arts

Harvard Goes To Hollywood

Kate Bonamici Flaim — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 13:00:00 -0400

Mia Riverton

Founder and President
Harvardwood
Los Angeles, California

MIA RIVERTON, 30, is an actress/producer/writer who in 1999 cofounded a volunteer networking group for Harvard grads in the arts, media, and entertainment. The organization now has more than 3,000 members in chapters worldwide, including the class of 2013.

A Small-Business Documentary Sparks Discussion

Laura Palotie — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 15:59:40 -0500

Last night I attended a small-business forum organized by Manhattan's Community Board 4 that addressed the problematic future of New York's small businesses. The meeting was held in conjunction with a screening of Virginie Alvine-Perrette's documentary, Twilight Becomes Night, in which she recorded the gradual disappearance of several mom-and pop stores in the city. I first met Perrette while interviewing her for an Inc.com article (you can read it here).

Leading in Times of Recession

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 10:46:32 -0500

Recession Fashion

Laura Palotie — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:14:36 -0500

The depressing economy may be prompting us to keep our wallets shut, but so far it's doing very little to curb our fashion obsession. Amidst widespread corporate layoffs, our nation elected a new president, and the subsequent fashion coverage follows: This is how you can get Michelle Obama's look, and this is what you should purchase for your next job interview.

Can We Laugh at Obama?

Laura Palotie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:42:36 -0500

After witnessing two years of emotional wrangling and finger-pointing, most of us are relieved to put the election season behind us. But as the nation transitions from the erratic, divisive Bush-era into the historically momentous presidency of Obama the rhetoritician, some journalists are declaring crisis mode on a flourishing art form: the political satire. Bush-impersonations have gone past the point of cliché, but no comedian is yet to figure out how to nail the uniquely relatable stateliness of Barack Obama.

How the Recession is Impacting Music, Too

Laura Palotie — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 17:45:08 -0400

As the effects of the financial crisis ripple beyond Wall Street, there has been much talk about how various demographics will be impacted. You may have read the account of one dismayed cab driver in New York Magazine, for example, or a New York Times piece detailing the dimming of New York's culture of greed (think lavish restaurants, pricey hotels and exclusive clubs).

What's In a Name -- Often Your Brand's Identity

Matt Enock — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 23:12:32 -0400

I recently visited the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in New York City. Formerly known as the American Craft Museum, MAD changed its name in 2002. Originally dedicated to the exhibition of contemporary objects created in media such as clay, glass, wood, metal, and fiber, the current institution also embraces architecture, fashion, interior design, technology, performing arts, and art and design-driven industries.

Is Hollywood Benefiting from the Current Recession?

Laura Palotie — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:21:07 -0400

The U.S economy may be in shambles, but for the movie industry, the next two months seem to signal a nice upsurge. Not only does the most universal form of escapist entertainment tend to fare especially well during economic downturns, but the end of October also signals the unofficial peak of the yearly Academy Awards-race.

Once Again, Oliver Stone Surprises Critics

Laura Palotie — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 16:12:26 -0400

Multiple Oscar-winner Oliver Stone may be adapting new tones as a filmmaker, but he has certainly not lost his ability to surprise those who claim to understand his style and artistic motivations. After the director adapted a shockingly apolitical approach to the events of September 11th and instead turned them into a small-scale tale of survival in World Trade Center, some expected his biopic of George W. Bush to signal a return to the fearless societal criticism that made Stone famous.

Celebrities Rock the Vote...Do We Still Listen?

Laura Palotie — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:05:46 -0400

The idea of comparing Barack Obama to Paris Hilton may be preposterous, but the Democratic Candidate's status as a full-fledged cultural icon is undeniable. While Che Guevara used to be the most likely political figure to end up on an Urban Outfitters shirt, stylized Obama-graphics now represent the trendiest in T-shirt design. Thanks to Obama's youth-friendly image, catchy rhetoric and comfort with the digital realm, he's the first candidate in decades to authentically appeal to the primary consumers of pop culture.

Emmys Hit by an Academy Awards-Curse?

Laura Palotie — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 17:40:26 -0400

Last Sunday's Emmy awards, like the night's big winner, Mad Men, failed to attract the desired fan attention; at 12.2 million viewers, the awards show's ratings were the worst since 1990. But unlike the decorated and critically praised AMC series whose viewership has crawled in the 920,000-range since last season, the telecast received almost universally lukewarm responses from critics (USA Today called it "hideously awful").

'In the Family' Demonstrates Inspired First-Person Filmmaking

Laura Palotie — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:18:29 -0400

Earlier this week, I attended the New York premiere of filmmaker Joanna Rudnick's first-person documentary, In the Family, at the Paley Center for Media. Scheduled to run on October 1st on PBS, the film chronicles Rudnick's efforts to explore the psychological effects of a genetic mutation (BRCA) that dramatically increases the risk of breast and ovarian cancer in its carriers. Rudnick herself was tested positive for the mutation in her mid-20s, making her a central figure in the resulting narrative.

Spielberg Draws on Rear Window, Gets Slapped with a Lawsuit

Laura Palotie — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 15:12:53 -0400

When Disturbia, the pre-Transformers Shia LaBeouf-vehicle hit theaters last year, most critics made reference to its similarities to Hitchcock's universally hailed Rear Window. Both featured a murderer next door, an intently curious neighbor who sees something not intended for his eyes, and a neighborhood that's slow to catch on to his suspicions. Perhaps most importantly, both feature main characters who are somehow immobilized (one by an injury, the other by an ankle bracelet).

Complaining in Song

Laura Palotie — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 16:31:34 -0400

I recently paid a visit to the P.S. 1 Contemporary Art Center in Queens that, through the summer, has hosted an exhibit entitled Arctic Hysteria: New Art from Finland. As a native Finn, I generally consider it my patriotic duty to demonstrate interest whenever anything Finnish makes it across the Atlantic, but this time my interest was also fueled by the exhibit's title itself. How would the stubbornly internal, dreamlike madness of the Nordic winter translate in the self-conscious and status-driven city of New York?

The Return of the Boy Band

Laura Palotie — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 23:40:56 -0400

New York's annual Fringe Festival Turns the Spotlight on Independent Theater

Laura Palotie — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 17:53:30 -0400

Off-Off Broadway is the perpetual underdog of New York's arts scene, but to a non-theater aficionado, exploring the wide-spanning thespian scene beyond Broadway can easily feel intimidating--like sitting away from the hipster kids' table. Indie theater projects are seemingly everywhere, from obscure black box theaters to restaurant back rooms and neighborhood parks, but how should an unfamiliar audience member distinguish between a low-budget gem and a failed vanity project?

Mangled Words

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:48:44 -0400

When you look in the mirror, see glass

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:44:52 -0400

Rehearsal Can Make For More Effective Leadership

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:28:46 -0400

One of the great prevailing myths in the workplace is that our time is actually planned. In truth, our day is a series of interruptions and surprises. The best-laid plans give way to spontaneous conversations, debate, and decision-making. Unanticipated external influences demand adaptation. Simply, we are improvising much more than most of us realize.

Reframing Authenticity

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:24:20 -0400

Authenticity is a popular topic amongst leadership pundits. Unfortunately, much of the dialogue has been misleading, absent the critical conversation on role and characterization appropriateness. To be authentic, is not just to be who you are, flaws and all, flaunting ‘self’ regardless of circumstance. Rather, it is about clarity of intention, and drawing on oneself to deliver on that intention.

Inner Work of Leadership

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:22:35 -0400

The ‘when’ and the ‘what’ of leadership

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:21:25 -0400

‘When’ is different from ‘What’.

‘What’ suggests a thing, an item, an object, something that may easily be defined, observed, measured. ‘When’ suggests a time, an experience, a feeling. Whereas ‘what’ may be short-lived, ‘when’ is ongoing.

Reclaiming the Power of our Senses

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:19:59 -0400

Learning form Artists: Listening

Rochelle Mucha — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 16:17:38 -0400

Aesthetic Intelligence: A Leadership Capacity

Rochelle Mucha — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 13:12:38 -0400

Introduction to Blog