James Metcalf on the fictionality of the latest archaeological page-turners
Stephen Puddicombe looks at the unusual appeal of Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot
Ciaran Rafferty investigates the science of book classification
We’ve an unlikely mix of theatrical sex symbols, morgues and Harry Potter for all you hungry-eyed culture vultures out there this week.
In the 1660s male actors hung up their periwigs and put aside their make-up with a collective sigh of relief. Now, the National Portrait Gallery is exhibiting portraits of 53 actresses by some of the world’s greatest artists. From Nell Gwyn through to Sarah Siddons, the first women to tread the boards were put under the theatrical spotlight. Artists would capture their images to generate publicity for these new stars of the show, who became pin-ups and fashion icons. Clad in breeches, their impersonations of men scandalised some critics. Nell Gwyn would even become the mistress of Charles II, the man responsible for allowing women onto the stage. Provoking questions of celebrity and gender which spill outside of the confines of the theatre, this exhibition really puts the lives of the first actresses in the frame.
Writers of crime fiction are competing for an unlikely new prize: a brand spanking new morgue with their name on it. The ten writers, including Kathy Reichs, Jeffrey Deaver and Tess Gerritsen, are know for writing books that feature grisly investigations, detectives, and spectacular criminality. The University of Dundee, capitalising on their theme, is aiming to raise money for its deadly appropriate Million for a Morgue project. The lucky author will have the honour of the world class morgue being built in their name. A unique fund-raising project, it will be crucial in pioneering new forensic development. And you too can vote at www.millionforamorgue.com, to donate a pound to the scheme.
That’s the verdict of one particular cleaner at least, who decided to roll up her sleeves and polish up a grubby looking bucket. Little did she realise that it was part of an artwork valued at over half a million pounds. Whoops. Introducing some Kim and Aggie magic to the German art world, that’s one expensive spring-clean for the Ostwall museum in Dortmund. And Martin Kippenberger is not the only German artist to have felt a cleaner’s wrath. Joseph Beuys ‘Fat Corner’ was scrubbed up, whilst Gustav Metzger’s installation at the Tate was binned. Hapless mistakes? Or the cleaning community’s devastating commentary on contemporary art?
A revelation regarding our favourite flame-haired wizard has rocked the muggle world. Half-way through writing the series, J.K Rowling was tempted to kill one of her three protagonists off. Their fate in her hands, it was the gangly Ron, middle name Bilius, whose neck was on the line. Overshadowed by his older brothers, and wearing his trademark hand-knitted jumpers and mouldy dress-robes, the author admits to having once seriously considered topping him ‘out of sheer spite.’ But, taking the time to grow into himself, Ron became much more than just the Chosen One’s side-kick. Proving himself to have a heart of gold, he managed to cast the spell and dodge Rowling’s nib after all. Phew.
Hope that’s whetted your ravenous appetites for now!
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