They laughed when she stood up to…
…sing:
Continue reading →Category Archives: Arts
“I didn’t know I was pregnant”
No, not me. This TV show on TLC. I watched it last night. And lest you think this was some sort of joke, let me say the show was in deadly earnest—and quite fascinating. How could these women have been … Continue reading →
The evolution(?) of extreme ballet
This article documents a trend I’ve noticed for decades: ballet lines have become more exaggerated over time. This is especially true of what is known as “extrension”—that is, the height of the nonsupporting leg when it is raised. But it’s … Continue reading →
Obama and the disturbing influence of Frank Marshall Davis
Much has been written about the fact that Frank Marshall Davis was a mentor to the young Barack Obama. But Davis was an unusual role model for a boy; not only may he have been a sometime pedophile, according to … Continue reading →
The Girl From Ipanema returns
[NOTE: While we’re talking about Brazil (and why not? I’m tired of talking about Obama) let’s revisit an old post of mine with a Brazilian theme: “Lost in translation: the girl from Ipamema.”] A while back we had a discussion … Continue reading →
Obamlet?
Sam Schulman offers an interesting notion of Obama as Hamlet. We differ on certain things; Schulman does not believe Obama to be a radical, whereas I currently strongly favor that interpretation. But the following sounds about right: [Obama] is a … Continue reading →
In my continuing quest to find…
…a way to make us all forget our drab and wretched post-recession lives, I hereby offer some fashion resonances. People have been stunned by this puzzling look sported by Beyonce: Parisian designer Thierry Mugler has managed to do to Beyonce … Continue reading →
And now for a change of pace: Giselle through the ages
I find I need a bit of refreshment and rest from the nonstop gloom of the news. My idea of relaxation is to look at a few old ballet clips. “Giselle” is one of those old-fashioned warhorses that people like … Continue reading →
Notes from Chairman Lenin—and Dostoevsky
A few days ago a commenter here offered a link to this page of Lenin quotes. Some of them seem pretty apropos in light of recent developments, and so I offer them to you for your contemplation [I’ve emphasized some … Continue reading →
Tears, idle tears: we know not what they mean
We sometimes speak of having a “good cry,” reflecting the common assumption that crying when upset can lead to a release of tension and make us feel better. This NY Times article reports on research that indicates that this is … Continue reading →
It’s been quite an odyssey for the Odyssey
Yesterday I was browsing in a bookstore. I had gone to the mall for something else (pillowcases, to be exact) and had some extra time to spend wandering, and so I ambled into this particular mall’s only bookstore: B. Dalton, … Continue reading →
Doing the ipod shuffle
The ipod is a wonderful invention, especially for those of us old enough to remember when the music collection of the typical adolescent consisted of just a few scratchy but beloved vinyl records. If someone had told me back then … Continue reading →