Stories

The context in which McCartney was exposed to both King Lear and Edward Lear is vital to an understanding of his achievement. - The Guardian

“There’s a whole new picture of the human past and human possibility that seems to be coming into view. And it really doesn’t resemble in the slightest these very entrenched stories going around and around.” - The New York Times

There has been a concerted campaign to remove artworks from all aspects of life, in an attempt to make society more Islamic, the Taliban have said. In doing so, the group is erasing two decades of craftsmanship that blossomed after the collapse of its first government in 2001. - The New York Times

If we’re to have ideas, let’s have fewer ideas, better ideas, and ideas more likely to annoy the sort of people who bankroll Ideas conferences. - The New Republic

"I’m tired of tech that caters to the heterosexual, cisgender, male, white, wealthy masses. I’m tired of AirSpace, of minimalism, of bland beige tones. ... Where is the bold, bright tech that allows me to be unapologetically myself?" - Wired

No, today isn't "Mexican Halloween." Just ask artist Ofelia Esparza. "At its core, the tradition is a pitched battle. Forgetting, Esparza said, is what Day of the Dead is fighting." - Los Angeles Times

It helps to see his paintings near each other, but it's not just viewing that's useful; the knowledge comes from a "years-long, collaborative conservation and scientific research project" between the Dallas Museum of Art and the Van Gogh Museum. - Hyperallergic

The pandemic hurt a lot, but "nearly two-thirds of dance educators said teaching had become more difficult in recent years, while half of teachers said external pressure for students to take traditionally academic subjects was the key reason for dance’s decline." - The Stage (UK)

The artist, who shot to fame with the work Everyone I Have Ever Slept With 1963-1995, says she's been characterized as a narcissist, and that has made critics overlook how serious her art is. - The Guardian (UK)

So says Oxford Languages, publisher of The Oxford English Dictionary. "'All these other vaccine words increased, but nothing like vax,' said Fiona McPherson, a senior editor for new words. ... 'It’s a short, punchy, attention-grabbing word.'" - The New York Times

Not to mention our own. "In horror, there is no ultimate triumph at the end. Even if the characters survive or defeat the monster, there’s no going back to the people they once were. That’s what grief feels like." - LitHub

As one might suspect, one author says that "when we learned of one another’s existence, it felt a little awkward." - The New York Times

Oh, it's a joy to hate the Roys on Succession. How refreshing! "Likeability is an odd requirement, as well as a sterile and stifling one. ... Unpunished, remorseless wickedness—like the Roys’—is becoming a no-no." - The Economist

A Melbourne gallery director says that along with years of massively shrinking arts funding, "the pandemic lockdowns left the industry on its knees. ... 'We have lost a generation of artists’ work,' he says." - The Guardian (UK)

One expert on challenged books: "Beloved is an extremely violent book, it’s absolutely true. But that is the point of the book. This mother ? She’s absolutely right—it’s extremely difficult to read. It gets stuck in your head." - Slate