5AM StoryTalk Coffee Reading: Issue 14
A compilation of new and older arts-related articles that you might've missed
On the first Friday of every month, I share a list of arts-related articles (and occasionally podcasts) I’ve recently read that I think you might find illuminating/challenging/inspiring, too. I don’t necessarily agree with everything in each article/episode, but I don’t need to entirely agree with something to think it’s worthy of my time - and, when it comes to art, I encourage you to embrace the same philosophy.
Today’s links come to you in three different sections: Screen; Fine Art, Music & Page; Arts Culture & Industry. It’s capped off with some recommendations about arts newsletters to read here on Substack.
Thanks for being part of this conversation!
Cole
SCREEN
Roger Corman, 98, Dies; Prolific Master of Low-Budget Cinema
By Aljean Harmetz; The New York Times
He had hundreds of horror, science fiction and crime films to his credit. He also helped start the careers of Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola and many others.
An oral history of Roger Corman's unreleased Fantastic Four movie
By Shaurya Thapa; AV Club
As The Fantastic Four approaches its 30th anniversary, we talked to the actors, writer, and director behind Corman’s infamous unreleased film.
What George Miller Has Learned in Forty-five Years of Making “Mad Max” Movies
By Burkhard Bilger; The New Yorker
In a series of conversations, the director of “Furiosa” explains why silent films have the best action, audiences are seldom wrong, and his wife is always right.
Challengers is the best thing that could happen to polyamory
By Alex Abad-Santos; Vox
The relationship style has been the topic of talky articles and books. Finally, it’s the sexiest element of the year’s sexiest movie.
20 Years Later, Angel’s Scorched-Earth Series Finale Is Still the Perfect Ending
By Lauren Coates; Paste
Transcendent Transgression: Looking Back at Todd Haynes’ “Poison”
By Nick Joyner; Sundance Institute
This is an exceptional piece of film writing from last year.
Is there more or less sex on screen?
The Economist
Data show that the amount of sexual content in top films has sharply declined since 2000.
Women and people of color drive ratings for streaming films, UCLA diversity report finds
By Josh Rottenberg; Los Angeles Times
Kristen Stewart Says Hollywood Has ‘Chosen Four’ Female Filmmakers to Promote: It’s ‘Phony’
By Samantha Bergeson; IndieWire
"It’s easy for them to be like, 'Look what we’re doing. We’re making Maggie Gyllenhaal’s movie! We’re making Margot Robbie’s movie!'"
Tom Rothman Fetes Columbia Pictures Centennial, Talks Quentin Tarantino, Streaming & How To Bring Young Audiences Back To Movie Theaters
By Mike Fleming Jr.; Deadline
Cinema isn’t dead yet. It just needs the right people fighting for it, and Tom Rothman seems committed to being one of those people.
The Fairytale That Was Bound To Be A Nightmare
By
;A short history of a fast decade of destruction disguised as a delightful dream.
There is much to appreciate about this article from Ted, but, as a writer, I most appreciate the unique form he chose to tell this story with.
FINE ART, MUSIC & PAGE
Scottish artist receives hundreds of copies of Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four in the post
By Severin Carrell; The Guardian
Australian Billionaire Urges Removal Of Unflattering Portrait From National Gallery
By David Guido Pietroni; The Art Insider
I got to see this painting a month or so ago. It does exactly what it was meant to do - take on the powerful and despicable. Boo-hoo if billionaires don’t like the world seeing what they really look like.
Mona ordered to allow people ‘who do not identify as ladies’ into Ladies Lounge exhibit
By Jordyn Beazely; The Guardian
Tasmanian tribunal rules Museum of Old and New Art discriminated against NSW man by denying him entry to installation.
This is an excellent example of people in authority making censorious judgments because they’re art-illiterate dumbfucks completely unaware of how dumb they actually are. The brilliance of the artwork in question is that its point produced a court case that proved its point. Kirsha Kaechele, the artist behind Ladies Lounge, is an Australian national treasure as far as I’m concerned.
‘Instead of a scream’: the Palestinian artist who does a Gaza drawing every day
By Maisara Baroud; The Guardian
‘It’s basically inaccessible without a phone’: are kids losing their love for music?
By Oliver Keens; The Guardian
Children used to obsessively put CDs and 7-inches on repeat, but streaming means they need digital devices and parental permission to play music. And there’s little being done to help.
I’ve never considered any of this…and I find it culturally terrifying.
ARTS CULTURE & INDUSTRY
Why Creatives Will Win by Thinking Small
By
;In 2024, the path to success has been turned upside down.
‘Devastating and disappointing’: Newsom’s proposed budget cuts to the arts would place California 45th nationwide
By Lily Janiak; The San Francisco Chronicle
Californians for the Arts CEO Julie Baker said the governor’s plan will “primarily hurt communities of color, small-budget arts organizations and rural communities.”
Gavin Newsom is the worst. I really wish people would stop pretending he’s the answer to anything just because he’s traditionally handsome and articulate.
Scarlett Johansson Says She Was ‘Shocked’ and ‘Angered’ Over OpenAI’s Use of a Voice That Was ‘Eerily Similar to Mine’
By Todd Spangler; Variety
Antitrust Enforcers to Break Up Ticketmaster and End the "Ticketmaster Tax"
By
;The "People's Lawyer" Jonathan Kanter wants to make concerts and live events more affordable, and today the Department of Justice filed suit to make it happen.
SUBSTACK RECOMMENDATIONS
I enjoy reading the following Substack newsletters about art. Maybe you will, too. I try to change these up every “reading list”, so there is always something new here.
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If this article added anything to your life but you’re not up for a paid subscription, please consider buying me a “coffee” so I can keep as much of this newsletter free as possible for the dreamers who couldn’t afford it otherwise.
There are some really interesting links here. Thanks so much, Cole. I particularly enjoyed the economist article about sex on film and the Guardian piece about the accessibility of music for children. Like you, it was not something which had occurred to me. Lots of food for thought!