Books & the Arts

Pieces of a Man: On Gil Scott Heron Pieces of a Man: On Gil Scott Heron

The musician’s posthumous memoir, The Last Holiday, is as rich and ambiguous as his declaration that “The Revolution Will Not be Televised.”

May 9, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Franklin Bruno

Maurice Sendak’s Cultural Influence Maurice Sendak’s Cultural Influence

Generally considered the leading children's book writer of the past century, his books were touchstones of youth for the generation born after 1960.

May 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Peter Rothberg

MCA’s Feminist Legacy MCA’s Feminist Legacy

How the Beastie Boys brought hope to female hip hop fans.

May 8, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Jessica Valenti

Goodbye MCA Goodbye MCA

For me, losing a Beastie Boy is like what losing a Beatle was to my father's generation.

May 4, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Peter Rothberg

Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism

Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism Marine Le Pen and the False Specter of European Fascism

Americans who worry about dangerous trends overseas should take a look at warning signs much closer to home.

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Alexander Cockburn

Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries

Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries Empty and Full: On Stanley Whitney and Jacqueline Humphries

When is a little more than enough in a painting?

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky

Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco

Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco Democracy and Education: On Andrew Delbanco

In College, Andrew Delbanco explains the reversal of the postwar project of democratic expansion in higher education.

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Richard Wolin

Leviticus Again Leviticus Again

   “And his issue is unclean,” 15:3   He is human and so will be humbled He is flesh and so will fail He is bone and so will be broken He is blood and so will bleed He has cheated and so will be changed He has deceived and so will be drained He has mocked and so will be muddied He is hollow and so will howl He has sullied and so will sadden He is nothing and so will be nought He is pain and so will perish He is emission and so will be missed He is water and so will weep He is cavernous and so will cry He is dross and so will disgust He is a carcass and so will be cast He has soured and so will stink He is rank and so will retch He is a worm and so will writhe He is corruption and will be betrayed He came forth, and so he will fade         Palestine, sixth century CE       (translated from the Hebrew by Peter Cole)

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Yannai

All in the Family: On Thomas Frank All in the Family: On Thomas Frank

Thomas Frank’s Pity the Billionaire is confused about the connection between the Tea Party and conservative cultural populism.

May 2, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Steve Fraser

Welcome to the 2012 Hunger Games Welcome to the 2012 Hunger Games

Sending debt peonage, poverty and freaky weather into the arena.

May 1, 2012 / Books & the Arts / Rebecca Solnit

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