Stories

Dance Is A Subjective Art Form. So How Do Judging And Scoring In Dance Competitions Work?

“Because every competition’s scoring rubric is slightly different, dancers may not always understand why they received a certain score or ranking. ... What do competitors and coaches need to know about the competitive-dance world’s many judging systems, and how can they glean useful information from the often-mysterious numerical scores?” - Dance Magazine

Lefty Firebrand And Former Congresswoman Katie Porter Is Leaving Politics To Be A Book Influencer

After very disappointing finishes in California’s Democratic primary races for Senate in 2024 and governor in 2025, Porter says “I am closing the door on being a candidate.” She will turn one of her social media accounts into a book-oriented channel called Katie Porter Turns the Page. - The Sacramento Bee

Art Institute Of Chicago Lays Off Its Entire Custodial Staff, Will Outsource

“The cultural institution announced it will no longer employ 23 custodial workers on June 29. ... The employees’ last day is Aug. 14, but a museum spokesperson said they will have the opportunity to re-apply for their positions with the new company, GDI Integrated Facility Services, based in Canada.” - Chicago Sun-Times

Louvre Reopens Gallery Where Crown Jewels Were Stolen — But It’s Empty

The Apollo Gallery had been closed to the public ever since last October’s broad-daylight theft of the French crown jewels on display there. Now it’s open again, with nothing on display. Fortunately, the room itself is pretty spectacular. - AFP (MSN)

European Union Okays Paramount-Warner Bros. Merger — With Conditions

“The European Commission … said that even with a Paramount-Warner combo, enough competitors would exist across markets like film production and streaming in its 27-nation bloc. Still, when it comes to distributing movies to theaters, the Commission warned of high concentration,” leading to worse terms for cinema operators. - AP

Federal Terrorism Trial Of Salman Rushdie’s Attacker Begins

“Hadi Matar, the man who stabbed Salman Rushdie in the eye on stage in 2022, is standing trial for a second time – this time facing (federal) terrorism charges after being found guilty (in New York state court) of attempted murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison last year.” - The Guardian

The 100 Most Powerful Directors In Hollywood (Per New York Magazine)

They’re divided into such categories as “Big Fish in Small Ponds,” “The Old Guard,” “Masters of Genre,” “Solid Commercial Filmmakers,” “Middle-Class Auteurs,” “Animation Specialists,” “IP Guys,” “A24 Boys on the Rise,” “The Haute Bourgeoisie,” “Wunderkinds,” “Trusted Hands,” The New Hotness,” and “The Most Wanted.” - New York Magazine

Reality Is Breaking Down

The rapidly degenerating digital culture is the third leg of the stool of the “reality distortion field” that has engulfed the U.S. - Artnet

Vanderbilt University’s New San Francisco Campus Will Include An Arts College

“The Jen-Hsun and Lori Huang College of Art, Architecture and Design will be ‘a cornerstone’ of Vanderbilt's planned campus on the ... site it is purchasing from California College of the Arts.” Huang College, backed by $75 million from a co-founder of Nvidia, will emphasize how the arts intersect with engineering and technology. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

The Complications Of Freedom-To-Read Campaigns

The freedom to read is a feel-good cause, and maybe an issue typically associated with concerned parents and school boards could use a little glamour. But Dua Lipa’s project highlights how the public discourse around bans has become detached from the ground reality of access to books. - The Atlantic

Bayreuth Is A Religious Experience. It’s Also Really Uncomfortable

People have been complaining about and returning to this festival from the start. So why does it still have such a hold on us? - The New York Times

Kevin Puts And The Art Of Opera

"I played a lot of Mozart piano concertos as a student. His slow movements are not just him gushing emotions. There’s a perfect balance of structure and harmonic direction. That’s my model for my own music. I like a sense of structure. You’re listening to something that is logically constructed, with heartbreakingly beautiful melodies and harmonies in the midst...

Oskar Eustis, Longtime Director Of New York’s Public Theater, To Step Down In 2028

“He plans to (depart) on July 31, 2028, his 70th birthday. His departure will signal a transition ... not only for the Public, but also for theater in New York, where Eustis is among the last of a group of long-serving artistic directors who for decades oversaw the city’s biggest nonprofits.” - The New York Times

Writers Guild Adds A Motion To Block Paramount/Warner Merger

In a motion filed early Wednesday in federal court in Oakland, the WGA‘s legal team argued that the transaction “is presumptively illegal in the market for writing services for anticipated top grossing films,” noting that the combined companies would have a 35% share of that market. - Deadline

Judge Approves Largest-Ever Copyright Infringement Case

The Anthropic payout will deliver $3,000 per work across an estimated 500,000 works, shared among the authors and publishers who hold rights to them. While the settlement is believed to be the largest in the history of U.S. copyright law, many authors and creators still don’t view it as a win. - TechCrunch

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