John Corbett, co-editor of the WhiteWalls Sun Ra titles The Wisdom of Sun Ra, Pathways to Unknown Worlds, and the forthcoming Traveling the Spaceways, recently wrote an article on Sun Ra for Design Observer. Corbett provides an eloquent introduction to Sun Ra and his Arkestra, mapping the Chicago spaces inhabited by Ra and his collaborators as they developed the El Saturn label and launched the Arkestra.
Learn More about The Wisdom of Sun Ra
Byron Coley recently praised Pathways to Unknown Worlds from WhiteWalls in the May issue of the Wire. Coley praises the visual work included in the volume, "It looks incredible. . . ." He praises the essays by Corbett and Adam Abraham for setting the scene. Finally, he exclaims of Ra's work, ". . . [I]ts visionary brilliance will become plain to anyone who takes the time to look at it with the wonder it deserves."
The Wire: Adventures in Modern Music (Review Unavailable Online)
Nina C. Ayoub recently reviewed Karaoke: The Global Phenomenon in the "Note Bene" section of the Chronicle of Higher Education. Ayoub discusses the spread of karaoke and its origins. She also credits Zhou Xun and Francesca Tarocco for providing a theoretical context for the discussion:
The two academics give a nod to theory at the beginning of their tour. Karaoke, they say, challenges easy equations of globalization with Americanization. "'Global traffic' goes in all directions." In this case, an Eastern creation has spread, incorporating local traditions in every new place.
Scott Verrastro recently reviewed Pathways to Unknown Worlds from WhiteWalls in JazzTimes, calling it, ". . . a fascinating array of early Sun Ra and El Saturn artifacts. . . ." Verrastro contextualizes the collection within the universe of Sun Ra, reminding readers new to Sun Ra that his Afro-Futurist mythology is both serious and full of humor.
We agree with Verrastro: "To these eyes, too much Sun Ra epehemera is never enough. . . ."
James Parker recently reviewed Zhou Xun and Francesca Tarocco's Karaoke: A Global Phenomenon in the Boston Globe. Parker uses the book to trace some of the highlights of Karaoke's history. In the end, he offers his article as a tribute to karaoke-lovers: "I dedicate this one to the karoke-lovers, who will make tonight their own."
In Karaoke, Zhou Xun and Tarocco reveal karaoke's surprisingly complex history and significant cultural impact around the world. Originating in postwar Japan, karaoke soon spread to Southeast Asia and the West. Karaoke traces how the practice became a wildly successful social phenomenon that constantly evolved to keep pace with changes in technology and culture. Drawing on extensive research and international travels, the authors chart the varied manifestations of karaoke, from karaoke taxis in Bangkok to nude karaoke in Toronto to the role of karaoke in prostitution. Extensive personal anecdotes reveal the dramatic range of social experiences made possible by karaoke and how the obsession with performance and song has touched politics, history, and pop culture throughout global society.
In connection with The Wisdom of Sun Ra, WhiteWalls and John Corbett have teamed up with the Hyde Park Arts Center for an exhibition, Pathways to Unknown Worlds, and series of events, Travelling the Spaceways. The exhibition and events run until January 14th, 2007.
There is simply too much to list here: screenings, curator talks, a symposium, performances, musicians, artists, rock stars.
Learn about Pathways to Unknown Worlds and Traveling the Spaceways at the Hyde Park Arts Center
Nancy C. Andreasen, author of The Creating Brain, was recently interviewed in USA Today by Kathleen Fackelmann. Andreasen discusses the brain and its relation to genius, madness, and creativity. The article concludes with suggestions for giving your mind a workout.
The magisterial proclamations contained in Whitewalls' Wisdom of Sun Ra are garnering interest from Chicago, where the broadsheets were written, to the U.K. at the New Statesman.
Peter Margasak writes in the Chicago Reader:
The Wisdom of Sun Ra includes beautiful reproductions of the dog-eared broadsheets, with full transcriptions in the second half of book. As interesting as the writings are in their own right, they're also offer powerful insights into the personality and philosophy that was central to Ra's later work.
Rachel Aspden is less enthralled with the particularities of Ra's space-mythologies than Peter Margasak, but she still advocates the book as a "fascinating window" into Ra's views:
It's easy to overdose on Ra's liberal use of capitals and frequent invocations of Neptune, but for browsing, John Corbett's selection offers a fascinating window on to the weird world of one of the 20th century's most influential musicians.
Read Rachel Aspden's review in the New Statesman