Category Archives: Culture

The perils of “permanent” loan

When the creators of the original main exhibition of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum were gathering artifacts in Eastern Europe, much of the material was acquired on a long-term loan basis. Several of those involved in the negotiations say … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Exhibitions, History, Museums, Preservation

Annie Leibovitz’s “Pilgrimage”

I think the damage done by celebrity photography is much more grave than the mere pollution of magazines, newspapers and other media that favor this form of entertainment. Fetishizing the celebrity class overemphasizes the role meritocracy plays in creating and … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Exhibitions, Museums, Photography

Farewell Opera Boston

           The impact of the economic crises seems to hit the arts in painful slow motion. The most recent sign of serious distress is the announcement that Opera Boston will shut down, largely because of “lackluster fundraising in a tough … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Music, Opera

Reviewing the Gehry-designed Eisenhower Memorial

I was skeptical at first, and for a long time. I still wonder about the enormous columns that will support the tapestry with which Frank Gehry memorializes the life and accomplishments of Dwight D. Eisenhower. But the more you think … Continue reading

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Filed under Architecture, Culture, urban design

A minor Hitch anecdote having nothing to do with salami

            Everyone is offering his Christopher Hitchens memories today. I had only one face-to-face encounter, after he gave a lecture at the Greek embassy about the Elgin Marbles (he argued passionately for their return to Greece). Some of us retired to … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Feuilleton, Uncategorized

The “exploding” towers controversy

If you’re following the ginned up controversy over a proposal, by the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV, to build twin towers that appear to be “exploding,” I gave my short take on the Post’s “Arts Post” website. Here’s the crux of … Continue reading

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Filed under Architecture, Culture

Gingrich the Entrepreneur

            Republicans may be refining the idea of what business competence means. The party has long cherished expertise gathered in the marketplace over mere political skill or experience.  But there was an interesting nuance introduced in a Washington Post article … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Feuilleton

You Nero, Big Zero

            Arena Stage’s new comedy, “You, Nero,”  feels like an over-extended T.V. comedy sketch. After watching it last night, I went home and enjoyed a Netflix episode of the Catherine Tate show…and I think Tate’s comedy better fun and better … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Theater

Newt Gingrich: Opera Lover

    As Newt Gingrich rises in the polls, it’s worth putting one little item on the table of public discourse: He loves opera. In Washington, lots of people love opera, but it’s rare for politicians with national ambitions to love … Continue reading

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Filed under Culture, Music, Opera, Uncategorized

Index on Censorship

I was asked by the U.K.-based Index on Censorship to contribute an article about the Smithsonian Hide/Seek controversy to the Art issue they published in September (Volume 40, Issue 3, September 2011). They don’t post the entire contents of the … Continue reading

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Filed under Art, Culture, Exhibitions, Museums, Uncategorized