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PEOPLE & ARTS A31
AP NewsBreak: Remnick and Wideman
elected to Academy of Arts
HILLEL ITALIE
AP National Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — When
John Edgar Wideman
learned he had been
elected to the American
Academy of Arts and Let-
ters, his response was to
welcome the news and to
think about what it means.
“Yes, it’s great for me, but
how does this recognition
function in a larger soci-
ety, how does it work?” the
author of such acclaimed
books as the memoir
“Brothers and Keepers”
and the novel “Philadel-
phia Fire” told The Associ-
ated Press during a recent
interview.
The academy announced
12 inductees Thursday,
among them photogra-
pher Robert Frank, former
U.S. poet laureate Billy Col- W.E.B. Du Bois was the first
lins and author, journalist
and New Yorker editor Da-
vid Remnick.
Other inductees include
novelist Peter Carey, pio-
neering multimedia artist
Joan Jonas and electron-
ic music composer Paul
Lansky, the academy told
The Associated Press. The
academy also elected
the painter, stage design-
er and printmaker David
Salle; artist Pat Steir; and
composers Sebastian Cur-
rier and David Rakowski.
Two honorary foreign
members were added:
British author Julian Barnes
and the German photog-
rapher Thomas Struth.
Founded in 1898, the
academy is an honor so-
ciety with 250 core mem-
bers, divided among lit-
erature, music and the
visual arts. Toni Morrison,
Stephen Sondheim and
Jasper Johns are among
the current members. In-
ductees have no obliga-
tions beyond agreeing to
join, although many serve
on prize committees, for
which they are paid a sti-
pend.
Wideman says he read a
history of the academy —
sent to him by the acad-
emy. He noted the early
record of excluding blacks
(and almost anyone who
wasn’t a male, white Chris-
Friday 11 March 2016

In this Aug. 6, 2015 file photo, Lin-Manuel Miranda appears
at the curtain call following the opening night performance of
“Hamilton” in New York.
Associated Press
Cast of Broadway
hit ‘Hamilton’ to
perform at White House
In this Jan. 28, 2016, file photo, photographer and filmmaker MARK KENNEDY The musical tells the true
Robert Frank appears at the opening of the exhibition featuring AP Drama Writer story of Alexander Hamil-
his work, “Robert Frank: Books and Films, 1947–2016,” at New NEW YORK (AP) — The cast ton, the nation’s first trea-
York University’s Tisch School of the Arts in New York. of the mega-hit Broadway sury secretary. It is told by
show “Hamilton” will make a young African-American
Associated Press a quick trip to the White and Latino cast and has
House on Monday to per- a varied score that ranges
tian) and cited Richard voted in the essayist and form songs from the show from pop ballads to sexy
Wright and Zora Neale Hur- baseball writer Roger An- for the first family and an- R&B to rap battles.
ston as among the writers gell of The New Yorker at swer questions from school The Obamas have been
never elected. age 94. children. big boosters of the show.
“Isn’t that something, what The new list includes an- Lin-Manuel Miranda, the President Barack Obama
would American literature other longtime New Yorker show’s writer and star, an- took daughters Sasha and
be without those people?” staff writer, Jane Kramer, nounced the invitation dur- Malia to see it last year after
he said. who specializes in Europe- ing his weekly video series first lady Michelle Obama
an culture and politics, and Wednesday. caught it last spring.q
black inducted, in 1944. For- Remnick, who has edited
mer members also include the magazine since 1998 Steven Spielberg
James Baldwin, Ralph Elli- and won a Pulitzer Prize picked to give Harvard
son and Langston Hughes, four years earlier for “Len- commencement address
while Morrison, poet Rita in’s Tomb: The Last Days of
Dove and novelist Ernest J. the Soviet Empire.” CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) for best picture and best
Gaines are in the acade- “I am absolutely sure this — Filmmaker Steven Spiel- director for “Schindler’s
my now. Current members (election to the academy) berg has been chosen to List,” and best director for
nominate candidates, and is some kind of mistake,” give Harvard’s 2016 com- “Saving Private Ryan.”
Wideman would like to see Remnick wrote in an email mencement speech. In 2002, he earned a de-
authors Ishmael Reed and to the AP. “But in a year in The three-time Academy gree from California State
Paule Marshall among oth- which Donald Trump is win- Award winner is scheduled University, Long Beach,
ers voted in. ning primary after primary, to address students May 26 where he had attended in
“They have to represent maybe anything is pos- at the Ivy League campus. the 1960s but dropped out.
something special. That’s sible.” Harvard President Drew Spielberg follows others
what matters to me,” he Collins is one of the coun- Faust said in a statement from Hollywood picked
said. “It’s always about the try’s most popular poets Thursday that Spielberg’s to give marquee com-
art.” and served as poet laure- creativity has fueled count- mencement addresses this
Wideman pointed out that ate from 2001-2003. The less imaginations and that year. Actor Matt Damon is
he is close to the same Australian-born Carey won his films underscore what it scheduled to speak June 3
age, 74, as Du Bois was the Booker Prize for his nov- is to be human. at the Massachusetts Insti-
when he joined the acad- els “Oscar and Lucinda” Spielberg has won Oscars tute of Technology.q
emy, although Wideman is and “True History of the Kel-
far from the oldest member ly Gang.”
of the class of 2016. Frank, Openings in the academy
one of the world’s most occur after a member dies.
influential photographers, Ornette Coleman, novel-
renowned for his landmark ist Robert Stone and poet
collection “The Americans” Philip Levine are among
from the 1950s, turned 91 those who passed away in
last fall. His election comes 2015.q
a year after the academy