The Schmooze lies at the intersection of high and low culture. Here, the latest developments and trends in Jewish art, books, dance, film, music, media, television and theater are all assimilated into one handy pop culture blog.
The Schmooze
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Out and About: Frank Gehry’s Paper Bag Building; Digitized Music, Old and New
Alex Ross and Norman Lebrecht examine digitized music manuscripts from the Morgan Library. A couple of Israelis have recorded a song entirely using iPhone apps — and it’s a hit. A forthcoming biography of J.D. Salinger and Henry Kissinger’s “On China” are among The Daily Beast’s most anticipated books of 2011. Is Frank Gehry’s design…
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This Week in Forward Arts and Culture
Jerome A. Chanes goes to see The Living Theatre’s production of “Korach.” Curt Schleier tells the story of three Broadway producers. Jay Michaelson questions whether mysticism is real. Philologos is possessed. Laurence Zuckerman looks back at the life of Judah L. Magnes, one of 20th-century Jewry’s most important — and most overlooked — leaders. Glenn…
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Too Many Steven Cohens
How many prominent Steven (or Stephen) Cohens must exist to warrant an article in the New York Times? Try eight, and that’s not including the additional Steven Cohens – the magician, the wrestler, the soccer player – found on Wikipedia. There’s Steven Cohen, secretary to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. Steve Cohen, a Memphis congressman….
The Latest
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Hitler-Mocking Dog Makes Nazis Angry
The Forward recently reported on the heroic exploits of Wojtek, the Nazi-fighting Polish bear. Now comes belated news of another animal who antagonized the Germans in World War II. Jackie, a mutt belonging to Finnish pharmaceutical tycoon Tor Burg, was trained to imitate Hitler by his Nazi-hating owners, according to newly released documents cited by…
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New York Philharmonic Puts On a Light and Sound Show Worthy of Creation
After listening to and viewing a rehearsal for the New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s presentation of “In Seven Days,” the 2008 concerto for piano and moving image by Thomas Adès and Tal Rosner being performed January 7 and 8 at Avery Fisher Hall, I was ready to become a creationist. Not that the piece works to…
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Friday Film: Directing and the Dirty War
A tragic event can provide a filmmaker with compelling material for a movie, but simply presenting calamity on the big screen doesn’t necessarily result in a good story. In director Fabian Hofman’s semi-autobiographical “I Miss You” (“Te Extraño”), which screened in November at the Boston Jewish Film Festival and will be shown on January 22…
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Mossad’s Most Outrageous Plots
Spend enough time getting your news from the Middle East, and you, too, might conclude there’s no dark deed, no far-fetched plot, that’s too complicated or bizarre for the Mossad. Arab governments and pundits have focused recently on the Mossad’s dark dealings in the animal world, “arresting” an allegedly Zionist vulture in Saudi Arabia, and…
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Barbra Streisand in Talks To Star in ‘Gypsy’ Remake
From “Papa, can you hear me” to Mama Rose: Musical-theater fans and Barbra Streisand cultists are plotzing over the news that La Streisand has reportedly met with composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright Arthur Laurents to discuss starring in a film version of “Gypsy,” their classic 1959 musical. According to a dispatch in yesterday’s NYTimes.com Artsbeat…
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Books Old and Grey and Only in the Way
Earlier this week, Michael Wex, author of “The Frumkiss Family Business,” wrote about writing about intermarriage and being the kvetch guy. His blog posts are being featured this week on The Arty Semite courtesy of the Jewish Book Council and My Jewish Learning’s Author Blog series. For more information on the series, please visit: I…
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Jerusalem in 2111: Aliens and UFOs?
Sharing Jerusalem hasn’t been easy for humans, but maybe aliens can help. That’s the prize-winning idea behind “Secular Quarter #3,” a sci-fi film that claimed $10,000 recently from the Association of Planning and Conservation, an Israeli organization concerned with Jerusalem architecture. The group selected “Secular Quarter #3” (shown below) as the winner of its “Jerusalem…
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Office Affair
Crossposted from Haaretz How can a lone worker express his individuality in a corporate firm employing hundreds of people? Will a colorful coffee cup, some family photos or a distinctive fashion sense suffice to attracts the attention of colleagues and the secretaries? At the renovated Neopharm building in Petah Tikva, architects Yael Benaroya and Yoram…
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In Case You Missed It
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Opinion Ireland’s prime minister gave condolences for Hitler’s death — here’s why that’s a contemporary problem
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Fast Forward The fires in Israel are under control — but debate is raging over their cause
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Fast Forward Argentina declassifies more than 1,800 files on Nazi escape via ‘rat-lines’ to South America
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Fast Forward Betar USA founder banned from World Zionist Congress over feud with Israeli firebrand Shai Davidai
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