Posts tagged smithsonian

The Phyllis Diller Gag File & Exhibition - The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open a new display in the Albert H. Small Documents Gallery Aug. 12. “Have You Heard the One…? The Phyllis Diller Gag File” brings to life one of America’s most iconic and influential comediennes. At the center of the display is the gag file, a steel cabinet with 48 file-drawers containing more than 50,000 jokes and gags typewritten on index cards by Diller during her career. It also includes some of Diller’s most iconic costume pieces—an unkempt wig, wrist-length gloves, cloth-covered ankle boots and a bejeweled cigarette holder, all of which became synonymous with her comedic persona.

The Phyllis Diller Gag File & Exhibition - The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History will open a new display in the Albert H. Small Documents Gallery Aug. 12. “Have You Heard the One…? The Phyllis Diller Gag File” brings to life one of America’s most iconic and influential comediennes. At the center of the display is the gag file, a steel cabinet with 48 file-drawers containing more than 50,000 jokes and gags typewritten on index cards by Diller during her career. It also includes some of Diller’s most iconic costume pieces—an unkempt wig, wrist-length gloves, cloth-covered ankle boots and a bejeweled cigarette holder, all of which became synonymous with her comedic persona.

What’s Wrong With the Smithsonian’s Crowd-Sourced Video Game History? - “I think it’s interesting that, of the 80 games included, only one of them — Pac Man (arcade) — happens to be an arcade cabinet. Even then, it’s one of the five games that the public did not vote for. Granted, many of the included games are home console ports of arcade games, but for an exhibition that celebrates “striking visual effects,” choosing a port over an arcade cabinet is the equivalent to choosing an 11-inch dot-matrix printout of a 20-foot wide Pollock canvas over the original … Arcade games are as integral to the history of video games as the Atart 2600 was. Pong, originally an arcade game, is largely recognized as one of the first commercially successful video games and arguably created the video games industry.”

What’s Wrong With the Smithsonian’s Crowd-Sourced Video Game History? - “I think it’s interesting that, of the 80 games included, only one of them — Pac Man (arcade) — happens to be an arcade cabinet. Even then, it’s one of the five games that the public did not vote for. Granted, many of the included games are home console ports of arcade games, but for an exhibition that celebrates “striking visual effects,” choosing a port over an arcade cabinet is the equivalent to choosing an 11-inch dot-matrix printout of a 20-foot wide Pollock canvas over the original … Arcade games are as integral to the history of video games as the Atart 2600 was. Pong, originally an arcade game, is largely recognized as one of the first commercially successful video games and arguably created the video games industry.”

Smithsonian Releases Report on Visitor Reaction To NPG’s ‘Hide/Seek’

From Tyler Green’s MAN: “A visitor study of  the National Portrait Gallery exhibition “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” conducted by the Smithsonian’s own Office of Policy and Analysis and published yesterday found strong visitor approval for and appreciation of the show.  The report indicates that visitors formed strong intellectual and emotional connections with “Hide/Seek,” that visitors overwhelmingly praised the NPG for presenting a scholarly, inclusive exhibition that brought together social history and art history, and that visitors were perplexed by the Smithsonian leadership’s censoring of the exhibition.”

Smithsonian Air-Clearing Forum on 'Hide/Seek' Exhibition Is Anything But

“…expect a two-day exercise in misdirection, generalized obfuscation and CYA posturing…Not on the agenda: the organized protest, based on anti-gay animus from conservative Christians, that led to the censorship”

Gay Art

“The Catholic League Responds to Commentary On ‘Anti-Gay Bullying. The false claim, however, does underscore the deceptive nature of the inflammatory complaint the Smithsonian has had to deal with. Anti-gay bullying, even if the disapproval of homosexuality derives from a religious doctrine, drove the attack. The exhibition is the first in the nation’s capital to examine homosexual identity in 19th- and 20th-century American art, and it has the establishment blessing of the popular Smithsonian Institution. As I noted at the time the controversy first erupted, that’s the real reason anti-gay activists are so upset.”

Protesters Stage ‘Funeral Procession of Free Artistic Expression’ in LA Against Smithsonian Censorship

Watch: Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough Defends Censorship of Gay Hide/Seek Exhibit

Liana Aghajanian of Hyperallergic writes: “Los Angeles — With a cardboard cross and draped coffin, a group of activists and artists assembled in front of downtown LA’s Millennium Biltmore Hotel to stage a “Funeral Procession of Free Artistic Expression,” where Smithsonian Secretary Wayne Clough was speaking as part of the Town Hall Los Angeles public issues series on ‘New Perspectives at the Smithsonian.’”

The Wojnarowicz/Smithsonian Censorship Shit Storm Continues - Smithsonian Chief Defends Withdrawal of Video, digging a deeper hole, Clough pats himself on the back in an e-mail to staff. Meanwhile LA Raw is Staging A Protest Against Smithsonian Secretary Clough when he speaks on Thursday at the Biltmore Hotel.

The Wojnarowicz/Smithsonian Censorship Shit Storm Continues - Smithsonian Chief Defends Withdrawal of Video, digging a deeper hole, Clough pats himself on the back in an e-mail to staff. Meanwhile LA Raw is Staging A Protest Against Smithsonian Secretary Clough when he speaks on Thursday at the Biltmore Hotel.

Developing Stories About The David Wojnarowicz Smithsonian Censorship Scandal - Was Smithsonian Chief G. Wayne Clough’s hasty decision to remove a video by openly gay artist David Wojnarowicz from the “Hide/Seek” show at the National Portrait Gallery following protests by Republicans and conservative Christian groups influenced by a previous run in with anti-gay religious groups and Republicans at Georgia Tech?There’s a growing consensus that Clough should resign from his position, The Washington Post notes Clough’s lack of leadership and his continued silence on the topic. Tyler Green points to the growing growing second scandal in the Wojnarowicz censorship ordeal.A Canadian artist, AA Bronson is seeking to have one of his works withdrawn in protest from a National Portrait Gallery show. The work in question is Mr. Bronson’s “Felix, June 5, 1994,” showing the corpse of Mr. Bronson’s partner shortly after he passed away of AIDS. The National Portrait Gallery is refusing. Art Fag City explores What AA Bronson Can Gain From A Smithsonian Shit-In.Hyperallergic explores the Wojnarowicz scandal and the idea that a call for censorship breeds demand and dialogue.

Developing Stories About The David Wojnarowicz Smithsonian Censorship Scandal - Was Smithsonian Chief G. Wayne Clough’s hasty decision to remove a video by openly gay artist David Wojnarowicz from the “Hide/Seek” show at the National Portrait Gallery following protests by Republicans and conservative Christian groups influenced by a previous run in with anti-gay religious groups and Republicans at Georgia Tech?

There’s a growing consensus that Clough should resign from his position, The Washington Post notes Clough’s lack of leadership and his continued silence on the topic. Tyler Green points to the growing growing second scandal in the Wojnarowicz censorship ordeal.

A Canadian artist, AA Bronson is seeking to have one of his works withdrawn in protest from a National Portrait Gallery show. The work in question is Mr. Bronson’s “Felix, June 5, 1994,” showing the corpse of Mr. Bronson’s partner shortly after he passed away of AIDS. The National Portrait Gallery is refusing. Art Fag City explores What AA Bronson Can Gain From A Smithsonian Shit-In.

Hyperallergic explores the Wojnarowicz scandal and the idea that a call for censorship breeds demand and dialogue.