Jane Austen Manuscript Sold For $1.6 Million
One of Jane Austen’s original, unfinished manuscripts was sold at Sotheby’s in London this past Thursday for almost $2 million. Without a doubt, Miss Austen is one of the most influential writers to ever put pen to paper, but is her unfinished, unpublished work really worth that much money? The draft, titled “The Watsons," is rumored to be a tribute to Austen’s father, who passed away one year after she wrote the novel.
The Spider That Just Won't Die
The new Spider-Man, Andrew Garfield, steps into Tobey Maguire’s shoes and onto the cover of this months Entertainment Weekly. How many rolled-up magazines of bored fans or sprays of poor reviews does this "Spider-Man" conglomerate need to quit? Yes, it was a blockbuster. Yes, it made millions, and yes, it provided us with a new form of kissing, but we’re curious how long it’s going to last. I guess we’ll just have to see if this next installation of "Spider-Man" can stand on it’s own two feet, or maybe just those of new leading lady, Emma Stone.
Spotify is Spotted Stateside
For those of us who illegally transported this Swedish-based music streaming service across the Atlantic, we have great news, and for those of you who thought Spotify was a new chemical stain remover, prepared to have your mind blown -- for just $4.99 or $8.99 per month, Spotify gives you access to more than 15 million songs that stream instantly to your computer and through your speakers. You can also swap playlists with other Spotify members, upload your own music library, and even take the music with you on the go through your cell phone.
The Harry Potter Rock Opera
It seems that even rock stars have the power to be wizards. From Taylor Swift as Luna Lovegood to Bowie as Draco Malfoy, Rolling Stone magazine re-casts major musicians as our beloved Harry Potter characters. Now if only they broke out in an epic rock ballad about fighting dragons and playing Quidditch…
Professor WeiWei
Recently released Chinese artist Ai WeiWei accepted a visiting teaching position in Berlin, Germany at the Berlin University of the Arts. WeiWei was offered the position after his detainment by the Beijing police for attempting to leave the country in early April. How he plans on teaching in Berlin, Germany, after getting stopped just trying to go to Hong Kong beats us, but we’re excited to see how this saga progresses.
Youngest (Successful) Curator Ever?
While most high school girls want to be the next Katy Perry, teen curator Audrey Banks dreams of becoming the next Gagosian. Just a senior at Bard High School in Manhattan, this 17 year old has created a Teen Art Gallery show that is fully created, curated and cultivated by young people. Watch out Audrey, as fellow New Yorkers, we’ve got our eyes on you.