">Forum Views ()
">Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Richard Price, T.C. Boyle elected to arts academy
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
Yahoo! Search
Search:
Sign InNew User? Sign Up
News Home -
Help
Navigation
Primary Navigation
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Secondary Navigation
Asia Pacific
World
Search
Search:
Richard Price, T.C. Boyle elected to arts academy
By HILLEL ITALIE,AP National Writer AP - Monday, April 13
NEW YORK - Richard Price and T. Coraghessan Boyle, authors, nonconformists and now inductees into the American Academy of Arts and Letters, remember the first time they even knew the country had an established cultural pantheon.
Price, whose novels include "Clockers" and "Lush Life," received an "Academy Award" for literature in 1999 and wondered if the "Academy" wasn't some kind of beach club or country club. "I thought maybe I get discounts at local restaurants. I had no idea," he joked during a recent interview.
Boyle, author of "Drop City," "World's End" and other fiction, was on a book tour in 1993 when he learned that he had won the academy's Harold D. Vursell Memorial Award, given for "recent prose that merits recognition."
"I didn't know what it was all about, but my editor and agent thought it was important enough to pull me off the tour to go to the ceremony," Boyle said.
"I'll never forget it. John Updike, white-haired and beaming with his lovely wife. Kurt Vonnegut gave a fiery, denunciatory speech about something or the other. And I got to sit down next to Allen Ginsberg and exchange what was no doubt witty repartee. That was pretty heady for a young pup."
The academy is announcing Monday that nine artists have been voted in (openings occur when a member dies). Besides Price and Boyle, inductees include poets Jorie Graham and Yusef Komunyakaa, artist Judy Pfaff, architect Tod Williams and composers Stephen Hartke, Frederic Rzewski and Augusta Read Thomas.
Upon the official ceremony in May, they will enter a 250-member club that has included Henry Adams, Mark Twain and Mark Rothko, and currently features Edward Albee, Philip Glass and Toni Morrison. Artists are encouraged to serve on committees that award prizes, but there is no responsibility beyond agreeing to join.
Founded more than a century ago, and with a mission "to foster and sustain an interest in Literature, Music, and the Fine Arts," the academy was long a reclusive institution and remains _ even among some artists _ a bit like a distant god, known mostly at those moments when it chooses to show its face.
Academy president J.D. McClatchy, who in January began a three-year term, plans to change that.
"I want to try and put the academy out in the world a little more," said McClatchy, a poet and elected academy member whose books include "Hazmat" and "Ten Commandments."
"I've been writing letters to Congress, to the White House, asking for more support for the arts. We're about to issue a series of letters on copyright issues," McClatchy said. "We're going to try to bring the academy a little more into the 21st century and bring it into the community, especially the very young. It's a wide open field in America and the academy is eager to address that and help it flourish."
The academy shares at least one concern with the public: the economy. The academy's endowment has dropped sharply and prize money being awarded this year has been cut 14 percent, with some honors being delayed and others offering smaller cash awards.
"It's a great challenge, but I still want to be able to expand and find new ways to get artists' work seen more widely," McClatchy said.
Within the academy, the commitment to tradition, to "excellence," is steady, McClatchy said. Commercial success is no barrier, but the kind of artists allowed in suggest that the walls between "high" and "low" art are in little danger of falling.
"It's an academy. It's not called the `Society of Arts and Letters.' It's in the nature of an academy to be exclusive," McClatchy said.
The academy has three categories: art, music and literature, with members nominating and voting for future choices. The academy's body is far more diverse than it was decades ago. No longer are blacks, modernists, abstract painters and photographers excluded. Rebels the academy once would have scorned _ Vonnegut, Amiri Baraka and Lawrence Ferlinghetti _ have been admitted. The first photographer, Cindy Sherman, was elected in 2005.
"For a long time, we just couldn't get a photographer in. We kept saying `This is ridiculous, just nominate somebody,'" McClatchy said. "Some people might not include her (Sherman) among the greatest living American photographers, but it was a strong, interesting choice."
Other kinds of artists must wait. The academy has welcomed popular writers such as Garrison Keillor and Isabel Allende, but not "genre" writers. No science fiction, crime or horror authors have been voted in, not Elmore Leonard or James Ellroy, not even Ray Bradbury or Stephen King, both of whom have received honorary National Book Award medals.
"There's probably an element of snobbism," McClatchy said, adding that other members may not share his taste for "thrillers, detective stuff, hard-boiled noir stuff."
"I don't know, but it may simply be unfamiliarity, that people here don't sit around reading science fiction. They're rereading Flaubert, or they're rereading Richard Price. There's a man who has raised the underworld to Parnassus."
Blues, jazz and other kinds of American music have influenced the writings of Baraka, Komunyakaa and other members. But virtually all the artists in the music category, including the three new inductees, are classical composers, with a handful of exceptions such as jazz great Ornette Coleman and Broadway's Stephen Sondheim.
"It's the same with any organization _ like votes for like," explained opera composer and longtime academy member Jack Beeson. "I remember when we were talking about whether to let in more jazz and popular musicians and (fellow composer) Ned Rorem said, `They already have their awards and academies. They don't need this.'"
No rock star is in, and McClatchy expects that none likely will be soon, not even Bob Dylan, the first rocker to win a Pulitzer Prize.
McClatchy said the academy votes for "composers" and Dylan is a "performer." He then acknowledged that Dylan is (very much) a composer, but added: "There are a lot of writers who aren't members."
Boyle, enough of a rock fan to write liner notes for a Doors anthology, said that "of course" Dylan should be in, but cautioned: "I'm not much of a company man so I don't expect to have that much to do with it.
"I don't go to parties, and I don't kiss up to anybody," he said. "But this is a thrill, getting in the academy. Some great heroes of mine, like Peter Matthiessen, are in the academy. How wonderful it will be to be in the same room with them."
Email Story
IM Story
Printable View
Blog This
Recommend this article
0 users recommend
Sign in to recommend this article »
Most Recommended Stories »
Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle
US-ENTERTAINMENT SummaryReuters - 2 hours 48 minutes ago
"Dragonball Evolution" a backward stepReuters - 2 hours 50 minutes ago
Richard Price, T.C. Boyle elected to arts academyAP - Monday, April 13
Amazon 'glitch' removes sales rank from gay booksAP - Monday, April 13
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieresReuters - Monday, April 13
Most Popular – Entertainment
Viewed
Mummies found in ancient Egypt burial chamber
Harry Potter actor arrested over cannabis find
Pirate hostage siege, Italian tug grabbed
Bad mood, better recall, researchers find
Swedish church unveils Lego Jesus statue for Easter
View Complete List »
Search:
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Top Stories
Most Popular
Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Community
- Intellectual Property Rights Policy
- Help
Other News on Monday, 13 April 2009 Cuba readies for possible influx of U.S. tourists
| International
|
Hannah Montana rocks North American box office
| Entertainment
|
Thai army cracks down on anti-government protesters
| International
|
Sudan kidnappers threaten to kill aid workers
U.S. Navy rescues captain and kills Somali pirates
| International
|
Iraq's embattled Christians celebrate Easter
On jumpy Lebanon-Israel frontier, a quiet drug war
Afghan villagers say air strike kills civilians
| International
|
Russia's Lukoil to send team to Iraq for talks
China sets human rights agenda for sensitive year
| International
|
Iraqi lawmakers decry move against cartoonist
US govt tells GM to prepare for bankruptcy filing
Soldiers get a taste of Afghanistan in US training
British Telecom to slash 10,000 jobs: report
Maoists shut down mine in eastern India, 14 dead
| International
|
Switzerland 'to hit back' at OECD in tax row
Indonesia president's party may extend Golkar tieup
| International
|
Swedish church unveils Lego Jesus statue for Easter
Bolivia's Morales to keep up hunger strike protest
| International
|
US Al-Qaeda member urges support for jihadists
Bodies of US troops killed in Iraq arrive home
US weighing where to charge captured Somali pirate
US general Odierno: Iraq violence low
US-TECH Summary
US military deaths in Iraq war at 4,272
South Africa's campaigns embrace technology
Obama twice approved force to rescue hostage
EBay buys Korean rival's stake for $413 million: report
| Technology
|
Commander: Pirates' deaths could escalate violence
Officer: Split-second decision to fire on pirates
British PM faces tough questions over 'smeargate'
Florence Cassez's lawyer ready to go before ICC
11 police, 4 rebels killed after Indian mine siege
Fiji's media dark under political news blackout
Dragonball Evolution a backward step
| Entertainment
|
Thai army cracks down on protesters
Star Wars: Musical Journey out of this world
| Entertainment
|
Japan whaling fleet returns to port after clashes
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres
| Entertainment
|
China sets human rights agenda for sensitive year
Bitter pill: Showtime passes on Tim Robbins drama
| Entertainment
|
Gunfire heard, water cannons fired in Bangkok
TNT cancels ad-agency drama Trust Me
| Entertainment
|
Taiwan working with China on WHA status
Grisly sights at Sydney's Museum of Human Disease
Seoul shares end up helped by autos, shupbuilders
Heavy fog delays China helicopter rescue
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres
S.Korean won ends up 0.3 pct on EBay news
Sri Lanka suspends offensive for 2 days
Bids are in for India's troubled Satyam
China eyes new stimulus to boost spending
China to allow banks to start insurance units
China: industrial output up 8.3 percent in March
Japan wholesale prices log fastest drop since 2002
US charities take double blow as economy slows
Taiwan dollar up on stocks amid slow trade
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
S.Korea banks' loan delinquency ratio falls in Mar
"Dragonball Evolution" a backward step
China holds up Lucite takeover: Mitsubishi Rayon
Richard Price, T.C. Boyle elected to arts academy
Amazon 'glitch' removes sales rank from gay books
British adventurer abandons Antarctic rowing bid
NBC sees some hope with Thursday premieres
Bitter pill: Showtime passes on Tim Robbins drama
TNT cancels ad-agency drama "Trust Me"
'Hannah Montana' teenybops to top of box office
Four Lebanese soldiers killed
Gaza boat explodes in apparent attack, no injuries
Iran says it's open to nuclear dialogue with powers
| International
|
Pakistani Taliban begin imposing rule in new area
| International
|
Iran says it welcomes nuclear talks with West
Police nab Norwegian pair during high-speed sex
Georgia protesters intensify push to oust president
| International
|
Turkey detains 18 over links to government plot case
| International
|
Vague Russia pledge on no S-300 to Iran: Israelis
| International
|
Sudan's Bashir hails Obama's overture to Islamic world
| International
|
India digs for votes with job plan: Will it work?
| International
|
Iran tells EU official ready for nuclear talks
US sergeant pleads not guilty to murder in Iraq
Microsoft, Discovery in online advertising deal
| Technology
|
Sri Lanka suspends offensive for 2 days
Caine says career will fade away like old soldier
| Entertainment
|
Sri Lanka strips Norway of peace role
Hannah Montana rocks box office
| Entertainment
|
Japan supports US goal to eliminate nuclear arms
Thai soldiers spray gunfire, tear gas at protest
Norway no longer Sri Lankan peace mediator
Kazakh deputy defense minister arrested
Japan deports Filipinos in immigration row, daughter stays
China's economy shows signs of recovery
No conditions on US aid
Thai turmoil to slam already reeling economy
China pledges to improve human rights
India outsourcing firm buys stake in Satyam
'Deep concern' after Fiji throws out journalists
SE Asian cities 'facing hotel room glut'
Habib, MCB eyeing RBS Pakistan unit
Asian markets up as dealers remain confident
18-month sentence sought for SKorean blogger
Kazakhs, China in talks over stake in oil producer
Final auction of scandal-hit dairy's assets fails
Japan ends import duties on Hynix memory chips
Caine says career will fade away like old soldier
"Hannah Montana" rocks box office
Hannah Montana tops box office with $34 million
Concert pays tribute to Marian Anderson
Low-caste Indians hold high cards in election
Indonesia imposes new law on airliners
Indonesia president's party eyes pact with Golkar
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights