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A famous portrait that also serves as a memorial to women dying in childbirth.
Archive for the ‘Arts reviews’ Category
January 11th, 2013
Category: Arts reviews, Film, Film, France, Income distribution, Literature, Music, Popular Culture, Reviews, Uncategorized
Based on its vivid colors and exaggerated gestures, one is tempted to dismiss Academy Award Best Picture nominee Les Miserables as a cartoon. But cartoons have clarity of line and a sense of direction, not to mention momentum from frame to frame. This movie is more like the result of dropping the Sunday funnies in [...]
December 9th, 2012
Having shared some very snarky jibes on a UC listserv about the new UC ‘logo’ that Mark deplores, I’m now feeling some remorse. As a piece of graphic design, I think it’s not a success on its own or for its purpose. But it’s not a replacement for the seal, in fact the designer says [...]
September 20th, 2012
A fine image of the dilemma of authority in China.
August 5th, 2012
The ecstasy of winning.
May 3rd, 2012
What can it mean that a pastel drawing sells for $120m? The economic function of this object is to create value inside the head of people looking at it; if it’s bought on speculation for resale, that function has to be anticipated for a subsequent buyer someday. It’s not copyrighted, so the value has to [...]
April 7th, 2012
We’re having a big religious weekend in Judeo-Christian circles. Jews are celebrating their deliverance from slavery, but of course nothing is simple for the Jews, so we get to argue about inconsistencies and errors and missing pieces in what presents itself as a very detailed instruction manual for the Seder. And try to figure out [...]
January 22nd, 2012
Category: Arts reviews, Republican Party
A sweet distraction from a depressing GOP primary.