Night Music: One Love

For International Women’s Day

To me, it is a no-brainer that women should be — and should be treated as — equal to men in all respects.  Arguments against this thesis — whether by religionists (of any faith), GOPers, Tories, and other misogynists — do not rise above the thinking of Neanderthals.  For anyone with a whit of common sense and a whiff of humanity it should be obvious, I would have thought. Unfortunately, that is not the case in many parts of the world.

In 2015, Pew Research conducted a Global Attitudes survey in 38 countries that revealed significant differences of opinion. I doubt the figures have changed much since then.

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Even in countries, like Canada, the US, and the UK, which appear to score well in this survey, women are still not treated as equals when it comes to pay and opportunities in management, the professions, and science.  The 2016 US Presidential election revealed a continuing deep distrust (at best) regarding the possibility of a woman taking the top job.

There are structural gender issues that have to be fixed in all societies but that doesn’t mean to say we should leave the fix for politicians to deal with.  Far from it. If, as individuals, we all are careful to treat every other individual as a human being rather than as a member of some group or other, then we can solve this unhappy situation far quicker and more completely than any legislation.

Hockney’s Half

The most recent Christie’s Post War and Contemporary Art Sale in London two days ago realized a total of £79.2 million, a drop of 43% over the same auction one year ago.  However, Christie’s notes that this year they are having three “more equally sized” auctions rather than two. The firmness of the market was perhaps better reflected by the sale of all but three lots.

Almost half the evening’s total was contributed by David Hockney’s double portrait of Henry Geldzahler and Christopher Scott (1969).

The painting sold to an unknown buyer for £37.7 million, a European record for any living artist.

World Press Photographs 2019

This year’s nominees for World Press Photo of the year have been announced, and, as usual, there are some stunning images in the list.  My personal favourites include:

Image: Brent Stirton

Image: Cataline Martin-Chico

Image: John Wessels

But all of the nominees are wonderful.