Books & the Arts

The Brilliant Discontents of Lou Reed

The Brilliant Discontents of Lou Reed The Brilliant Discontents of Lou Reed

A new biography examines the enigma of the musician.

Jan 23, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Sasha Frere-Jones

Niels Vodder display wtih furniture designed by Finn Juhl, Cabinetmakers Guild Exhibition, 1949.

How Did Americans Come to Love “Mid-Century Modern”? How Did Americans Come to Love “Mid-Century Modern”?

Solving the riddle of America’s obsession with postwar design and furniture.

Jan 23, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Marianela D’Aprile

Nation Poetry

Merkwelt Merkwelt

Jan 23, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Cynthia Cruz

Nazi salute by Friends of New Germany at Madison Square Garden.

What Is the History of Fascism in the United States? What Is the History of Fascism in the United States?

In Fascism Comes to America, Bruce Kuklick traces the shifting meanings of the term “fascist” from its origins to the present day and how it has, over the years, gradually lost it...

Jan 17, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Richard J. Evans

A scene from “The Sweet East.”

A Road Trip Through America’s Absurd Political Life A Road Trip Through America’s Absurd Political Life

In Sean Price Williams’s debut film, The Sweet East, he pokes fun at the nation's ideological bubbles.

Jan 16, 2024 / Books & the Arts / John Semley

The Metaphysical Horror of “The Curse”

The Metaphysical Horror of “The Curse” The Metaphysical Horror of “The Curse”

From its first moments to its antic end, the series exposes its viewers to an abundance of anxious perturbation but it does something else too: It reveals the absurdity all around...

Jan 12, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Sarah Chihaya

A scene from “Confucian Confusion.”

Edward Yang’s States of Flux Edward Yang’s States of Flux

His dark comedies and family dramas of life in late-20th-century Taiwan depict a generation’s crisis, confronting the forces of finance and globalization.

Jan 11, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Vikram Murthi

Wendy Brown: A Conversation on Our “Nihilistic” Age

Wendy Brown: A Conversation on Our “Nihilistic” Age Wendy Brown: A Conversation on Our “Nihilistic” Age

The Nation spoke with the political theorist about the multifront crisis of the post-Trump era and the moral and intellectual commitments of scholars and higher education.

Jan 10, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Daniel Steinmetz-Jenkins

Frank Bowling, 1962.

“The Subject of Painting Is Paint”: On Frank Bowling “The Subject of Painting Is Paint”: On Frank Bowling

The British artist's work challenges all notions you might have about the relationship between politics and aesthetics.

Jan 10, 2024 / Books & the Arts / John-Baptiste Oduor

An illustration of the 1492 expulsion of the Jewish communities from the Spanish kingdoms.

The Idea of the Nation-State Is Synonymous With Genocide The Idea of the Nation-State Is Synonymous With Genocide

A conversation with political theorist Mahmood Mamdani on the inherent violence at the heart of a nation-building project, the war in Gaza, and the changing meaning of homeland.

Jan 9, 2024 / Books & the Arts / Francis Wade

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