Popular Culture

7 July 2003


Vancouver's Olympic Success Won't Hurt New York's Bid
The International Olympic Committee selected the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as the site for the 2010 Winter Games. Salzburg, Austria and Pyeongchang, South Korea lost in their bids to host the games after what Canada's Prime Minister Jean Chretien called "a photo finish." Many are now saying that this virtually destroys the chances of New York hosting the 2012 Summer Games since North America won't get the games back-to-back. The facts suggest that anti-Americanism is a more likely reason should the Big Apple's bid fail. For more, click here.

Actors Can Skip the Accents
Sir Sean Connery is a Scotsman, and his accent proves it. Empire, a movie fans' magazine in the UK, recently named him as having the worst film accent. It is hard to disagree given how all of his characters speak as if supporters of Partick Thistle Football Club. But the magazine raises a valuable question -- just when should an actor(ess) put on an alien accent? Wisdom suggests the answer is "Far less often than currently." Click here to read on.

NAATA, Fox Agree on Chan Movie Ban
Charlie Chan movies don't count as high art by anyone's standards, but to the National Asian-American Telecommunications Association, they are low racism unworthy of broadcast. Fox has recently succumbed to pressure from the organization in canceling plans for a film festival featuring these movies. The whole thing was resolved with a degree of sensitivity and gentlemanly behavior on both sides, which came as a pleasant surprise. Click here to read more.