The 2008 MacArthurs were just announced. And one goes to Alex Ross, the New YorkÂer music critÂic who recentÂly pubÂlished The Rest is Noise, a wideÂly praised work that makes sense of 20th cenÂtuÂry clasÂsiÂcal music. Below we have Ross talkÂing about his musiÂcal backÂground, the New York music scene and the genÂerÂal gist of his book.
To the tune of the InspecÂtor GadÂget Theme. So far viewed 14.5 milÂlion times. PretÂty amazÂing. Take it away (and check out the musiÂcian’s CD here) …
One of our British readÂers turned us on to this post by the Guardian, notÂing that they took a page from our genÂerÂal playÂbook. The post feaÂtures 50 of the best YouTube clips from across the arts, some of which we’ve feaÂtured here in the past. Among the videos, you’ll find vinÂtage perÂforÂmances by John Coltrane and BilÂlie HolÂiÂday, readÂings by Jack KerÂouac, an interÂview with Eugène Ionesco, clips of NirÂvana rehearsÂing in a garage, Vladimir Nabokov talkÂing about LoliÂta, JackÂson PolÂlock dripÂping paint outÂside his home, and MarÂlon BranÂdo doing a screen test for Rebel WithÂout a Cause. We have postÂed the BranÂdo clip below. There are some defÂiÂnite gems here. Now dive in. And don’t forÂget to work through our YouTube playlist and our piece 70 Signs of IntelÂliÂgent Life at YouTube, where you’ll find enrichÂing video colÂlecÂtions.
Thanks Stephen for the tip. And readÂers, keep the good recÂomÂmenÂdaÂtions comÂing!
In RadioÂheadÂ’s new video for “House of Cards”, no camÂeras or lights were used. Instead “3D plotÂting techÂnoloÂgies colÂlectÂed inforÂmaÂtion about the shapes and relÂaÂtive disÂtances of objects.” And the video was made entireÂly with visuÂalÂizaÂtions of that data. You can watch the video below and find out more about the makÂing of the video here.
Tinysong.com offers a serÂvice that’s rather impresÂsive. You go to their homeÂpage, search for a song, and then you can lisÂten to it online and share it with a friend (via a speÂcialÂly creÂatÂed url). Just how it all works (copyÂright includÂed), and just how deep the colÂlecÂtion actuÂalÂly goes, I am not totalÂly sure. But, the varÂiÂous tests that I threw at it sugÂgest that there’s a fair amount of depth there.
We're hoping to rely on loyal readers, rather than erratic ads. Please click the Donate button and support Open Culture. You can use Paypal, Venmo, Patreon, even Crypto! We thank you!
Open Culture scours the web for the best educational media. We find the free courses and audio books you need, the language lessons & educational videos you want, and plenty of enlightenment in between.