From The New Yorker, Past Perfect: Retro opulence on Central Park West. Cultural observers weigh in on architectural changes in the Persian Gulf and how they may be reshaping the world: A review of Evil Paradises: Dreamworlds of Neoliberalism. Art and Anarchism Thrive Together: Realizing the Impossible looks at political expression from a global perspective. The artless branding of Frida Kahlo: The centennial of the artist's birth is being marked by exhibits, merchandise, and family dissension.
Just for the record: OK Hollywood, here are the dos and don'ts of the celebrity profile. His Kind of Town: Horton Foote, at 91, is still working as a writer in New York and Hollywood. But in his plays he returns, as always, to the small Texas community of his imagination. A review of I’m a Lebowski, You’re a Lebowski by Bill Green. Movies are supposed to be about getting lost in emotion. But one scientist has broken down the film industry to cold, hard facts. Dean Simonton has done a statistical study of thousands of movies to determine what makes them critical darlings or box-office hits.
From OJR, how the New York Times can fight back and win: Rupert Murdoch has the Times in his sights. But a Web 2.0 strategy could help the Gray Lady regain her glowing countenance; and the Los Angeles Times tells its readers: "Shut up". A Times editorial attacks the concept of reader comments on news stories, declaring Google a greater threat "than Osama bin Laden". Thanks to the web, readers now run the show. But is this good for journalism?
