Cultural criticism, 1969-1990 : from architectural damages to press imperfections

Introduction: History and Development of the Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Criticism / Heinz-Dietrich Fischer

Selections from Award-Winning Entries. Remarks about the Selections Criteria

About Architecture Issues in 1969 / Ada L. Huxtable. Municipal Traffic Plans will Maim Some Downtown Districts. Sense of History and Esthetics Pervades a New City Hall. A Black Community Fights a State Office Building Project. Renewal Programs Threaten City Districts and Natural Assets

About Music Topics in 1970 / Harold C. Schonberg. Soviet Avantgarde Music Observed by the Political System. Conducting Music the Cellist Virtuoso Becomes a Young Man. Some Great Classical Composers Deserve Timeless Relevance. Reminiscences of Two Famous but Very Different Conductors

About Dance Arrangements in 1971 / Frank L. Peters, Jr. Ballet Performances Enjoy Popular Upswing among Fans. Fanatical Devotion of Chamber Musicians to Their Work. In a World of Indifference Some People Live Their Music. Sensitivity to all Sorts of Music Characterizes that Prodigy

About Television Outlines in 1972 / Ronald D. Powers. Young Creative Writers Could Enliven Silly TV Entertainment. Olympic Games TV Reporters as Custodians of National Honor. Sobering Insights into One of America's Most Popular TV Shows. Elected Trustees of Public TV Try to Serve Viewers' Interest

About Art Exhibitions in 1973 / Emily Genauer. A Norwegian Painter Seen under Aspects of His Private Life. The Great Cubist's Position in Twentieth-Century Art. Nudity and Violence in Art as Expressions of Modern Life. The Painter of Biblical Visions has Got his Own Museum

About Film Productions in 1974 / Roger J. Ebert. Female Movie Roles Represent Only Stereotyped Images. New Wave Films and Their Treatment of Sex Problems. A Private Eye Movie as Complex Story of Evil Itself. Cinematic Structures of Two Successful Film Directors

About Dance Events in 1975 / Alan M. Kriegsman. International Balletic Brilliance Now Shown for Decades. Aspects of Symbiotic Affiliation Between Film and Dance. Moscow's Famous Ballet Company Expected with New Program. Certain Effects of Politics on a Dancer's Career

About Book Publications in 1976 / William A. McPherson. A Prolific Writer's New Novel is about Money and Power. Disturbance of Eden by Progress in a Small Farm Village. Young Poet Between Edwardian Ideals and Outrageous Reality. Letters Illuminating Varied Decades of American History

About Theater Performances in 1977 / Walter F. Kerr. The Fascinating Art of Playing a Role Sensitively. Theater Once Dealt with Romance Now Exposes Sex. Two Female Entertainers Put on a Striking Show. Interpretations of Two Actors Playing the Same Role

About Architecture Deficiencies in 1978 / Paul J. Gapp. New Federal Building Not Compatible with City Master Plans. Cheerless Shaping of Living Space in Some Downtown Areas. Few City Hotel Lobbies Offer a Tasteful General Atmosphere. Ruthless Wrecking of Landmarks by Urban Renewal Project

About Television Concepts in 1979 / William A. Henry III. Fairytale Fascinates TV Audience Over Two Decades. How to Adapt a Famous Novel of Guilt and Love for TV. Ethics of Several TV Sportscasters' Belong on the Sidelines. Highly Stereotyped Characters Dominate TV Network Programs

About Book Messages in 1980 / Jonathan Yardley. Slimy Exercises in the "New" Journalism Profession. Chinese-Americans' Problems of Cultural Integration. A Greenhorn's Wild Adventures in the Early Sixties. Glimpses of an Influential Columnist's Dual Career

About Music Presentations in 1981 / Martin Bernheimer. An Outstanding Violinist's Standard was Simply Perfection. Modern Setting of a Classic Opera as Big Musical Challenge. Acclaimed Star Tenor Disappoints in Italian Opera Performance. Opera. Masterpiece Performed as Naive Compendium of Cliches

About Art Aspects in 1982 / Manuela V. Hoelterhoff. An Esthetically Fascinating TV Series as Great Film Art. Two Art Exhibitions Illuminate Modern Italian Painting. Some Old Masters' Paintings Visualize Heaven and Earth. Contemporary Art Show Doesn't Indicate Future Trends

About Architecture Challenges in 1983 / Paul J. Goldberger. A World Capital's Steel Icon Becomes One Century Old. Restoration Plans Threaten U.S. Parliament Building. Design of New College Hall Shows Compositional Talent. West Coast City Plans to Limit Unfettered Downtown Growth

About Television Coverages in 1984 / Howard Rosenberg. If Presidential Candidates Once Held an Honest TV Debate. Electronic Preachers Mix Theology and Doctrinaire Politics. A TV Network's Jingoistic Coverage of the L.A. Olympic Games. Soft-Focused News Programs Presented by Perk TV Anchors

About Music Conditions in 1985 / Donal J. Henahan. A Soprano's Farewell Appearance in a Deficient Production. The Miracle of Two Baroque Composers' Musical Achievement. Operagoers' Proposals to Perform a Murder Scene Plausibly. Faults in the Musical Logic of Too Many Young Composers

About Book Contents in 1986 / Richard G. Eder. Tumultous Search for a Woman's Past in Society. Memories of a Very Haunting and Solitary Childhood. Age is Well Able to Prevail Over Challenging Youth. New Step in a Journey from a Dark Cave into the Light

About Television Programs in 1987 / Thomas W. Shales. Fictional TV Story on a Soviet-Occupied America. Democratic Presidential Contenders in TV Debates. TV Transmitted Hearing on Nomination to Supreme Court. TV Coverage Doesn't Come Up to Gracious Historic Summit

About Book Questions in 1988 / Michael Skube. What a Fellowship of Regional Writers Should Set as Its Aim. Two Novelists Reconstruct Ambivalent Ties of Father to Son. Shapeless and. Wooden Novel Again Atop the Best Seller Lists. Letters of an Excellent Music Critic Show Wit and Frankness

About Architecture Problems in 1989 / Allan B. Temko. Former Army Base as Cultural and Educational Resource. Esthetic Quality Should Lead Downtown Building Programs. Earthquake Reveals Some Faults in Building Techniques. New Halfway House is a Masterpiece of Social Design

About Media Failures in 1990 / David L. Shaw. Mostly Uncritical Media Coverage of a Controversial Trial. Looking Toward Authorities the Media Prejudged Defendants. How a Large Newspaper can Contribute to Public Outrage. What is Decisive for a Gazette's Fair Court Reporting?

Winners of the Distinguished Criticism Award, 1991-2001