Philip Glass, a 'Purple Rain' Musical, and Delacroix's Timely Masterpiece

Philip Glass is an American classical music composer and performer whose work has been credited with pushing the boundaries of Western music through its use of repetition. Although he's sometimes called a "minimalist," Glass famously abhors the term, preferring instead to call himself a “composer of repetitive structures.” 

> Glass believes creativity needs to be consistently deconstructed and reinvented. (Watch)
> Glass drove a taxi into his 40s, even after his mainstream breakthrough. (Read)

As a student, Glass studied philosophy and mathematics before pursuing music under the tutelage of the famed musician Ravi Shankar and legendary teacher Nadia Boulanger. Glass' breakthrough was the 1976 opera "Einstein on the Beach," a 5-hour impressionistic exploration of the German scientist's identity.

> Glass' time with Shankar made him reevaluate Western music. (Read)

> Audiences for "Einstein on the Beach" were encouraged to come and go as they pleased. (Read)

> Watch a 2014 performance of the opera. (Watch)

In the years since, Glass has collaborated with pop artists like Paul Simon and David Byrne and provided music for major Hollywood productions, including "The Thin Blue Line" and "The Hours," while continuing to experiment through avant-garde films, operas, symphonies, concertos, and other forms.

> Glass wrote music for the 1998 film "The Truman Show," in which he makes a brief cameo. (Watch)

> He bonded with electronic producer Aphex Twin and reworked one of his songs. (Watch)

Discover more: 

> Watch Glass and an ensemble perform several songs from "Einstein on the Beach." (Watch)

> Despite the opera's experimental nature, "Einstein" follows a fairly conventional structure. (Watch)

> Glass wrote the score for the 1992 horror classic "Candyman," but was ultimately displeased with the movie. (Watch)

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Behind the News 

1440 brings you the knowledge behind the week's stories:

"The Odyssey" continues to sell out screenings in the rare 70mm IMAX format. (More)

> IMAX film produces incredible images, but it's also incredibly expensive.

> Watch director Christopher Nolan pick his favorite films from the Criterion Collection.

Netflix original shows lose most viewers after the first season. (More)

> In recent years, the streamer has moved from scripted originals to low-cost reality programming.

> Netflix's original movies are designed to play in the background.

"Purple Rain" musical set to open on Broadway in 2027. (More)

> Watch the 1983 live debut of the album's title track.
> Prince removed the bass from "When Doves Cry" to give the song its signature sound.

Over 2,000 modern and contemporary works donated to the Detroit Institute of Arts. (More)

> ... including work by Diego Rivera, who painted an infamous mural criticizing the Ford Motor Company's business practices.

> ... and Andy Warhol, who mass-produced his iconic pop art.

Cultural Context

Beyond our weekly deep dives, we love finding great takes on the culture currently shaping our lives. Here are some of the best reactions, profiles, and think pieces we encountered this week.

2026's Songs of the Summer

The Guardian | Staff. It's an annual question that never yields an actual answer: What's the song that defines this summer? The Guardian's culture writers nominate their favorites, highlighting tracks from Olivia Rodrigo, Madonna, Nirosta Steel, and several more. (Read)

> Traditional bands largely disappeared from the Billboard charts in the 21st century.

> ... but country music only grew more popular.
 

Beckett the Prophet

The American Scholar | Robert Zaretsky. Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" continues to amaze, astound, and, yes, even frustrate audiences 70 years on from its American premiere. Zaretsky explores what makes it such a timeless work, and why he continues to teach it to his undergraduates. (Read)

> Beckett's stage plays were considered examples of "Theater of the Absurd."

> Steve Martin and Robin Williams once starred in a production of "Waiting for Godot."

What's Funnier Than Athletes Learning Improv?

NY Times | Calum Marsh. Chicago's Second City is the breeding ground for comedy legends, though plenty of people pursue improv to learn its valuable social skills. In recent years, sports organizations, including the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball, have taken note, enrolling their future superstars in their classes. (Read)

> Modern improv was developed by University of Chicago students in the early 1950s.

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 Etcetera 

> Eugène Delacroix's most famous painting captured a scene from the French Revolution of 1830 a few months after it began.

> Aldous Huxley wrote to his former student, George Orwell, after the release of "1984," suggesting that Orwell's vision of dystopia was misguided.

> The earliest known country recording, a 1891 wax cylinder of Louis Vasnier's "Thompson's Old Gray Mule," was discovered by accident.

> "The Larry Sanders Show" redefined the American sitcom by removing audience laughter.

> "Harry Potter" was rejected by 12 publishers when JK Rowling initially pitched it in 1995.

> Before it was used to describe the blend of punk and metal from Seattle, "grunge" was used as an insult.

> In the 19th century, ice-cream-related illnesses were somewhat regular in America thanks to vendors' poor hygienic practices.
 

> Winston Churchill said he was comforted by Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice" and its characters' calmness.

> "A Boy Named Sue," made famous by Johnny Cash, was written by Shel Silverstein, a writer best known for his children's poetry.
 

> Toronto Blue Jays star pitcher Dylan Cease is a serious yoga practitioner, and even wears the number 84 as an homage to the number of poses in hatha yoga.

> JD Salinger served in World War II while working on a draft of his most famous novel, "The Catcher in the Rye."

> More on the teacher behind Title IX, the mythology behind "Star Wars," and the Shakespeare play that led to a burning theater at 1440's Society & Culture hub.