⚡ Supreme Court rules against Andy Warhol in copyright case
PLUS: Dissecting the "Anatomy of a Breakthrough" | Spring art auction season has mixed results
Clayton Hester
May 19, 2023
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Trends & Changes
Spring art auction season has mixed results
💡 Sotheby's auctions provided modest relief for market watchers after underwhelming evening auctions at Christie's and Phillips. The evening saw withdrawals, passed lots, and workmanlike sales, indicating a transition or correction in the art market. Notably, a significant artwork, Yoshitomo Nara's Haze Days, was withdrawn mid-sale, contributing to the unease. However, the Contemporary portion of the auction fared better, with solid performances by lots estimated at $10 million or more. Despite mixed signals, some experts view the results as a return to reality rather than impending gloom, suggesting more conservative estimates in the future. Overall, the auctions felt authentic and indicative of market conditions.
Supreme Court rules against Andy Warhol
👑 The Supreme Court ruled that Andy Warhol's series of silk screens based on a photograph of Prince infringed on the photographer's copyright. The 7-2 ruling rejected arguments that Warhol's work was transformative and therefore exempt from copyright concerns. The decision has significant implications for the art world and the balance between an artist's freedom and copyright restrictions. Justice Elena Kagan, in a stinging dissent, warned that the ruling could stifle creativity and called for a reconsideration of the outcome.
Saudi Arabia Film Festival plays the long game
🎥 Saudi Arabia's first and most local film festival, the Saudi Film Festival (SFF), had a humble beginning in 2008 with just 80 filmmakers who learned about the event through word-of-mouth. Despite the country's ban on cinemas and public gatherings, the festival persisted, taking a hiatus in 2009 due to conservative backlash. It made a triumphant return in 2015 and has since grown exponentially, accepting 230 film submissions in its ninth edition and attracting over 16,000 attendees. The festival focuses on supporting and advancing local Saudi filmmaking while also aiming to develop the quality of films as a medium of communication in the country. 🎬
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Innovation History
📸 Love at first sight sparked by a photograph was a common theme in the 19th century, fueled by the allure of the daguerreotype. This early form of photography fascinated writers and readers alike, who believed that a single glimpse at a stranger's portrait could ignite passionate affection. The daguerreotype's accessibility to the middle class and its perceived ability to reveal a person's true nature contributed to the romantic craze. While the notion of instant love may seem far-fetched today, it was a prevailing theme in penny press romances, where couples would leap into lightning-fast engagements based on a few inches of a stranger's face.
💡 Alan Turing's groundbreaking work in 1936 defined computation and introduced the concept of the Turing machine. This abstract machine, although intangible, serves as a conceptual model of computation. It reads and alters symbols on an infinite tape according to predefined rules, ultimately providing a concrete answer to whether a function is computable. Turing's machine not only solved the Entscheidungsproblem posed by Hilbert and Ackermann but also laid the foundation for theoretical computer science and the invention of electronic computers. It proved that certain problems in mathematics are undecidable, and its universal variant inspired the development of modern computers. Additionally, probabilistic Turing machines have practical applications in cryptography, optimization, and machine learning. These abstract machines demonstrate the value of asking fundamental questions in scientific exploration.
Skillsetting
🖼️ A thought-provoking article in Psyche emphasizes the importance of visual literacy and the art of close looking. The author reflects on their experience teaching art history and how students often miss significant details in famous paintings. They argue that visual literacy should be taught more extensively, as we live in an image-saturated world where the ability to observe and interpret visuals is crucial. The article highlights the need to slow down, examine images closely, and understand the context and intention behind them. Ultimately, close looking allows for deeper understanding and a richer engagement with visual material in our fast-paced society.
Breakthroughs Today
📚 "Anatomy of a Breakthrough" by Adam Alter offers insights on overcoming creative blocks and achieving success. Alter emphasizes reframing failure as a stepping stone to success and dispels the notion that creativity declines over time. He highlights the importance of persistence, learning from mistakes, and embracing incremental improvements. The book also explores the value of age and the benefits of experiencing and overcoming challenges repeatedly. Alter provides practical strategies such as setting smaller goals, seeking feedback, and experimenting like a scientist. Overall, the book encourages readers to show up, get to work, and continuously strive for breakthroughs.
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Discoveries Daily
🎬 Warner Bros. Discovery is commemorating 100 years of Warner Bros. with a new four-part documentary series, streaming on Max. Directed by Leslie Iwerks and narrated by Morgan Freeman, "100 Years of Warner Bros." explores the studio's impact on art, commerce, and culture throughout its history. The series features insights from industry figures and offers a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic films and TV shows that have captivated audiences for generations. The first two parts premiere on May 25th, with the remaining two parts available on June 1st. 📽️
New Tools
👓 Sightful introduces the "Spacetop," a laptop alternative that connects to modified Nreal AR glasses. This innovative device combines the potential of augmented reality with a traditional keyboard and input method. Although it offers the promise of infinite virtual displays, the current limitations of AR hardware and a restricted field of view present challenges. Sightful plans to release a limited run of the Spacetop and pricing details have not been disclosed yet.
