Douglas McLennan
Doug is the editor of ArtsJournal
The Arts Are Under Stress. Time For Some Rethinking?
I believe we need to blow up the outdated, embedded public stereotypes of art and culture, and fashion a wholesale public reimagining of what...
What Last Week’s AI Copyright Ruling Could Mean For Copyright
The outcome could have implications for the more than 39 copyright-related AI lawsuits currently working their way through U.S. courthouses. That said, it’s not necessarily a...
Is Spotify Making Me Boring?
Am I stuck in an AI-curated loop, feeding the same preferences back into the system until my tastes become a closed circuit? Is Spotify’s...
Kennedy Center’s First Programming Announcement: Celebrating Christ!
“How crazy is it to think that we’re going to celebrate Christ at Christmas with a big traditional production, to celebrate what we are...
This Is What It Looks Like When Local News Dies
While some politicians no doubt celebrated the disappearance of pesky journalists, others are lamenting their absence, because municipalities must now work harder and spend...
FCC Trains Its Sights On PBS, NPR
Since taking over as chairman, FCC Chair Brendan Carr has revived bias complaints against CBS, ABC and NBC over their 2024 presidential campaign coverage after the...
Couldn’t We Use AI Music Generators To Express A More Perfect Music?
All of these songs have really strong sentiments, but they aren’t quite the same as expressing your unique thoughts and feelings for your intended...
These Literary Criticism Debates Are Not So Fun Anymore
Debates about the value and function of literary criticism today are, it seems to me, both constant and evergreen—always seeming new, urgent, specific to...
The Oscars Are More International Than Ever. So Why Is The “Best Foreign Film”...
The Academy Awards’ marquee category for international cinema, best international film, has been continually criticized as unjust, outdated and subject to political interference. -...
Report: Live Nation Booked $23 Billion In Revenue In 2024
Some 151 million people attended nearly 55,000 Live Nation events in 2024, an increase of 4% year-on-year, the events and ticketing company said in its full-year...
Cambodia’s National Museum Is Overflowing With Treasure
Foreign institutions and collectors are returning artifacts with deep spiritual meaning for Cambodians. Where and how to display them remain open questions. - The...
In Praise Of Self-Publishing
I have made a beautiful book, but to complete my book biz journey, I will go on the road again, a box of books...
Expand Copyright To AI? Not A Great Idea. Here’s A Better One
AI is a category of general-purpose tools with myriad beneficial uses. Requiring developers to license the materials needed to create this technology threatens the...
Brooklyn Academy Of Music Chief Steps Down After Only Three Years
Gina Duncan was the first person of color to lead the academy, which operates several stages and a cinema, and has an annual operating...
Does Opera On A Screen Really Work?
Seeing the seams is part of live performance’s charm—it asks the audience to actively participate in the suspension of reality, as opposed to having...
The Dirty Secret Behind College Tuitions
“We can’t stand the fact that the sticker price is so high despite the fact that nobody pays it.” This pricing strategy took hold in the...
Study: How Australians Read
This report represents the first time the Australian book industry has been granted a detailed level of insight into recreational readers and also offers...
Edmonton Symphony Names Jean-Marie Zeitouni As Music Director
“He made his ESO debut in 2006 and has conducted more than 35 performances with the orchestra and Edmonton Opera since then.” - CTV
You Thought Movie Theatres Were In Trouble? Cinemark Chain Posts Record Fourth Quarter Revenue
Exhibition giant Cinemark reported record fourth-quarter revenue of $814 million, up 27 percent year-over-year and 3 percent above the pre-COVID pandemic fourth quarter of 2019. -...
How Should Artists Respond In The Trump Era
With each day bringing new troubles and concerns, how should we proceed? Ideally, with boldness, though that quality seems to be in short supply,...
UK Government To Inject New Money Into The Arts
The Culture Secretary is expected to use a speech in Stratford-upon-Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, to announce a new £270 million Arts Everywhere Fund to help organisations in...
The Kennedy Center Debacle As A Mamet Drama
It plays like a David Mamet drama, complete with an inciting incident, characters bringing years of baggage to every scene and a surprising climax....
Cooperation Versus Competition – A Biological, Philosophical Perspective
The evolution of cooperation has been of interest to biologists, philosophers and anthropologists for centuries. If natural selection favours self-interest, why would we cooperate...
Trump And The Corruption Of What Words Mean
Trump has already hit language very strongly, and not just because of his own idiosyncratic manner of speech. As the Times has noted, his administration has...
Minnesota Theatre Says It Will Decline NEA Funding, Double Down On DEI
A Minneapolis theater organization says it will decline federal funding in order to preserve its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. - Bring Me the News
