For my last post, I would like to talk about my own little media guilty pleasure. Here it goes…I am an avid reader of the New York Times Arts Section. There I said it. When push comes to shove, I am more interested in what’s happening in the music, art, and theater world than I am in politics. I know, I should care more about the more “serious” subjects in the news, but I firmly believe that the various outlets of personal expression are as important to our society as any political news. It should also be noted at this point that I double majored in Music and Art History as an undergraduate, and I am planning to pursue a career in singing, so my opinions may be more than slightly biased.
Some of my favorite pieces on the site are the videos and audio slideshows that have become integral to the site. They often include audio clips from operas they are discussing, like their coverage of John Adam’s Doctor Atomic at the Metropolitan Opera (http://video.nytimes.com/video/2008/10/12/arts/1194822981488/scenes-from-doctor-atomic.html?scp=2&sq=doctor%20atomic&st=cse), or coverage of special events celebrating the arts, like this past week’s video covering the Alvin Ailey Dance Company’s 50th Anniversary Gala (http://video.nytimes.com/video/playlist/arts/urbaneye/1194811622319/index.html#1194834813698). This is all in addition to the countless reviews of theatrical and musical productions, as well as announcements of new exhibitions, going on in and around the city. Above all, the arts section, for me at least, provides a welcome distraction from the current news stories taking over the Time’s front page. I hope this little rambling of mine has given some of you readers incentive to check out other parts of your paper besides the front page seriousness :)
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3 comments:
I don’t know if you’re just not interested in politics or you would rather focus on music and art. But I can’t follow politics that is why when I turn on the news or surf the web I am more interested in health news than any other.
I don't think you should feel bad at all for liking to read the section in the paper that interests you. If you look at my blog most of them are about some sort of going on in the sports world. It is what I like and it is what I am into. Politics is important but it isn't the only important thing in this world.
Claudia,
Well, if you are going to have a guilty media pleasure, there are worse things than the New York Times Arts section, esp. given your interests.
Doc Rod
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