ArtsJournal: Arts, Culture, Ideas

Today’s AJ Highlights

Good morning. One ongoing theme of the past couple of years is the decline of humanities studies in higher ed. But it turns out, from a historical perspective, the humanities are tough to kill. Here are our morning highlights:

  • Self Therapy Is Killing the Memoir: Memoirs have become formulaic, with authors structuring their narratives around therapeutic breakthroughs rather than creative exploration, limiting the genre’s potential for artistic discovery. The Walrus
  • How the Instagram Photo Dump Is Changing Its Culture: Instagram’s shift from curated grids to spontaneous “photo dumps” is altering the platform’s aesthetic, as users, especially Gen Z, showcase a curated messiness meant to appear authentic. The New Yorker
  • Arts Workers in Slovakia Threaten National Strike: Slovakian culture workers are planning a coordinated strike to protest the firing of key national cultural leaders, which they claim is part of broader political interference in the arts. ARTnews
  • Why Won’t the Directors Guild of America Include Animation Directors?: Despite animated films dominating the box office, directors of animated features are still excluded from the Directors Guild of America, causing frustration within the filmmaking community. MSN
  • Brooklyn Museum Rebrands After 200 Years: The Brooklyn Museum unveils a new logo and brand identity, with vibrant colors and signage updates, though the design’s similarity to a 1972 Bloomingdale’s logo has raised some eyebrows. ARTnews

Below are the rest of the stories we’ve collected.

  • Doug

Latest Stories

Hans Haacke, The First Artist To Confront American Museums With Politics

Before Haacke, museums were considered … 'genteel and politically marginal.' Robber barons might have donated to them to enhance their social clout, but such cultural largess was seldom questioned. Today, though, …, Haacke’s work is more than just relevant — it’s prophetic." - T — The New York Times...

The Slang Of The Victorian Era Was Surprising, Fresh

From the bizarre sense of humour apparent in their Christmas cards – depicting murderous frogs, mice riding lobsters, and even waltzing beetles – to the off-beat slang they used, the Victorians defy their stuffy reputation. There’s an absurdism in their language and witticisms that feels surprisingly modern. - The Conversation

Exploring The Biology Of Radical Self-Delusion

We all suffer from delusions, and we all, like Oedipus, use tricks of self-deception to keep ourselves from acknowledging truths about our lives. Yet understanding, or even describing, this everyday experience can seem like a fool’s errand. - Harper's

Premium

Nancy Savage Skinner ’79 Director- Prior Performing Arts Center at The College of the Holy Cross

The Prior serves as a catalyst for an integrative, cross-disciplinary liberal arts education, centering the creative and performing arts within the development of Holy Cross students.

Managing Director – Syracuse Stage

Over the past half-century, Syracuse Stage has produced more than 300 plays, including a number of world, American, and East Coast premieres.

Director of Development – Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival

The Director of Development (DOD – Full Time) is...

Head of Exhibitions, Museum of Fine Arts – Houston

The ideal candidate is someone who can maintain a detailed calendar, communicate clearly with relevant parties, troubleshoot unforeseen problems effectively and enjoys working closely with many different kinds of personalities.

Executive Director – San Juan Islands Museum of Art

SJIMA’s mission is to create a nationally accredited art museum featuring regional, national, and international exhibits that excite, educate, and inspire.

Classifieds

Part Time – Visual Arts – Emerging Artist in Residence

The Penn State Altoona Visual Art Studies program invites applications for its Spring 2025 Emerging Artist in Residence.

Director of Programming and Booking – Hult Center for the Performing Arts

The Director of Programming and Booking is responsible for developing and implementing the artistic vision and focus of the Hult Center for the Performing Arts.

Director of Development and Marketing – School of American Ballet

The Director of Development and Marketing leads SAB’s fundraising and marketing strategy and operations in support of SAB’s mission and long-term financial vitality.

Box Office Manager/Marketing Assistant

The Box Office Manager / Marketing Assistant manages the orchestra’s box office operations with a strong commitment to customer relations and audience experience.

Executive Director, American Visionary Art Museum

The American Visionary Art Museum seeks a dynamic leader to partner with board, staff, and constituents to envision and build the next chapter for this extraordinary museum dedicated to visionaries of all sorts.

Vice President, Audience Strategy – New York Botanical Garden

The role demands expertise in utilizing research, real-time data, audience sentiment, and industry trends to grow NYBG’s relevance and market share within the cultural landscape.

School of Art Director at Texas Tech University

The J.T. & Margaret Talkington College of Visual & Performing Arts and the faculty, staff, and students of the School of Art at Texas Tech University enthusiastically seek nominations and applications for a visionary leader

Director of Development – New Art Center

The Director of Development (DoD) will design, shape, and lead all fundraising initiatives to advance New Art’s annual and strategic goals.

Executive Director – Annapolis Symphony Orchestra

The Executive Director will manage all business operations of the ASO, with a primary focus on leading community engagement, donor cultivation, and strategic planning processes.

Executive Director – Colonial Theatre Group

The Executive Director of the Colonial Performing Arts Center will report directly to the Board of Directors and serve as the Colonial’s chief executive officer.
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