Arts in the Afternoon

The Library of Congress has opened a "National Jukebox" on the Internet. It has more than 10,000 recordings and more are on the way, in genres from classical to Tin Pan Alley. But heed the LoC's disclaimer: "WARNING: Historical recordings may contain offensive language."

Television ownership in America is down for the first time in two decades. Your first thought will be that the Internet is killing the boxes, but as the piece pointed out, the digital conversation had the effect of making many go without.

The Telegraph asks a question few others are posing about the jailed Chinese dissident: "Ai Weiwei—Is his art actually any good?"

JerrySeinfeld.com debuts Friday. The comedian has assembled over a thousand clips from his standup career. But they'll be made available just three videos at a time. His rationale?

"NEA Research Director Sunil Iyengar said the fact that performing arts ticket revenue is bigger than movie ticket sales will surprise many people."

Movie critic Dan Kois admits that he hates watching films "that are good for you." Which raises the question: Should someone who admits their tastes are anything but sophisticated be given the job of film critic? Another question: Should someone who hates mainstream films be given the job of film critic?

The Spectator across the pond has taken inspiration from Washington. It offered a competition based on the Post's for the most "toe-curlingly bad analogies." The winners are here -- though I actually think this one is quite good: "The accountant had the world-weary air of a ferret that had been up so many trouser legs that life held no more surprises."

The love affair of Martin Amis and Christopher Hitchens continues. Amis has a long piece in the Guardian, discussing life and death, everything from the Hitch's way with women to his (unfortunate) love of puns. "The rebel is in fact a very rare type. In my whole life I have known only two others, both of them novelists (my father, up until the age of about 45; and my friend Will Self)."

The May issue of the Atlantic features a new story by Stephen King. As part of its package on "How Genius Works," the magazine spoke to the master of horror about his creative process.

Putting the greats on American Idol: Mischievious tricksters post David Foster Wallace's and Henri Cartier-Bresson's work as their own and watch the comments flow in.

See legendary New Yorker editor William Shawn’s edits of Hannah Arendt's “Eichmann in Jerusalem."

Even rock stars have to trim their budgets these days. After last summer's disappointing concert season, bands are lowering ticket prices and finding ways to tour on the cheap. A look ahead.

The New York City Opera, which has been a troubled company for years, has announced it will not offer a fall season.

Tax tips from David Foster Wallace. GalleyCat reads The Pale King, the unfinished novel about IRS agents now postumously published, and shares the findings. Some seem obvious, but others aren't. Who knew auditors look for divorces?

China's best known artist, Ai Weiwei, is still missing after being taken by Chinese police.