AnothÂer big digÂiÂtal archive went live this week. Backed by the UnitÂed Nations, the World DigÂiÂtal Library wants to cenÂtralÂize culÂturÂal treaÂsures from around the world. ManÂuÂscripts, maps, rare books, musiÂcal scores, recordÂings, films, prints, phoÂtographs, and archiÂtecÂturÂal drawÂings — they will all be absorbed into this growÂing online colÂlecÂtion, and users will be able to navÂiÂgate through these mateÂriÂals in sevÂen difÂferÂent lanÂguages (AraÂbic, ChiÂnese, EngÂlish, French, PorÂtuguese, SpanÂish and RussÂian). The colÂlecÂtion (to which Google conÂtributed $3 milÂlion in 2005) now hosts about 1,250 artiÂfacts, a fracÂtion of what it will evenÂtuÂalÂly include. The iniÂtial colÂlecÂtion feaÂtures some gems. Take for examÂple the Tale of the GenÂji, a JapanÂese text from the earÂly 11th cenÂtuÂry that’s often conÂsidÂered “the first great novÂel in world litÂerÂaÂture.” You can also take a close look at some OraÂcle Bones from ChiÂna cirÂca 1200 BC. Or how about these iconÂic phoÂtos from The Great DepresÂsion or these shots of the great JackÂie RobinÂson. To learn more about this new digÂiÂtal archive, read this piece in The WashÂingÂton Post.
World Digital Library
Web 2.0 to Book Deal in 3 Minutes
After Seth HarÂwood got his MFA at the Iowa WritÂers’ WorkÂshop, he began pubÂlishÂing in traÂdiÂtionÂal magÂaÂzines and jourÂnals, as most young writÂers do. But those pubÂliÂcaÂtions were slow to launch his career. Things changed, howÂevÂer, once he startÂed pubÂlishÂing online. And they realÂly changed when he released his crime novÂel Jack Wakes Up as a free podÂcast (via iTunes, RSS Feed, & MP3) and disÂtribÂuted it through social netÂworks. Web 2.0 broadÂened the reach of his work, attractÂed fans worldÂwide, and ultiÂmateÂly landÂed HarÂwood a nice book deal with RanÂdom House. (RH will be pubÂlishÂing Jack Wakes Up in print earÂly next month). In the short video above, HarÂwood gives you a quick look inside the makÂing of his podÂcast, and how it brings expoÂsure to his work. If you’re an up-and-comÂing writer, there’s cerÂtainÂly someÂthing here to think about. You can find out more about Seth’s work at SethHarwood.com.
Mark Twain’s New Book
Mark Twain died nearÂly a cenÂtuÂry ago but that hasÂn’t slowed him down. Twain has a new book comÂing out today. It’s called “Who is Mark Twain,” and it brings togethÂer 24 preÂviÂousÂly unpubÂlished stoÂries, one of which you can read over at The Wall Street JourÂnal. The piece is entiÂtled “Frank Fuller and My First New York LecÂture.” Here you go. Served up fresh.
Paul McCartney Live @ Coachella
Paul McCartÂney played a long 35 song set at CoachelÂla this past weekÂend. And now we’re getÂting a litÂtle peek at his perÂforÂmance. Here, in homage to George HarÂriÂson, Paul plays “SomeÂthing” and a litÂtle ukulele.
Watch Super Size Me and Other Feature Films on YouTube
MorÂgan SpurÂlockÂ’s 2004 docÂuÂmenÂtary, Super Size Me, is availÂable on YouTube for all to watch. Spend 30 days eatÂing nothÂing but McDonÂald’s fast food and what hapÂpens? It’s not pretÂty. But you’ll get the picÂture in an enterÂtainÂing 100 minÂutes. Super Size Me was nomÂiÂnatÂed for an AcadÂeÂmy Award, and won prizes at SunÂdance and elseÂwhere. Give it a watch. And note that you can now watch othÂer feaÂture-length films on YouTube here. You’ll find some good ones in the docÂuÂmenÂtary & biogÂraÂphy secÂtion.
J.G.Ballard on Sensation
J.G. BalÂlard, the author of Crash and Empire died at 78 this weekÂend. Here we have a short interÂview from 1986 where he talks about how vioÂlent senÂsaÂtions now lubriÂcate our modÂern world. It’s this line of thinkÂing that finds its way into Crash, a conÂtroÂverÂsial book that David CroÂnenÂberg brought to the big screen in 1996.
Photo Animation Goodness
Give this a minute. It gets quite good once it gets going. Thanks Philip for sendÂing this along. (ReadÂers always feel free to send intelÂliÂgent audio & video our way.)
Talent = 10,000 Hours + Luck
Take MalÂcolm GladÂwell’s new book, OutÂliers: The StoÂry of SucÂcess. Boil it down. Make it funÂny. And here you have our next video proÂduced by KirÂby FerÂguÂson. NB that there are a few words sprinÂkled in that won’t be safe for work (unless you work in a speÂcial kind of place).
John Coltrane’s My Favorite Things (1961)
Rewind the videoÂtape to 1961. John Coltrane, Eric DolÂphy, RegÂgie WorkÂman, and Elvin Jones hit the stage in Baden Baden, GerÂmany and give you a very smooth verÂsion of “My Favorite Things.” A jazz clasÂsic, no doubt. And cerÂtainÂly a brilÂliant bit of archival footage.
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David Sedaris Reads “Of Mice and Men”
David Sedaris fans, this is a quick one for you. Here, Sedaris reads from his newish book, When You are Engulfed in Flames. The stoÂry is called “Of Mice and Men” (his stoÂry, not SteinÂbeckÂ’s), and you can lisÂten to it here or via iTunes.
And just for good meaÂsure, I’m throwÂing in a pretÂty good Sedaris imperÂsonÂation. Call it “David Sedaris DelivÂers a PizÂza.”
How Do You Use Open Courses?
I was asked by a newsÂpaÂper reporter today how peoÂple, like you, are using open uniÂverÂsiÂty coursÂes (such as those found in our colÂlecÂtion of Free CoursÂes). And the truth is, I’m not always sure. So I figÂured, why not put the quesÂtion out there and ask you. Here it goes: How are you using these coursÂes? Are you lisÂtenÂing to (or watchÂing) these coursÂes pureÂly for perÂsonÂal enrichÂment? Or are you spendÂing time with these coursÂes for proÂfesÂsionÂal reaÂsons? Are you tryÂing to boost your resume/career with these coursÂes? Also, durÂing this recesÂsion, are these coursÂes sudÂdenÂly more attracÂtive? Or were they attracÂtive to you all along? LastÂly, what topÂics do you genÂerÂalÂly tend to focus on? HisÂtoÂry? LitÂerÂaÂture? ComÂputÂer SciÂence? Physics?
Ok, folks, give a hand and let me know your thoughts. Please feel free to write your thoughts in the comÂments below, or write us at mail [at] openculture.com.
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