Chris Krauss: “Contemporary art has a way of putting people on the spot, but I found if you smoke a joint outside the museum, go inside, sit in front of the work, and see what it has to say to you, your guess will be as good as anyone else’s.”

The Christian Council of Korea has protested the May release of The Da Vinci Code: not because of any specific blasphemy, but because the CCK, being serious film fans, can’t see what good can come of teaming Ron Howard and Tom Hanks again for an overwrought Hollywood picture.

The latest issue of Mr. Esposito’s Quarterly Conversation is now up. There are essays from Daniel Green, Dan Wickett, Dave Munger and Derik Badman.

Judges and brackets have been announced for The Morning News Tournament of Books. There are rumors going around that judge Dale Peck will take an axe to all the losers. But on the bright side, to demonstrate that he has a warm side, he will call the winner “the best writer of his generation.”

RotR-endorsed Ian Rankin is hosting a BBC4 series in which crime fiction writers talk about the music that influences and inspires them. (via Sarah)