Diatribe. Like many words, it’s one that has morphed over time. Now, we use it to talk about a harsh criticism and think of long-winded speeches that go on and on and on. So when one of our Twitter followers suggested we name our new arts column “diatribe,” we weren’t really sure it was the right fit. But once upon a time in a land far away (think togas and Greek yogurt), “diatribe” meant a prolonged discourse. Which is exactly what we wanted our new column to be: a prolonged discourse on Jewish arts.
And it wouldn’t be a good discourse without two things: 1) interesting voices 2) interesting subject matter. So we’re making sure we’ve got both covered.
Interesting Voices
In addition to some of the writers that you’ve come to love, you’ll notice a few new bylines in the diaTribe column. Don’t forget that you can always click on the byline at the top of a post to learn more about the author.
Interesting Subject Matter
You’re probably wondering what the heck this discourse is all about. We’ll be exploring Jewish arts. From books to film to studio art to theater, dance and music and beyond. And what exactly meets the criteria for Jewish art? And what makes something art? Well, that’s all part of the discourse. In addition to reviews of new books, music, theater and film, we’ll also be opening up the conversation for discussions about what makes something Jewish art. You’ll always find a diaTribe post on Sunday mornings (What can we say? We’re fans of grabbing a cup of coffee and the New York Times‘ big, fat Sunday paper filled with all sorts of great book reviews and more) and we’ll sprinkle in mid-week posts when we’ve got something good to write about.
We hope you’re as excited as we are – stay tuned for good things to come. And don’t forget to grab your cup of coffee and join in the conversation.
–Leora and Emily
(Photo: adamwilson)
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I am awaiting your diatribe with bated breath.