can almost never use in his own home things similar to those he works on every day,” she observed, because those things were simply unaffordable. Economics, not aesthetics, explained the movement’s failures. “The modern man, who should be a craftsman, but who, in most cases, is compelled by force of circumstances to be a mill operative, has no freedom,” she wrote earlier. “He must make what his machine is geared to make.”
[VIDEO] Late Night Jazz: John McLaughlin and The Free Spirits – After The Rain [1996]
Posted: January 13, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Arts, Bernard Purdie, Elvin Jones, guitar, Hammond organ, Jazz, Joey Defrancesco, John McLaughlin, Music, NAMM Show, YouTube 1 CommentNote: I saw this band live in the 1990s, inspired by this album: John McLaughlin and the Free Spirits: Tokyo Live — I highly recommend it, especially if you dig McLaughlin’s shredding and Joey‘s Hammond B. organ sound. If you do decide to get it, order through my link! As an Amazon affiliate, it helps support my site.
On the album Tokyo Live the drummer is powerhouse Dennis Chambers (and on the tour I saw) but in this video clip it’s Elvin Jones.
Live at Juan Les Pins – July 1996
John McLaughlin – Guitar
Joey DeFrancesco – Hammond organ
Elvin Jones – Drums

One of John McLaughlin’s custom guitars. See more here
The Free Spirits – After The Rain [1996] – YouTube
Vintage Comic Cover Art of the Day
Posted: January 8, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Archie McPhee, Arts, Chip Zdarsky, Collecting, comic, Marvel Comics, Research and Academia, vintage 1 Comment“Lonesome Octopus” by Bob Bellem and Mel Millar, 1946
Written and produced by Bob Bellem with art by Mel Millar. Comic is full-color, 20-pages in standard-size comic format. From the “Talking Komics” series published by Belda Record & Publishing Co., Pasadena, Ca.
Archie McPhee’s Endless Geyser of AWESOME!
Vintage Sci-Fi Cover Gallery
Posted: January 5, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Mediasphere, Reading Room, The Butcher's Notebook | Tags: Arts, Collecting, comic, Comic book, DC Comics, Edmond Hamilton, Graphic novel, Marvel Comics, Mort Weisinger, Pulp magazine, Science fiction, Slice of SciFi 2 CommentsSwing over to Graphic Swing for a well-selected collection of Vintage Sci-Fi comic book covers. This one–Captain Future, Man of Tomorrow–started in WW2, 1940, there’s a tag for war bonds in the lower right corner. What is that cube, with connections to his head? Who is that beautiful woman? Pre Hayes-code pulp comics were so lurid, so obscenely frightening and racy. This one, with rich color inks and bold illustration, is well-preserved.
From Wikipedia:
Captain Future is a science fictional hero pulp character – a space-traveling scientist cum adventurer – originally published in self-titled American pulp magazines between 1940 and 1951. The character was created by editor Mort Weisinger and principally authored by Edmond Hamilton. There have subsequently been a number of adaptations and derivative works, most significantly a 1978-79 anime adaptation, which was dubbed into several languages and proved very popular, particularly in French and Arabic.
The 10 Best Sci-Fi Movies—As Chosen By Scientists
Posted: January 1, 2014 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Arts, Literature, Magazines and E-zines, Movies, Physical law, Reviews, Science fiction, Science Fiction and Fantasy Leave a commentJoe Pappalardo writes: Real scientists can be the harshest critics of science fiction. But that doesn’t mean they can’t enjoy a movie just because it bends the laws of nature. We polled dozens of scientists and engineers to discover the sci-fi movies they love…
Check it out at Popular Mechanics
[VIDEO] Stevie Ray Vaughan’s ‘Little Wing’ Like You’ve Never Heard It
Posted: December 7, 2013 Filed under: Asia, Entertainment, Global | Tags: Arts, Austin Texas, Dallas, Eric Clapton, guitar, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Texas Flood Leave a comment안녕하세요
Stevie Ray Vaughan의 Little Wing을 가야금으로 연주하였습니다.
중간부분의 후렴에는 오버드라이브를 걸었습니다.
그리고 컴프레서외에 부분적으로 딜레이를 걸어서 서스테인을 살려보았습니다.
어려운 플레이가 많은곡이라서 조금 힘들었지만 완성하고나니까 보람이있네요.
즐겁게 감상해주세요^^*
Stevie Ray Vaughan-Little Wing Gayageum ver.(by LUNA) – YouTube
David Mamet: ‘The Essence of Science is Doubt, to Follow Truth Wherever it Leads…’
Posted: November 12, 2013 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Mediasphere, Politics, Think Tank | Tags: Arts, David Mamet, Drama, Glengarry Glen Ross, Hollywood, Literature, Mamet, Megyn Kelly, Pulitzer Prize, Speed The Plow 5 Comments“…that’s also the essence of drama to follow the truth of human interaction where it leads. You can’t do that while you’re also trying to promote a political agenda…”
Mamet’s appearance was brief, I happened to catch the segment, which was only a few moments. (artists and authors are rarely the lead guest on news programs, even dramatists of Mamet’s stature) Mamet’s comments, summarized here in this RealClearPolitics item, appear to focus on one minor comment, that Hollywood conservatives are “legitimately frightened for their jobs“, but that’s just a provocative headline, not a reflection of his commentary. After the jump is a transcript of the Mamet interview. Mamet’s new book, “Three War Stories“, is available in paperback, and also as a Kindle edition.
Screenwriter and playwright David Mamet tells FOX News’ Megyn Kelly why there seems to be so few conservatives in Hollywood. Mamet said that people in Hollywood who fake being liberal do so because they’re “legitimately frightened for their jobs.” [VIDEO]
Mamet explained why he believes there are few open conservatives in Hollywood. “Conservatives believe in smaller government and in the power of the electorate. So I think that we’re less likely to try to use a dramatic forum to warp people’s political views.” —RealClearPolitics
Eyeballs-a-Popping: Flamboyantly Furious Feminists in Fabulous Faux Freakout
Posted: November 8, 2013 Filed under: Humor, Mediasphere | Tags: Aichi Prefecture, Arts, Asia, Beauty pageant, Contests, Feminism, Humor, Japan, media, Milf, Tokyo, Women, YouTube 3 Comments
Maybe it just means “magical”
The frivolous-feminist humor police are out again, wagging fingers, popping eyeballs, and heaping scorn on cultural expressions they find alarming.
Today they’re particularly milfed by Japan’s beauty contests honoring women over 30. It must be upsetting to discover that the Japanese don’t conform to the correct standards of propriety that righteous monocultural western feminists are trained to focus their flippant fury on. Their disapproval is a badge of honor! And their critique is colorful. Hint: it involves biscuits, and how they’re taken.
We’re aware that we live in a world of seriously offensive and sexist things, but the National Beautiful Witches Contest for the over-35s simply has to take the biscuit.
The contest, which took place in Tokyo last week, featured a category for women“over 35 that possess an almost magical beauty untouched by age”.
Housewife Mayumi Nishimura, 39, won the prize, for her “cheerful disposition” reported Rocket News 24…

Bewitching Beauty: harmless beauty contest honoring mature women? Or target for feminist scorn?
That really takes the cake, doesn’t it? The biscuit, I mean.
Fear not, it’s all in good fun. Their complaint is peppered with harmless insults, and is preceded by a hilariously over-the-top headline, revealing that they aren’t as serious as they pretend to be.
[VIDEO] CCTV Interview: Effort to Embarrass Jimmy Kimmel Backfires Horribly
Posted: November 3, 2013 Filed under: Asia, Entertainment, Humor, Mediasphere | Tags: American Broadcasting Company, Arts, CCTV, China, Jimmy Kimmel, Shanghaiist, Twitter Leave a commentNo matter what your opinion is on the Jimmy Kimmel “Kill China” skit fiasco, I think we can all agree that this attempt by CCTV to grill Jimmy Kimmel is the most bumbling, unintelligible mess you’ll see all week. Not to mention that accusations of racism are pretty rich coming from CCTV.
This Caterpillar Might Just Be Iron Man’s Twin Brother
Posted: November 1, 2013 Filed under: Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: Animation, Arts, Disney, Imgur, Iron Man, Superhero, Thor, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Leave a comment
Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Iron Man might want to watch his back. He could have some stark competition in this caterpillar, discovered by Imgur user Steamdino (read more below).
[VIDEO] Get Dizzy On it: Freestyle Finger Snapping Guy
Posted: November 1, 2013 Filed under: Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: Arts, Darren Drouin, Finger Snapping, Improvisation, Jazz, media, Talent, Toronto, video Leave a commentTweet Darren and tell him you want him to perform at your birthday party. I haven’t seen this kind of brilliant amateur flair since Johnny Carson used to feature non-showbiz guests doing amazing self-taught things.
“We’re impressed that Toronto actor Darren Drouin can not only improvise a finger-snapping routine for about two-and-a-half minutes, but also do it while generally maintaining a straight face and barely blinking…”
[VIDEO] Pre-Flight Safety Videos: Not Fun Enough, Virgin Atlantic says. The Cure? Dance!
Posted: October 29, 2013 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: Arts, Dance, entertainment, Jon M. Chu, Pre-flight safety demonstration, Virgin America Leave a commentAs more brands get into the entertainment business by producing their own films, TV shows and web series, Virgin America is showing that even the mundane safety video some airlines show on their planes can be fun to watch.
Top 20 Horror Films of the Past 20 Years
Posted: October 27, 2013 Filed under: Art & Culture, Entertainment | Tags: Anthony Hopkins, Arts, Film, Halloween, Horror, Horror film, Jonathan Demme, Lina Leandersson, Movies, Reviews, Silence of the Lambs, Sixth Sense, Studios Leave a comment

[VIDEO] More Late Night Jazz
Posted: October 22, 2013 Filed under: Art & Culture | Tags: Arts, concert, Doncaster, Elvin Jones, guitar, Jack McDuff, Jazz, Joey Defrancesco, John McLaughlin, Music, video, YouTube Leave a commentSten Stinus’ peterstinckens writes: A great full concert video. Enjoy it, it’s an oldy (1996) by John Mclaughlin, Elvin Jones, Joey Defrancesco
via Sten Stinus
VINTAGE [VIDEO] CLASSIC: 1990s ‘Kid’s Guide to the Internet’
Posted: October 15, 2013 Filed under: Education, History, Mediasphere, Science & Technology | Tags: Arts, Drinking game, entertainment, Games, Humor, Online Media, Television, United States, video, YouTube Leave a commentThe first thing you need to know about the Internet is that it is amazing
From Adam Thierer via Amy Smorodin:
Oh man, I could not stop laughing at this old “Kids Guide to the Internet” video from the 90s. My thanks to my former colleague Amy Smorodin for tweeting it out today. I just had to post it here so that everyone could enjoy.
(Note: You can turn this video into a great drinking game. Just make everyone in the room raise their glass each time the lines “Does your computer have a modem?” and “Not all that cybernet stuff, OK?” are uttered.) And yes, as the opening line of the video notes, “the first thing you need to know about the Internet is that it is amazing.”
Taking Back The Arts
Posted: October 6, 2013 Filed under: Think Tank | Tags: Americans for the Arts, Arts, Atlantic Theater Company, Jesse Helms, National Endowment for the Arts, NEA, Rocco Landesman, Rudy Giuliani, United States 2 CommentsIt’s time to reexamine the role of government in the arts.
David Marcus writes: In 1989 Jesse Helms, the contentious and controversial conservative senator from North Carolina, launched an attack on the National Endowment for the Arts for its support of shows that included work which he deemed offensive. Ten years later as Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani engaged in a similar attack, threatening to cut off the city’s support of the Brooklyn Museum because of its show “Sensation” which featured Chris Offili’s painting “The Holy Virgin Mary”, a depiction of of the Blessed Mother emblazoned with elephant dung.
These two controversies have come to frame the perception of conservative opposition to public funding for the arts. It is viewed as a battle between liberals who value free speech and broad access to the arts and conservatives who want to censor art and cut funding to those institutions that bring art to the people. It is a battle that conservatives have been soundly losing. It is the wrong battle. The better argument against the current model of federal arts spending is much more simple, and much closer to the heart of the conservative movement. What conservatives should be saying is that the NEA and the tax exempt status of many arts organizations are hurting the very art forms they purport to support. They are in fact making American art less relevant to American’s lives. Read the rest of this entry »
Nostalgia: Mad Men’s Don Draper
Posted: September 15, 2013 Filed under: Entertainment, Mediasphere | Tags: AMC, Arts, Don Draper, Jon Hamm, Mad Men, Matthew Weiner Leave a commentRecalling Don Draper’s creative peak, his most poignant pitch, to Kodak. Before his unresolved personality disorder, cracked identity and mid-life crisis led him to his epic season 5 meltdown.