ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning: Why do we just assume that our digital technology is just better? See the resurgence of vinyl recordings. There’s something about the tactile mechanical operation of gadgets and gizmos that is sooo satisfying. And the fringe subgenre of Steampunk might have something to teach us about our interactions with technology. See Joshua Rothman’s article in The New Yorker to explore the idea.

In the meantime, here are more highlights from the past day:

  1. Canadian Playwright Under Attack For “Pretendianism” Jani Lauzon has maintained she is Métis and her play 1939—now touring Canada—is based on her father’s experience at a residential school. This story explores the controversy surrounding her identity and the authenticity of her narrative. Read more at The Walrus
  2. The Giant Opera That Took Over The Streets Of Toulouse The streets of Toulouse, France, hosted an urban opera titled The Guardian of the Temple—The Gates of Darkness, featuring massive robotic puppets of mythological creatures performing around the city. Read more at The Atlantic
  3. Is Understanding Math The Key To Democracy? This article discusses how the ability to understand and interpret data, algorithms, and statistics is crucial in a democracy to prevent disenfranchisement and manipulation. Read more at The New York Times
  4. New York Has Become A Hub Of Endangered Languages This piece highlights how New York City has become a refuge for speakers of hundreds of endangered languages from around the world, serving as a critical juncture in the global effort to preserve these languages. Read more at LitHub
  5. New UK Anti-Terrorism Law Adds Security Obligations To Theatres UK theatres are facing new security obligations under a proposed anti-terrorism law, which could impose significant operational challenges for these cultural venues. Read more at The Stage

To see all the stories we collected in the past day. organized by topic, skip down. See you tomorrow!

Doug

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Wikipedia Makes Licensing Deal With Big AI Companies

Wikipedia’s human traffic dropped 8% year-over-year, according to data the Wikimedia Foundation published in October 2025. Research from Profound analyzing 680 million AI citations found that Wikipedia accounts for 47.9% of ChatGPT’s top-10 most-cited sources. - Shelly Palmer

A Post-Fiasco Reset At Dallas Black Dance Theatre

That fiasco, during 2024-25, featured the firing of the dancers, loss of municipal funding, and a government-ordered overhaul of governance and employment practices. Now, with a new board, restored funding, and the search for a new executive director, DBDT is trying to rebuild its artistic work and public trust....

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Earn your Master’s in One Year. Northwestern University’s MS in Leadership for Creative Enterprises (MSLCE) program develops leaders across Entertainment, Media and the Arts.

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