Stories

Looking Back On What The Literary Theory Generation Wrought

A half-century after poststructuralism broke out of Parisian lecture halls and stumbled into unexpected acclaim and vitriol in the English-speaking world, we now have enough distance from the culture wars of the 1980s and ’90s to look back on theory with clearer vision. Or so it would seem. - Hedgehog Review

Equity UK And National Theatre Of Scotland Agree To Something Novel: Five-Day Work Weeks And Overtime Pay

“As well as reducing standard rehearsal weeks from six to five days,” the new agreement “includes the reduction of the working week from 44 hours to 40 hours, meaning any performers and stage management working more than 40 hours in a week for NTS will receive extra pay.” - The Stage (UK)

Toronto Symphony Reports A Banner Financial Year

The TSO closed its 2026 fiscal year with an operating surplus of approximately $34,000, thereby increasing its accumulated surplus to nearly $1 million—putting it in its strongest financial position ever. - Colin's Column

Warner And Paramount Workers Shocked By Merger Approval

The general mood on both sides of the Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount Skydance aisles on Monday was shock and surprise over the sudden turn of events. - Variety

So CNN And CBS Will Have “Oversight Boards” To Protect Them? Hmnnn…

Such “boards” have been a part of other news-company acquisitions that have raised similar concerns about antitrust or editorial control. These boards’ effectiveness has been, to be generous, extremely limited. - The Atlantic

The “Extraordinary” Bolivian Painter Whose Work Was Discovered In The Trash

“Alejandro Mario Yllanes was a protégé of Diego Rivera, who championed the bravery with which Yllanes made searingly political works. Yllanes … left little trace of his life after 1950, leaving a cache of paintings, engravings and documents in an apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.” - The New York Times

Higher Ed’s AI-Detection Struggle

Four years into the ChatGPT era, colleges may be further from solving AI cheating than they were when it launched.  - The Atlantic

National Trust For Historic Preservation Announces $10M Fund To Push Back Against Trump

The fund “will provide resources for legal defense, public advocacy, and community action when historic places and the laws that protect them are under threat,” Brent Leggs, the trust’s president, said in an interview on Tuesday. - Washington Post

Comedy Comes To The Museum Tour

During the Edinburgh Fringe Festival last month, she made her way to the National Galleries of Scotland for what was billed as a "cheeky romp" uncovering the "gossip, glamour and glorious absurdity hiding behind the art." Gloriously absurd it was. - NPR

Hungary’s New Government Temporarily Closes Orbán’s House Of Terror Museum

“The museum closure is part of new Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar’s attempts to rectify his predecessor, Viktor Orbán’s, control of state media and arts and culture entities. … (Culture minister Zoltán) Tarr said that the museum would reopen later this year ‘pending a review of the exhibition’s content.’” - ARTnews

What Exactly Does An Orchestra’s Artistic Planner Do?

“Artistic planning involves putting together an organization's programming, both in the near term and the long term. Members of the artistic planning staff work with the organization's music director, guest conductors, visiting artists and their agents, as well as the orchestra's finance, marketing and philanthropy departments and donors.” - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

Costume Designer Rampages Through Met Opera’s Closets And Attic For Two New Productions

“When he was hired to costume back-to-back productions for the Met this season — something no designer has undertaken in decades — Montana Levi Blanco’s survival instincts kicked in. It would be virtually impossible ... to create 800 costumes from scratch given the time, energy and resources needed. So he wouldn’t.” - The New York Times

NPR-PBS Lawsuit Against Trump Administration’s Executive Order Quietly Concludes

“NPR, PBS, several local public broadcasters and the Trump administration agreed in July to dismiss the last remaining claims in the consolidated cases. The move ends the litigation and leaves intact the court’s March decision permanently blocking key provisions of the executive order, which the administration did not appeal.” - Inside Radio

Arkansas Ends Effort To Restrict Prisoners’ Access To Hard-Copy Books

“The Department (of Corrections) first proposed banning incarcerated people from receiving physical books last year in order to tamp down on drugs making their way into prisons. … (The focus will be shifted) to ban ‘misbehaving’ third-parties selling publications laced with drugs to incarcerated people.” - Arkansas Advocate

In Court Filing, Dolly Parton’s Manager Accuses Her Nephew Of Threats And Extortion

“Dolly Parton‘s longtime manager has filed for a restraining order against her nephew, who until being fired a week ago was her head of security, alleging that the family member is engaged in a campaign of coercion, extortion and violent threats that has terrified employees and associates of her management company.” - Variety

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