Letters on Arts and Culture
Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino’s non-conformist conformism
By Joanne Laurier, 31 July 2019
Tarantino’s latest film reimagines 1969 Los Angeles and the disintegration of the traditional studio system.
Modern art in Germany and the Nazis Part 2: The Die Brücke painters
By Sybille Fuchs, 26 July 2019
The exhibition at the Brücke Museum represents a welcome change in favour of art appreciation based on a critical examination of contemporary history.
Racialism and money-grubbing: The New York Times explains why “more critics of color” are needed
By David Walsh and Fred Mazelis, 9 July 2019
In the interests of honesty, “Race-fixated upper middle class continues its campaign for positions and money” ought to have been the headline of an opinion piece published by the New York Times July 5.
Marching Song, play co-written by Orson Welles about abolitionist John Brown, to be published after 85 years
By David Walsh, 2 July 2019
Todd Tarbox has edited the play and Rowman & Littlefield will publish it in August. This is a significant cultural event. Marching Song is an important historical drama.
A conversation with Todd Tarbox, editor of Marching Song
By David Walsh, 2 July 2019
David Walsh spoke recently with Todd Tarbox, who has edited and overseen the publication of Marching Song, a play co-written by Orson Welles in 1932 about the abolitionist John Brown.
San Francisco School Board votes to destroy left-wing murals they claim are “racist” and “white supremacist”
By Toby Reese, 28 June 2019
On Tuesday evening, the San Francisco Unified School Board voted unanimously to destroy or cover over the historic 1936 “Life of George Washington Murals” at a district high school. The vote is a reactionary decision that marks a new stage in the censorship drive that began last December.
”We can’t erase history to suit people’s feelings”
San Francisco residents voice opposition to censorship of George Washington High School murals
By Evan Blake and Alex Gonzalez, 28 June 2019
Numerous residents spoke out against the destruction of art and the need to contextualize the murals for a younger audience.
Behind the cover-up of the 2008 Universal Music Group vault fire
By Kevin Reed, 17 June 2019
The recent exposure of Universal Music Group's concealment of the loss of a huge trove of postwar popular music reveals the corruption of the corporate elite, as well as the compliance of news media.
Mayor Emanuel intervenes to shut down Chicago Symphony Orchestra strike
By George Marlowe, 26 April 2019
As part of his final act on behalf of the city’s financial elite, outgoing Mayor Rahm Emanuel has offered to intervene to end the nearly two-month strike by Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) musicians
Some films from the 2019 San Francisco International Film Festival—Part 1
Paper Flags, Tehran: City of Love and Belmonte—Alienation, loneliness and other problems
By David Walsh, 26 April 2019
Paper Flags, Tehran: City of Love and Belmonte—three films from France, Iran and Uruguay, respectively—were screened at the recent San Francisco film festival.
Warner Bros. CEO’s resignation sheds revealing light on Hollywood and #MeToo campaign
By David Walsh, 22 March 2019
Kevin Tsujihara, one of the American film industry’s most powerful executives, resigned March 18 after texts were made public indicating he had promised to promote an actress’ career in exchange for sex.
A reply to a comment on the obituary of Sri Lankan filmmaker Lester James Peries
By Pani Wijesiriwardane and Gamini Karunatileka, 24 July 2018
Our basic objective was to examine Peries’s general contribution to Sri Lankan cinema and how he came to be known as its father.
A concert of relative rarities by American composer Aaron Copland
By Fred Mazelis, 23 April 2016
Copland’s jazz-influenced Piano Concerto deserves a higher profile in the orchestral repertoire.
Stephen Parker’s Bertolt Brecht. A Literary Life—a welcome biography that raises big historical issues
By Sybille Fuchs, 18 April 2016
One of the most talented and influential playwrights of the 20th century, Brecht adapted to Stalinism, with pernicious consequences for his career and work.
On sexual harassment policy
Professors’ group charges Obama administration with undermining academic freedom and due process
By David Walsh, 30 March 2016
A report by the American Association of University Professors points to the reactionary role of the sexual harassment industry on university campuses.
San Diego Latino Film Festival 2016—Part 2
The human cost of the drug war in Mexico and a drama from Venezuela: Retratos de una búsqueda and Dauna. Lo que lleva el río
By Kevin Martinez and Toby Reese, 30 March 2016
The San Diego festival showcased films and documentaries from throughout the Spanish-speaking world, including Cuba, Spain, Mexico, South and Central America.
Rolling Stone’s retraction of University of Virginia gang rape story
By David Walsh, 7 April 2015
Rolling Stone magazine commissioned Steve Coll, dean of the Columbia School of Journalism, and two colleagues, to investigate the writing and publication of “A Rape on Campus.”
The historical and political issues in Selma
By Fred Mazelis and Tom Mackaman, 20 January 2015
Most attention has been focused on the relationship between Martin Luther King and Lyndon Johnson, but far deeper questions must be explored, including the significance of the mass movement against Jim Crow segregation, its political limitations and its fate.
To End All Wars: An anthology of antiwar comics about World War I
By Jeff Lusanne, 16 January 2015
Artists from around the world have contributed 26 comics depicting the criminality and brutality of World War I.
A further comment on The Cranes Are Flying
By Wolfgang Weber, 19 June 2014
The Cranes Are Flying was a great success in East and West Germany, as it was in the Soviet Union.
Letters from our readers
17 December 2013
A selection of recent letters to the World Socialist Web Site.
Letters on the Academy Awards
28 February 2013
A selection of letters in response to “The 2013 Academy Awards: Mediocrities by and large, and at their worst.”
A comment from a reader in Uruguay on Lincoln, Django Unchained and Zero Dark Thirty
25 February 2013
A reader notes the comments of certain South American critics, part of a global phenomenon, in praise of Quentin Tarantino and Kathryn Bigelow.
Letter about The Green Mile
10 February 2000
Just saw The Green Mile. My wife and I would have never seen it had it not been for some friends who recommended it. We said, "OK, let's see it. We can't have an intelligent conversation without actually seeing it." Well, the film confirmed our worst expectations. It is without doubt one of the most disgustingly self-satisfied and stupid movies we have seen (though better, in our opinion, than Amistad). We had refrained from reading your review of it so as not to taint our perceptions. As it is, I just read it this morning and, though it was one of your most brutal pans, you were too, too kind!
A letter on It All Starts Today
6 September 1999
Dear editor,
A note in appreciation of Eyes Wide Shut
2 September 1999
While I agree that attempts to read a larger social statement into this film will inevitably fail, I feel that MJ's comment does not do Eyes Wide Shut justice. Much of the film's success has to do with Kubrick's understanding of the craft of powerful visual storytelling. The long shots, especially in the scenes between Cruise and Kidman, cement our belief in the characters and subsequently in what is occurring. This may be seen as purely technical virtuosity and thus cover for lack of a compelling story-line but I don't believe that's the case here.
A reader comments on Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut and David Walsh replies
21 August 1999
Dear Editor,
An exchange on the Wim Wenders film Buena Vista Social Club
4 August 1999
The following is a letter from a WSWS reader in response to the July 9 article "Music of life—Buena Vista Social Club " and a reply by Fred Mazelis, for the WSWS editorial board.
Readers comment on the WSWS review of Spike Lee's Summer of Sam
10 July 1999
To the editor:
Saving Private Ryan: First and second impressions
25 June 1999
To the editor:
Was 1933's "Gabriel over the White House" inspired by California gubernatorial election?
2 June 1999
To the Editor:
Titanic: An exchange of letters between David Walsh and a reader
25 February 1998
David Walsh’s review of Titanic generated a large number of letters as well as the following exchange.
Readers respond to David Walsh’s review of Titanic
25 February 1998
The WSWS has received dozens of letters on its review of the move Titanic. Here we publish some of the recent ones.
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