Arts Criticism with Gene Seymour (CNN.com, USA Today, Newsday) - 009

Gene Seymour is an arts critic and culture reporter who writes
frequently for CNN and USA Today. In New York, he was a longtime
film and jazz critic at Newsday. His writings have appeared in
The Los Angeles Times, The Nation, Entertainment Weekly, the
Washington Post, and many other publications. Gene is a
contributor to The Oxford Companion to Jazz and is the author of
Jazz: The Great American Art, a history for young adults. Gene is
a two-time winner of the New York Association of Black
Journalists Award for distinguished criticism.


Notes from the show:


Gene started out as a reporter, and approaches criticism from a
reporter's perspective.


Got his big break when Nels Elson passed along opportunity to
cover the Philadelphia Jazz Festival.


Gene's years as a television critic were among his happiest as a
journalist because he got to cover tv, politics, and culture.


Gene's came to Newsday as a New York City jazz critic, but later
provided movie criticism.


Gene was raised in a Hartford CT household which always had jazz
records playing: Miles Davis, Ahmed Jamal, Dave Brubek, Chet
Baker, Charlie Parker.


His Dad's motto: "If it doesn't have soul, it isn't worth it."


His Dad loved Paul Desmond's "Time After Time" and Sonny Stitts's
"Who Can I Turn To?"- these songs became emotional touchstones.


Music critics range from composer Virgil Thompson to George
Bernard Shaw.


It is not Gene's role to explain on behalf of a musician, but to
write on behalf of the spectator.


The art of note-taking during a live performance vs. a movie.


Lena Horne vs. the cell phone.


Jazz: The Great American Art


First Book of Jazz - Langston Hughes


"Jazz is the 20th century."


"Have We Reached the End of Jazz Itself?" - The Nation


Flying Lotus, Kendrick LaMarr, and the future of jazz.


Groundhog Day, The Big Lebowski, and giving movies a second look.


Critics' controversy over Wes Anderson.


John Leonard's disdain for All in the Family.


The passing of Harper Lee.


Better Living Through Criticism - A.O. Scott


Recommended Blogs:


James Wolcott - Vanity Fair

Christgau's Consumer Guide to Rock Music

Sergio Leone and the Infield Fly Rule

Self-Styled Siren

Sunset Gun

RogerEbert.com



The Psychology of What Makes a Great Story - Brain Pickings


This podcast hosted by New York attorney Michael Prywes was
sponsored by Prywes Schwartz, PLLC, a law firm devoted to artists
and entrepreneurs.


This podcast may contain attorney advertising. Prior results do
not guarantee future outcomes.