Useful though they are, the vast majority of dictionaries and encyclopedias are poker-faced pieces of work that stick to the facts and present them as soberly - and unstylishly - as possible. Terry Teachout dictionaryencyclopediaface Change image and share on social
You don't have to know anything about the Shakers to appreciate Mr. Copland's score for 'Appalachian Spring' any more than you have to know who William Randolph Hearst was to understand 'Citizen Kane.' Terry Teachout appalachiancitizencopland share on social
The setting of 'Billy Elliot' is the British miners' strike of 1984-85, about which the average American playgoer knows absolutely nothing. Terry Teachout absolutelyamericanaverage Change image and share on social
Most 'Monty Python' fans are, of course, baby boomers, who have long been a nostalgic lot and are growing more so as they totter toward old age. Terry Teachout agebabyboomer Change image and share on social
Ai Weiwei, who is both a widely admired conceptual artist and a fearless human-rights activist, has been on the bad side of the Chinese government for years. Terry Teachout activistadmireartist Change image and share on social
Instrumental music is nonverbal and thus radically ambiguous. It doesn't lend itself to what might be called content-oriented analysis, though plenty of intellectuals have tried to analyze it in precisely that way. Terry Teachout ambiguousanalysisanalyze share on social
Americans of all ages embraced TV unhesitatingly. They felt no loyalty to network radio, the medium that had entertained and informed them for a quarter-century. When something came along that they deemed superior, they switched off their radios without a second thought. Terry Teachout ageamericancentury share on social
I am, as it happens, a baby boomer, but not one who feels any broad-gauge nostalgia for the '60s and '70s. My attitude resembles that of my parents, who were born in the '20s and lived through the Great Depression and World War II. Terry Teachout 20s60s70s share on social
A masterpiece doesn't push you around. It lets you make up your own mind about what it means - and change it as often as you like. Terry Teachout changeletmake Change image and share on social
I can remember - barely - when Elton John was still a good songwriter, or at least capable of writing good songs. Terry Teachout barelycapableelton Change image and share on social
