- Karen Archey wonders why creative workers get a pass to be assholes. In a fictitious conversation she uses the term “Rain Man of Criticism” to describe one unnamed asshole people feel compelled to work with. May we never meet this person. [e-flux conversations]
- Arts critics are suffering from increasingly strained relationships with the institutions they cover. Opera Australia has removed two critics from their comp list, including one from The Sydney Morning Herald after having received negative reviews. And Theatre Critic Joanne Kaufman from the Wall Street Journal was blacklisted by a press agent from receiving free tickets to show, after she admitted to bolting from certain shows at intermission. This podcast focuses on Denver’s Colorado Public Radio which announced last year it that it will no longer carry broadcasts of the Colorado Symphony. Apparently the main reason for this was editorial—the symphony wanted a lot more positive coverage on the radio. [WQXR via: Hyperallergic]
- Emma Sulkowicz, the Columbia University senior who has become nationally known for her performance “Carry That Weight,” will be attending Tuesday’s State of the Union address. She was invited by New York State Senator Kirsten Gillibrand who supports the bipartisan Campus Accountability and Safety Act. [Jezebel]
- This “Anime Tongue Tattoos” photo spread looks like a DIS photo shoot, but less weird. Very Internet-y, very Miley, and very many blue wigs. Pretty much, this photo spread crushes anything that once was alt into a pretty, plastic-coated display. [VICE]
- China’s Ice-Sculpture Disneyland. [UPI]
- In sci-fi movies and lit, female robots are always sexy pleasure machines. [The Guardian]
- A dictionary of Harlem Renaissance slang circa 1938. Some terms still stick with us, like “hep cat” and “jive”; others, like “barbecue” (which means girlfriend), have gone the way of slang like “eat my shorts.” [Open Culture]
- 99% Invisible, a podcast about design, architecture and invisible activity has a great segment on chairs called “On the Edge of Your Seat.” These things are more dangerous than you think—silent killers! For those in the office today, use the posture tips. [99% Invisible]
- “Civil rights” and “Martin Luther King Day” now brings up an American flag emoji for Chinese chat users, which is offensive. [The Verge]
