The morning after The New York Times Magazine interviewer Deborah Solomon and Steve Martin met at the 92nd Street Y to discuss the art world, which Martin wrote about in his latest novel, the Y sent an email to attendees promising to refund their $50 tickets because the event "did not meet the standard of excellence that you have come to expect."
Apparently, viewers of a webcast of the event sent emails complaining that the discussion was not focusing on Martin's acting career. Solomon said she was "appalled" at the reaction, and had no idea the Y wanted her to discuss Martin's celebrity. "I think the Y, which is supposedly a champion of the arts, has behaved very crassly and is reinforcing the most philistine aspects of a culture that values celebrity and award shows over art," she said.
Read it at New York Observer
Footnote:
The novel is An Object of Beauty & is published by Grand Central Publishing.
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