THE WORLD CULTURE JOURNAL

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My Archives: April 2003

Thursday, April 17, 2003

not yet existing - but in the making - and anyhow an idea overdue... It is difficult for Non-Americans to understand WHY there does not exist a Jazz Museum in New York (or in New Orleans for that matter) - but "Culture" and its importance in the USA is most of the time understood by individual enthusiasts, who have the will and endurance to build, what they believe in. Additionally, the time has to be right! The National Jazz Museum in Harlem will exist one day, because the people behind it understand about the international cultural importance of Jazz.

"On the most basic level the goal is to celebrate great jazz musicians.", says Director Loren Schoenberg. "As we broaden the context, with others I share an obsession to tell the story of America through jazz. This is something Ken Burns did with his recent documentary film for television. There's more than one way to 'skin a rabbit', more than one way to tell a story. That's the second goal. The third goal is to reflect the international scope of jazz. That may ultimately be the most significant, because we in America can't see that. People in other cultures may have to tell us about from their perspective."

Posted by WB @ 10:13 PM NY [Link]

Reports about the lost cultural treasures in Baghdad are showing clearly that "culture" plays only a minor role in a globalized world, which is driven only by the power of the markets. As a sign of protest 2 advisors to Mr.Bush resigned on April 17, 2003, because museums and libraries could have been quickly protected by US troops - similar to the oil fields.
As REUTERS reports, Martin Sullivan, who chaired the President's Advisory Committee on Cultural Property for eight years, and panel member Gary Vikan said the U.S. military had had advance warning of the danger to Iraq's historical treasures.
"We certainly know the value of oil but we certainly don't know the value of historical artifacts," Vikan, director of the Walters Art Gallery in Baltimore said. [more]

Posted by WB @ 07:32 PM NY [Link]

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