18 thoughts on “NY Times Arts, 9/22-9/28”

1. I found the article Striving for Objectivity, First in Molecular Biology, and Then in Choreography fascinating in its exploration of the similarities and differences between science and art. Somehow the fact that the art form in question was dance made the connection more poignant–in some way Mr. Le Roy actually physically embodied the questions he was exploring, and that made me feel more connected to his quest and the larger questions posed about knowledge, truth, and objectivity.

2. “Exploration of Stillness and a Lightsaber Battle” is an interesting article! First of all, the “stillspotting nyc” exhibition is a unique and cool concept that I’d like to try out. The fact that they leave us to be our own tour guides and play soundscapes in a place that seems to detached from the city intrigues me. I’ll probably go check it out, actually! The second portion of the article gives a sudden and funny turn to the article. After this serious artsy talk about the lack of stillness in the city, and the need for quiet time in our lives, you see the words CALLING ALL JEDI asking people to “test their skills” but “tap out”, with “goggles recommended”. I suppose both are linked as stress-relieving, genuinely interesting activities that serve as an escape from our usual lives in the city, but the contrast between the nature of the two events made me laugh.

3. I found the article titled “Some People Can’t Just Throw Stuff Out” to be very unique and interesting. This article discusses a man named Mac Premo who, although he had a great deal of “stuff”, did not want to throw any of it away as each item told its own story. To remedy this situation, he decided to fill a large dumpster with everything from old baseball cards to candy wrappers. This dumpster has become a sort of museum, in which visitors can view a collection of art “arrayed along custom-built shelves that line the walls of the 22-foot-long dumpster”. This display, a part of the Dumbo Arts Festival in New York City, is one that I would love to see as it is such a unique collection of important moments of Premo’s life. I predict I would enjoy this site as I myself collect a lot of “stuff” and am reluctant to get rid of things that spark memories. I respect Mac Premo for thinking of this great idea as such items as those he had collected might otherwise go to waste.

4. I agree with Johanna, I also found the article “Some People Can’t Just Throw Stuff Out” to be very unique. I think it was a great idea on Mac Premo’s behalf, to turn his junk into a collection of memories. It really makes me stop and think about all the useless things I have laying around my room that probably have some sort of memory or story behind them. However, I was a little perplexed at the fact that at the end of the article Premo stated that he was hoping to find a buyer for the collection. I don’t think this is something that one should sell, the whole meaning of it is the fact that these are all small seemingly useless things that represent a lifetime of memories. Why would someone want to buy someone else’s memories? And why would someone want to sell their own memories in the first place?

5. In the article “Moneyball,” I found it interesting how the movie is being compared to “The Social Network” and its relation to Facebook only because they are both the rise of the informational elite. The story of an underdog team coming up and winning a championship has clearly been done by directors before, but the fact that this movie is based on a true story makes it even more interesting. I think that a sports movie that is based on a true story is much more effective than one that is fictional because it is always predictable. Also, I thought it was interesting that they mention Jonah Hill’s weight as a possible reason for getting the role of a man who is slim.

6. In the article, “Realignment of Star Power,” Brooks Barnes discusses the hit show “Dancing with the Stars.” I personally have never watched the show but I have heard about it from other people. Barnes brings up an interesting point and points out that the dancing professionals have also become stars themselves. In fact, they might even be more popular than the original guest “stars,” effectively stealing the show’s spotlight. However, I don’t particularly see the problem that Barnes brings up. The dancing professionals’ popularity is based on their own merit and hard work. The viewers obviously see the amount of talent and effort that the professionals have put in their performances. Since the dancing professionals are stars because of their talent, they should also be regarded as such.

7. I agree with Johanna and Yana about the article, “Some People Can’t Just Throw Stuff Out.” This article intrigued me because I am one of those people who never throw their stuff out. Every time my mom tries to throw my stuff out, I would refuse to because all my things bear sentimental value to me. Mac Premo made me imagine what my own personal collection would look like and also how everybody else’s collection would look like. Would we all have our first report card, our first diary entry, or a family portrait? Everybody’s art collection would be different and special to at least one other person in the entire world, which I find to be quite amazing.

8. In the article, “As ‘X Factor’ Ratings are Solid, Sitcoms Show New Life,” Bill Carter comments that reality shows might have reached their saturation point. I, personally, wholeheartedly agree with Carter. Reality shows these days seem to use the same themes and focal points over and over again. Shows such as “X Factor” seem to be just another version of “American Idol,” which seems to be just another version of “Britain’s Got Talent.” Being bombarded by so many seasons of these reality shows, viewers might finally be fed up by it. As a result, comedy shows like “Two and a Half Men” might be gaining the spotlight again. I know that I prefer a good laugh to watching another version of the same reality show over and over again.

9. One of the books that I really enjoyed reading in high school is “The Alchemist,” and so it was natural for me to find the article “Best-Selling Author Gives Away His Work” instantly intriguing. Many authors and publishing companies feel that pirated copies of their books online are essentially causing many bookstores to close their doors. Coelho, author of the Alchemist, did something very interesting in response to the piracy. Rather than condemn those who do it, Coehlo went as far as to pirate his own book online. Unlike other authors, Coelho firmly believes that by putting his work online for free it would actually increase his sales because people will want to read his book. In fact the book sales in Russia have rapidly increased after Coehlo did so. In this day and age it becomes imperative for writers and publishing companies to adapt and follow in the footsteps of Coehlo, whose method was clearly successful. Putting the book online is essentially the same thing as having a book in a bookstore because at a book store people can look at and even read large portions of a book while they are in the store without necessarily purchasing it. A way to solve this problem could be to make online books more cheaper and to publish books based on demand or a pre-order.

10. In the article, “Seeking Next Big Hit, TV Tries Hollywood Hoopla,” Brian Stelter discusses how television networks are spending incredible amounts of money to promote their TV shows. Shows like the “X Factor” are hoping to compete with “American Idol” by luring viewers in through various marketing techniques. The amount of money spent advertising these shows are a bit ridiculous. Perhaps the television producers have forgotten that it is substance that keeps viewers tuned in on the show, not elaborate and brainwashing commercials.

11. In the article, “Melodrama Returns, Flaunting Its Chaos and Clichés” the author talks about the new Broadway Play, “Rags to Riches” which was performed in the early 1900’s and is now being played again at the Metropolitian Playhouse.” This play was not changed since it was written one hundred years ago. This is great for the history lovers who want to feel like they are watching a play in the 1900’s; however, the author also mentions that the language and style does not fit smoothly in this modern time. For example, the author mentions that the characters have many asides throughout the film which makes it awkward in the modern times because the present stages are smaller and do not cater well to the script. The title of the play sounds interesting and I would like to get a chance to see it just to observe the play and to see how plays from that time were performed.

12. I loved Abhishek’s comment about the “informational elite” in reference to “Throwing a Digital Age Curveball” Manohla Dargis. It’s over descriptive and lengthy but Dargis has me itching to see this film (I would see any Brad Pitt – Jonah Hill combo but this one looks exceptionally good). It made me wonder if our advances in technology are contributing to the erosion of our pastimes. Are we destroying our own culture because we’re too concerned with the statistical aspect of a sport rather than the purity of it? The competition, the incredible physical test, the tension, the heroics. It all seems watered down.

    Dargis also hints at the business side of this all and thus the title Moneyball. Few people know that Major League Baseball is actually a government sanctioned monopoly. Again it brings up the question of the purity of the game. It seems that baseball can only be baseball when it’s in your backyard, without the television, without the ludicrous contracts, without the corporate musings that are seemingly exposed in the movie.

13. “Another Round of Nice Chianti: ‘Silence! The Musical’ to Reopen” made me very happy because I first heard about it from one of Brent Barrett’s costars in another show and I watched the trailer. It was super silly, but at the same time quite innovative (so sue me, the title still crack me up :P) I’m really glad that the engagement is now open ended -hopefully it will run for a long time- and that the theatre is now bigger! Tiny theatres have always made me a little bit claustrophobic.

14. In the article, “Suburgatory,” the writer reviews the new ABC series called “Surburgatory.” The writer is saying that the series is not going to do well because the topic is not represented well and it is not similar to real life. It is not sure what type of people would be watching this type of show since it has a single father who finds a condom in his daughter’s room in Manhattan, which leads him to moving them out to the suburbs. The writer also says that the acting is very phony and it is clear that this is not the way teenagers behave or act. I agree with this review because from the topic and the characters, I do not think that many people will be watching this because it is not relatable for most people.

15. “Rival Views of Jackson as Doctor’s Trial Begins”.
    Really? I won’t state that the doctor is guilty or not, but the thing about doctor’s not allowed to go to the bathroom is radiculous! Michael Jackson wasn’t dying or something (untill later on).
    At first they get huge amounts of money by making a movie and stuff instead of accusing the doctor, and now they wonna make more.
    That’s always the case with the dead stars – most of them become these stars the day they’re dead. It’s not the case with Michael Jackson, although many started to listen to him only after the event (and I’m guilty of not being exception).
    But what about others? Why can’t we appreciate “the great” BEFORE? What is this about death that makes them so appealing?
    Yeah, some were artists of future, they were long ahead of time. And again, what about other times?
    People just don’t have time to appreciate something untill it’s to late or was on the news. But we’re talking about this thing over and over again and nothing happens. That’s the case.

16. I found the article “‘Little Miss Sunshine’ and ‘American Psycho’ Musicals Get Starry New York Readings” to be very interesting because I had no idea that these two films were being transformed into musicals. I think that ‘Little Miss Sunshine’ would make a great musical because it’s very humorous and uplifting which would definitely appeal to a theater audience. However, ‘American Psycho’ would probably be the last movie to come to my mind when I think of movies that could be turned into musicals. However, the fact that it’s so far fetched could definitely play to the show’s advantage. I for one, would go just to see how the producers execute this story on stage. According to the article, a lot of famous theatrical talent is involved with both shows so I’m sure that both will make for very interesting productions.

17. I found the article that talked about “RCVR” a online show channeled in Machinima to be particularly interesting. The article praises the new show in its story, which is about a UFO detective hunting down people who have had alien sightings. The article also praises the quality of the acting and overall editing of the show. I think such a show is very promising because tv and movie studios might have to compete with online studios since it would be incredible to have high quality shows coming from the internet. Its one thing to watch a tv show online but having to watch an online show is a completely different experience.

18. Mr. Carter’s article “While ‘X Factor’ Lags Forecast, Sitcoms Show New Life” present a surprisingly pleasant and optimistic approach to the recent resurgence in the sitcom among large network television programmers. In the age of the “Jersey Shore” and reality television, sitcoms were once dismissed and deemed as irrelevant, unimpressive and even obsolete in the wake of reality T.V. show giants such as “Survivor” and “Big Brother.” Once forming the backbone of prime-time television, sitcom’s with strong comedic leanings provided a safe, heartfelt, and entertaining mode for families to come together and identity with the virtual household of their choice. Though, these days the families presented on television may not be considered the “traditional” nuclear family in the most general sense of the word. The successful comedic sitcom “Modern Family” is replete with social taboos such as gay couples, Inter-racial marriages, and otherwise untested parenting technique tackling other ambiguous societal questions. Other shows such as CBS’s recent hit “Two Broke Girls” clearly address certain topics and present plot plotlines not once known to be sellable or mainstream. So, with technology and modernity evolving at an exponential rate it is nice to see some other familiar pleasantries once again returning to the realm of relevancy.