Observing the pieces of a fragmented self
Observing the pieces of a fragmented self
From an overwhelming slew of art, literature, music, cinema and theater references, there seems to emerge a provisional feel for order in William Kentridge’s filmic worlds: worlds created between the artist and spectators’ activity in constructing narratives from discrete fragments. How this materializes is not always prone to clear analysis and it is not always clear to the artist at the time of making. In part, this is because Kentridge often works from tales of the absurd, such as Nikolai Gogol’s short story “The Nose,” which dissociates itself from its owner and disguises itself as a gentleman to the bewilderment of the author, and Alfred Jarry’s play “Ubu Roi” with its “disembraining” machine and the central characters’ self-gratifications.
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It’s fast, it’s furious, and it’s a complete flop
The article “the” is missing from the latest installment of the “The Fast and the Furious” franchise, now in its fourth sequel — a probable maneuver to lead people into thinking this is the original and arguably the best “THE Fast and THE Furious” — and lure them into theaters. Grammatical antics ain’t enough however, to cover up the gaping plot holes, uninspired digitalized action and hammy dialogue that in certain places can get pretty excruciating: “I like a woman who’s 20 percent angel, 80 percent devil . . . ” HUH? Oh well. I know such complaints are superfluous given the fact that the franchise is designed to show cars and cars and cars and really not much else. “Fast & Furious” fills this requirement admirably: The film races vehicles and guzzles gas like the gulf wars never…
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There’s a new maestro in town
The New York Philharmonic led by conductor Alan Gilbert, who debuted as its new music director at the opening gala concert on Sept. 16, heads off for an Asian tour in October, with Tokyo as the first stop. “I pretty much grew up with the New York Philharmonic,” says Gilbert, a 42-year-old New York native and the son of NYP violinists (his father has retired, but his mother continues to be a member). Gilbert has attended NYP concerts and rehearsals since childhood, and has also accompanied his parents on world tours, particularly spending a lot of time in Japan, as his mother is Japanese. His sister, Jennifer, is also a top-level violinist who plays in Japan frequently.
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