Predictions on the upcoming year in pop culture

The shape of things to come

Predictions on the upcoming year in pop culture

Now that we’ve put 2007 to bed, it’s time to look forward. What will be the big pop culture stories in 2008? At this point, we can only make educated guesses. To do so, we’ve turned to British mathematician John Venn for inspiration. In the late 19th century, Venn introduced a style of diagram that showed logical relationships between different objects or ideas. CBCNews.ca deploys the power of Venn diagrams to predict pop culture events in 2008.

By Matthew McKinnon, CBCNews.ca

Top Headlines

Stinky Cheese man named U.S. kids' books ambassador
Jon Scieszka, author of such bestselling picture books as The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, has been named the ambassador for children's books in the U.S.
Expect pickets at Golden Globes, striking writers say
The Writers Guild of America is saying no deal to Golden Globe Awards organizers, who had hoped to negotiate a ceremony without a picket line.
Sean Penn to head Cannes festival jury
American actor and director Sean Penn will head the awards jury at the Cannes Film Festival this year, organizers announced Thursday.
Artists face charges over fake nuclear blast on Czech TV
A group of Czech artists who staged a fake nuclear blast over national television will be sent to criminal trial, a state prosecutor said Thursday.
CTV buys U.S. series Mad Men
Private broadcaster CTV has added to its slate of U.S.-produced shows with the purchase of the Golden Globe-nominated series Mad Men.
Law & Order to get British accent
A British production company is considering creating a London version of the long-running TV crime series Law & Order.
Live Earth wins new award for 'green' music events
Midem, an international trade show for the music industry, has created a new award designed to honour figures who advance ecologically-friendly live music events.
Dutch conductor de Waart to take baton of Milwaukee Symphony
Edo de Waart, chief conductor and artistic director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, will also become music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Much-rejected first novel wins Costa award
Catherine O'Flynn's debut novel What was Lost and A.L. Kennedy's Day have been shortlisted for the Costa Book of the Year Award, a British literary award formerly known as the Whitbread.
China puts limits on internet video
China has decided to restrict the broadcasting of internet videos — including those posted on video-sharing websites — to sites run by state-controlled companies and will require providers to report questionable content to the government.
more »

Film »

Sean Penn to head Cannes festival jury
American actor and director Sean Penn will head the awards jury at the Cannes Film Festival this year, organizers announced Thursday.
Potter star to tackle slain photojournalist biopic
With the end of the Harry Potter film series in sight, young British actor Daniel Radcliffe is continuing to strike out with more adult performances, including winning a coveted upcoming role as a slain photojournalist.
Eddie Murphy weds in Pacific paradise
Comedian Eddie Murphy married film producer Tracey Edmonds in a small ceremony on New Year's Day, according to a report from People magazine.
More »

Music »

Dutch conductor de Waart to take baton of Milwaukee Symphony
Edo de Waart, chief conductor and artistic director of the Hong Kong Philharmonic, will also become music director of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
Live Earth wins new award for 'green' music events
Midem, an international trade show for the music industry, has created a new award designed to honour figures who advance ecologically-friendly live music events.
MC Hammer back with dance website
Former rapper MC Hammer is taking on YouTube with plans for a new website dedicated to dance videos.
More »

TV »

CTV buys U.S. series Mad Men
Private broadcaster CTV has added to its slate of U.S.-produced shows with the purchase of the Golden Globe-nominated series Mad Men.
Law & Order to get British accent
A British production company is considering creating a London version of the long-running TV crime series Law & Order.
Expect pickets at Golden Globes, striking writers say
The Writers Guild of America is saying no deal to Golden Globe Awards organizers, who had hoped to negotiate a ceremony without a picket line.
More »

Media »

China puts limits on internet video
China has decided to restrict the broadcasting of internet videos — including those posted on video-sharing websites — to sites run by state-controlled companies and will require providers to report questionable content to the government.
Number of slain journalists up 244% over 5 years: watchdog
The number of journalists killed in the field has skyrocketed by 244 per cent in the past five years, and more than half of the 86 reporters slain in 2007 fell in Iraq, according to an annual tally compiled by Reporters Without Borders.
MC Hammer back with dance website
Former rapper MC Hammer is taking on YouTube with plans for a new website dedicated to dance videos.
More »

Books »

Stinky Cheese man named U.S. kids' books ambassador
Jon Scieszka, author of such bestselling picture books as The Stinky Cheese Man and The True Story of the Three Little Pigs, has been named the ambassador for children's books in the U.S.
Much-rejected first novel wins Costa award
Catherine O'Flynn's debut novel What was Lost and A.L. Kennedy's Day have been shortlisted for the Costa Book of the Year Award, a British literary award formerly known as the Whitbread.
Tom Wolfe changes publishers for new novel
Tom Wolfe will change publishers with the release of his new novel, Back to Blood, a story of "class, family, wealth, race, crime, sex, corruption and ambition" set in Miami.
More »

Art & Design »

France racing to save Lascaux cave paintings from fungus
The French government is taking emergency action to rescue the celebrated cave paintings of the Lascaux caverns from a fungus that threatens to destroy the ancient works of art.
Israel, France create exhibit of unclaimed Nazi-looted art
The Israel Museum in Jerusalem plans an exhibit in February of more than 50 drawings and paintings stolen from France by the Germans during the Second World War and never reclaimed.
Russian-British art exhibition feud settled with new UK law
Britain and Russia settled a politically tinged dispute about art Monday, with Moscow saying it will grant permission to send Russian masterpieces for a major exhibition in London now that Britain has protected the works from seizure.
More »

Theatre »

Quebec City begins 400th birthday celebration Video
Quebec City's 400th birthday party begins Monday night with a major concert and a fireworks display in the city's historic Old Town.
Writer Richard Wright, musician Paul Shaffer earn honours
Novelist Richard Wright, author of Clara Callan, and Paul Shaffer, music director for David Letterman's late night talk show, are to be awarded the Order of Canada.
Broadway, Hollywood choreographer Michael Kidd dies
American choreographer Michael Kidd, who created dance for the stage musical Finian's Rainbow and the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, has died.
More »