Sir Henry Wood had ideas about popularising classical music too - his idea was to play in a public park where people could just promenade around, hence "The Proms". I think it was his collaborators who also introduced concerts in halls where you could bring in your own food and drink (and smoke) to attract a wider audience., as well as selling tickets more cheaply than the usual rates.
A while back the BBC had a service where when you watched the Proms on TV, you could turn on an alternative subtitle-like view where it explained background information about the music and the composer - in a much more chatty than stuffy way - and I really enjoyed watching that.
John McWhorter has talked about this, but one thing they could do for Shakespeare is to translate many of the words into modern English. A lot of the reason these plays are hard to understand do not come from him using words in a poetic/unusual way. Rather, a lot of words are used in their standard way, but the meaning has drifted sense (e.g. curiosity meaning precision, faculties meaning authority, character meaning writing, science meaning knowledge, etc.)
This is controversial, for some reason, but no one would object to this for Beowful, for instance. We understand that there's been so much change since Old English that we can't be expected to understand the original. Do we think a modern Greek speaker should be able to understand ancient Greek? A modern Spanish speaker could read the original Aeneid? Of course not, language changes.
As always, I love your ideas -- this week, about how to make museums and music performances more accessible or fun. Love it.
Definitely the ads, the food (and sometimes the halftime) are the best parts of the Super Bowl.
But Mari -- I really REALLY thought it was required of EVERY American living abroad, whenever football is mentioned, to sigh and say in a voice full of ennui, “oh you mean AMERICAN football--soccer is the real football.”
I didn’t realize you could opt out of that little exercise.
1) The problem with paying NCAA athletes really comes from who gets paid because most sports don't produce revenue. Football players should be, for sure, but I still think we need to think bigger and just remove college football from its connection to colleges.
2) Want to protect your youth from football? Don't let them play it! Think this is nuts? Super Bowl starting left tackle Jordan Mailata never played football until he was drafted. Making the sport Adults Only would not just be safer but also level the playing field for non-Americans.
3) The ultimate way to make football safer is to end the dumb unlimited substitutions rule. Plus, the game would be far more exciting. Tom Brady, the Greatest of All Time? Please. Real QBs also play defense and kick.
4) Perhaps the best thing about Texas is their general understanding that people should be able to drink anywhere there's something else to do (in wet counties). Just let people drink in museums.
5) Your poll is completely unfair. The Patriots, Cowboys, and Saints are all loathsome, but the Packers are sweet and lovable! I couldn't vote All of the Above but I want it on record that I wish I could've voted for all three of those teams.
The museum taster pass is a brilliant idea!
Sir Henry Wood had ideas about popularising classical music too - his idea was to play in a public park where people could just promenade around, hence "The Proms". I think it was his collaborators who also introduced concerts in halls where you could bring in your own food and drink (and smoke) to attract a wider audience., as well as selling tickets more cheaply than the usual rates.
A while back the BBC had a service where when you watched the Proms on TV, you could turn on an alternative subtitle-like view where it explained background information about the music and the composer - in a much more chatty than stuffy way - and I really enjoyed watching that.
I vote Mari for president.
John McWhorter has talked about this, but one thing they could do for Shakespeare is to translate many of the words into modern English. A lot of the reason these plays are hard to understand do not come from him using words in a poetic/unusual way. Rather, a lot of words are used in their standard way, but the meaning has drifted sense (e.g. curiosity meaning precision, faculties meaning authority, character meaning writing, science meaning knowledge, etc.)
This is controversial, for some reason, but no one would object to this for Beowful, for instance. We understand that there's been so much change since Old English that we can't be expected to understand the original. Do we think a modern Greek speaker should be able to understand ancient Greek? A modern Spanish speaker could read the original Aeneid? Of course not, language changes.
As always, I love your ideas -- this week, about how to make museums and music performances more accessible or fun. Love it.
Definitely the ads, the food (and sometimes the halftime) are the best parts of the Super Bowl.
But Mari -- I really REALLY thought it was required of EVERY American living abroad, whenever football is mentioned, to sigh and say in a voice full of ennui, “oh you mean AMERICAN football--soccer is the real football.”
I didn’t realize you could opt out of that little exercise.
That Budweiser commercial is adorable.
1) The problem with paying NCAA athletes really comes from who gets paid because most sports don't produce revenue. Football players should be, for sure, but I still think we need to think bigger and just remove college football from its connection to colleges.
2) Want to protect your youth from football? Don't let them play it! Think this is nuts? Super Bowl starting left tackle Jordan Mailata never played football until he was drafted. Making the sport Adults Only would not just be safer but also level the playing field for non-Americans.
3) The ultimate way to make football safer is to end the dumb unlimited substitutions rule. Plus, the game would be far more exciting. Tom Brady, the Greatest of All Time? Please. Real QBs also play defense and kick.
4) Perhaps the best thing about Texas is their general understanding that people should be able to drink anywhere there's something else to do (in wet counties). Just let people drink in museums.
5) Your poll is completely unfair. The Patriots, Cowboys, and Saints are all loathsome, but the Packers are sweet and lovable! I couldn't vote All of the Above but I want it on record that I wish I could've voted for all three of those teams.