Arts & Culture

Recently actor Matthew McConaughey, speaking of his desire to “evolve” as an actor and make more interesting films, shared his perspective on selfishness with GQ: I got much more selfish. I'm a fan of the word selfish. Self. Ish. When I say I have gotten a lot more self-ish, I…

[caption id="attachment_9808" align="alignright" width="300"] Image: Randstad Canada[/caption] ABC’s reality show Shark Tank offers a rare showcase of the character and abilities that entrepreneurs and investors cultivate to create and build businesses. The show features entrepreneurs who pitch their ideas to five investor “sharks” and seek to negotiate financing. On past…

Monsters Inc.—the story of lovable monsters who learn to make children laugh rather than scream—is one of my favorite Pixar animated films and among my top films of any genre. I was therefore thrilled that Pixar (now owned by Disney) created a prequel, Monsters University, released this week on DVD.…

Can you tell the difference between “real” modern art and the artwork of toddlers? You’re not alone if you can’t. A few years ago, ABC displayed “masterpieces of modern art” along with junk, such as “a piece of framed fabric ‘20/20’ bought at a thrift store for $5.” Most people…

When people think of 3D printing, they typically have in mind high-tech mechanical or medical devices, but this technology offers much broader potential than one might suppose. Fashion designer Michael Schmidt and architect Francis Bitonti have created what they describe as “the first fully articulated gown” using computer modeling and…

Jeff Britting, a composer and curator of the Ayn Rand Archives, has adapted Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem as stage play, which will be presented in New York City by the Austin Shakespeare Theater Company. Under the artistic direction of Ann Ciccolella, the production was originally performed in Austin, Texas in…

With this week’s DVD release of Star Trek into Darkness, now is a good time to evaluate or reevaluate the oft-stated Star Trek claim, “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few” (or “the one”). This claim is made in various scenes in the films, including in…

[caption id="attachment_30881" align="alignright" width="233"] Image: Nick Ares[/caption] The History Channel’s “reality” television show Pawn Stars not only reveals interesting facts about eclectic household items, it also demonstrates the value of pawnshops, how this business works, and, in so doing, the nature of trade in general. The pawnshop owners and their…

Less than a year ago, Koni Dole, a high school football player from Montana, broke his leg in the final game of the season. The injury resulted in the loss of his lower right leg. One might reasonably assume that this injury ended Dole’s football career. But it didn’t. As…

While many Americans turn their attention to the start of the NFL football season, others anticipate a lesser-known but intensely exciting competition gearing up in the San Francisco bay: the 34th America's Cup. In this great sailboat race, competitors showcase their engineering prowess, mental and physical training, and skill at…