Sunday, January 31, 2010
Article Summary #5 Opinion
I think it’s wonderful that the Mark Morris Dance Group is stepping out of its traditional dance realm and getting involved the music world. It especially sparked my interest that the dance troupe will be visiting George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Feb. 5 and 6. Maybe I’ll go watch them perform.
Article Summary #5
Mark Morris Dance Group Popular in the World of Music
Kaufman, Sarah, “Mark Morris Taking Dance Works into the Music World,” Washington Post, January 31, 2010
The Mark Morris Dance Group does not simply tour standard dance venues. Instead, the group is also involved in the music world. The Mark Morris Dance Group, led by Mark Morris, is the only dance company that performs at the Tanglewood Music Festival in Lenox, Ma. “I’m a musician and my medium is dancing,” said Morris. And although Morris does not play an instrument or sing, he reads music and has directed operas.
Morris involves his dance troupe in musical events because it enables him to reach a broader audience. “There are more people there. Music is a very big world and dance is a very small one,” Morris says.
Furthermore, getting involved in the dance world allows Morris’s group a greater ability to experiment with their dances. Music audiences are more open to a variety of work, while dance fans cringe at the sight of variations to traditional work. According to Morris, “Everybody freaks out if someone presents a version of a [ballet] classic, a ‘Giselle’ or a ‘La Sylphide,’ that doesn’t toe the line that all experts preserve. Whereas in opera, people would go crazy if you kept presenting the same old things.”
On Feb. 5 and 6, the Mark Morris Dance Group will perform at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. They will present two pieces, “Empire Garden,” set to Ives and “Visitation,” to Beethoven, that premiered during last year’s Tanglewood Music Festival.
Article Summary #4 Opinion
Although I have not yet read Anne E. Kornblut's "Notes from the Cracked Ceiling," it sounds like an extremely interesting book. I definitely agree with her that John McCain would have chosen a different running mate if he had women strategists on his team. I really like how Kornblut incorporates information that she obtained from interviewing current female political figures into her writing. I look forward to reading her book!
Article Summary #4
Book Review: “Notes from the Cracked Ceiling” by Anne E. Kornblut
Connie Schultz, “Book Review: ‘Notes from the Cracked Ceiling’ by Anne E. Kornblut,” Washington Post, January 31, 2010
“Notes from the Cracked Ceiling” by Anne E. Kornblut examines women’s many failed attempts to obtain political positions in the United States. Kornblut explains why she believes Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin were unsuccessful during the 2008 election.
Kornblut criticizes John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin as his running mate for the simple fact that there were no female strategists to help him make the decision. "Had a council of Republican women met to discuss the Palin choice ahead of time, they might have cautioned McCain that women are usually held to a higher standard, especially on questions of toughness and competence -- and that women won't switch party affiliation just to vote for a woman," she explains.
An important theme throughout “Notes from the Cracked Ceiling” is that women in politics are many times their own worst enemies. For example, Kornblut accuses Hillary Clinton of failing to appear favorable to the media.
The second half of “Notes from the Cracked Ceiling” takes on a more positive tone. Kornblut uses her effective interviewing abilities to demonstrate that it is possible for more women to get elected to political offices. She obtained much of her information from women, such as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who have already proved to be successful in gaining and maintaining political positions.
Article Summary #3 Opinion
I have not seen “Avatar” or “Confucius,” but I am really not surprised that “Avatar” sold out a domestic film in China. All I have been hearing about is “Avatar” for the past several weeks and I knew the movie would be seen worldwide. I think it is great that Chinese citizens are getting the opportunity to see such as well-made film. I do agree with the Chinese media that it is a little extreme to rename mountain peaks after those in “Avatar.”
Article Summary #3
“Avatar” Outsells China’s “Confucius”
LaFraniere, Sharon, “Chinese Zeal for ‘Avatar’ Crowds out ‘Confucius,” New York Times, January 29, 2010
The movie “Avatar” has been extremely popular in China and has been competing fiercely with “Confucius,” a domestic film. Although Chinese officials said “Avatar” would be removed from 2-D movie screens when “Confucius” was released, the popularity of the American-made movie has kept it on 2-D screens.
According to Stephen Teo, an associate professor of broadcast and cinema studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, it would be a “commercial folly” to pull “Avatar” from movie screens in China. While “Avatar” brought in around $4.8 in revenue in its first three weeks on screens in China, “Confucius” only averaged $1.8 during its first three days.
China permits 20 foreign films to be shown on local screens each year. Revenue is divided among local distributors, producers, and theaters. Industry sources say Chinese distributors can buy the rights to show other foreign films without having to split profits with producers. These few foreign movies compete with an increasing number of domestic films each year. In 2008, more than 400 Chinese films were released. But “Avatar” has definitely come out on top in its competition with “Confucius” and other Chinese films.
Chinese theaters showing “Avatar” have been sold out every day since the release of the movie. Additionally, mountain peaks in a national park in Hunan Province were renamed, as officials said they were identical to the “Hallelujah” mountains in “Avatar.” Chinese media criticized the renaming, claiming the officials were forgetting their cultural roots. The officials countered that the move would bring increased tourism to the park.
Article Summary #2 Opinion
I think it is excellent that the Recording Academy is increasing its number of live performances during the Grammy Awards. They will make the awards show very interesting and I am sure they will increase viewership. This year there will be some very popular music artists, including Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and Elton John, performing. I look forward to watching the Grammys this evening!
Article Summary #2
Effort to Increase Viewership of Grammy Awards by Adding More Live Performances
Ben Sisario, “Grammys’ Weight Is Now Measured in Face Time,” New York Times, January 28, 2010
The 52nd Grammy Awards are scheduled for Sunday. They will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles and broadcast at 8 p.m. on CBS.
Since the mid-1980s, the Grammy’s ratings have continued to drop. As technology has made music more easily obtainable for free, the music industry suffers extreme losses in sales. The Recording Academy is working to increase the Grammy’s viewership by adding more live performances. Last year, there was an 11 percent increase in ratings from 2008 due to a greater number of unique live performances. For example, U2 played a newly released song, “Get on Your Boots” and pregnant rapper, MIA performed with other rappers.
The Grammy Awards will continue to increase the number of live performances this year. Mary J. Blige and Andrea Bocelli will sing Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water.” Viewers can download this song on iTunes to benefit Haiti relief efforts. Other artists set to performer include Elton John, Lady Gaga and Taylor Swift.
Taylor Swift is nominated for eight awards, including album, song and record of the year. Her album “Fearless” has sold 5.4 million copies since its release in November 2008. Swift will be competing against Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, and Black Eyed Peas for Grammy awards.
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