A white woman making a film about four men who were in Saudi Arabia, undergoing deradicalization? Sundance has dumped it, but one Muslim American film critic says, "It does a disservice to throw away a film that a lot of people should see." - The New York Times
Stalin called Shostakovich's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensh "muddle instead of music, an ugly flood of confusing sound, ... a pandemonium of creaking, shrieking and crashes.” Ouch. But it feels more urgent than ever with Putin at Russia's helm. - The New York Times
Of course, it's a win after a long fight. "Amazon has done the right thing for once! In this case, the right thing is closing a loophole revealed by a TikTok about 'reading hacks.'" - LitHub
Price isn't the only barrier for a classical newcomer, but it's a big one, and the few American organizations that have tried pay-what-you-wish — most notably, the Chicago Sinfonietta and, this past summer, Lincoln Center's Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra — say it works. But what about lost ticket revenue? - The New York Times
Sure, the service mostly died in 2019 - but it's being revived now, and a lot of hardcore users still have their MoviePass cards. "It was a badge that gave you permission to see the worst that Hollywood had to offer while creating a buffer," one says. - Wired
"The People’s Joker is ... an extremely loose retelling of the Batman villain’s origin story, reinterpreting the Joker as a trans woman trying to break into the mob-like world of Gotham’s stand-up comedy scene." Of course, it was pulled from the TIFF line-up. - The Verge
"Pandemic-induced production delays, jittery Hollywood studios continuing to postpone blockbuster release dates, and a wider lack of mid-budget fare – from rom-coms and buddy movies to dramas – will push back the timeline on a full recovery for cinema owners until possibly 2024." - The Observer (UK)
It was the lowest haul since 2001, when summer movies earned $3.34 billion at domestic theaters. The summer season typically accounts for about 40% of annual box office receipts, Comscore says. - The Wall Street Journal
While podcast consumption is holding steady overall among public radio fans, Jacobs Media's just-released Public Radio Techsurvey 2022 shows some warning signs for public media that their audience may be “cooling” on podcasts. - Inside Radio
Patrons will no longer have to wait in line to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 before entering the building, though masks will still be required except when eating or drinking. - AP
BookTok is real. A co-owner of The Ripped Bodice in Los Angeles says, "'We'll get a rush of customers asking for something random and we're like, 'Why does everyone want this specific book?'' ... The answer is always TikTok." - NPR
A dance show by a disability arts ensemble makes a critic muse about what information the audience needs, and learn new ways to connect. - The New York Times
And don't forget the influence of K-Pop. "By blending music with comedy, pop music and other relatable content, Gen Zs who are not born into musical tradition or classical cultural capital are invited to enjoy without fear of not 'getting it.'" - The Line of Best Fit
"Following a years-long debate over how ideological the definition should be, the final text includes new language about museums being ethical, diverse, accessible, inclusive and sustainable" - and open to the public. - Washington Post
And that means audiences have been thin on the ground. "Fewer than half as many people saw a Broadway show during the season that recently ended than did so during the last full season before the coronavirus pandemic." - The New York Times
