"She continued to be typecast as dragon ladies and China dolls ... always envisioned an alternative future for herself: 'Some day someone will write a story demanding a real Chinese girl — then perhaps I’ll have my chance,'" she said nearly a century ago, in 1928. - The New York Times
"Shortly after becoming music director of the L.A. Phil and not long before her death in 1964, Mehta visited Alma Mahler, the composer’s widow and a composer in her own right. 'I didn’t know her well, but I speak Viennese, ... so we got along very well.'" - Los Angeles Times
"In an epic that began with Walk to the End of the World (1974) and concluded 25 years later, ... Charnas conceived a dystopic world in which an escaped female slave, Alldera, leads the rebellious Free Fems to brutally conquer and enslave their former male masters." - The New York Times
"He and his peers have achieved immense success, but still don’t know how to cope with the cultural shifts that naturally occur over a long career. Instead they want to keep the conditions that gave rise to their success forever preserved so they can say whatever." - The New York Times
Everything is about class, including where we sit in the cinema. "One of the last truly democratic public institutions where everyone paid the same and had the same chance to get a good seat, will join airplanes, live theaters, music venues." - The Verge
So, #MeStillFreakinToo. Grace Van Dien is "looking for more agency after a producer on 'one of the last movies I did' allegedly asked for sexual favors." So, she's turning to her Twitch stream instead. - Los Angeles Times
It's real: "The Eurovision book contest will culminate in an event at this year’s literary festival in June, where a panel will discuss the books selected to represent the 37 countries that take part in the music competition each year." - The Guardian (UK)
The events of the Oscar-nominated Argentina,1985 aren't much fictionalized. "With more than 300 open investigations and 14 trials, the process is 'permanently alive,' said Estela de Carlotto, the president of Abuelas de Plaza de Mayo." - The New York Times
"The new boss of English National Ballet wants to ditch the stereotypical image of super-skinny dancers and see 'all' body types on stage." - The Times (UK)
One composer "felt at home in this genre, somewhere between abstract contemporary opera and sound art, but like many composers she had to reconcile her interests with the financial pressures of a traditional career." - The New York Times
"We had nothing, so we made art out of nothing. We drew with tea powder on toilet paper. We painted our walls with soap, and carved Styrofoam cups and food containers. We sang, danced, recited poetry and composed songs. We were always punished." - The Guardian (UK)
"Tuxedo vendors say that awards season drives huge sales on top of their usual income from weddings and proms, on the order of 20% to 30% of their annual revenue." But, from last-minute requests to late returns, it's not easy. - Los Angeles Times
How to watch the Oscars red carpet (this year, the red will be more beige) and the show itself, and here are also a few predictions for who, and what, will win. - The New York Times
