Books & the Arts

A City Made of Waste A City Made of Waste

Across the border from San Diego in Tijuana, a spontaneous urban space is taking shape off the radar of city planners, as an affluent city sheds its aging houses and its pieces are...

Jan 29, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Teddy Cruz

Let the Sun Shine In Let the Sun Shine In

The era of secrecy in government is officially over.

Jan 28, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Jon Wiener

Schlepics: The Fiction of Angel Wagenstein Schlepics: The Fiction of Angel Wagenstein

Angel Wagenstein and the evolution of modern Jewish storytelling.

Jan 28, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Akiva Gottlieb

Back Talk: Nato Thompson Back Talk: Nato Thompson

A conversation with Nato Thompson on experimental geography, Trevor Paglen and the outlook for the arts.

Jan 28, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Christine Smallwood

Further Adventures in Editing: Ted Solotaroff at ‘Commentary’ Further Adventures in Editing: Ted Solotaroff at ‘Commentary’

Cynthia Ozick, Norman Podhoretz and Alfred Chester contribute to the education of an editor. Second of a two-part memoir.

Jan 28, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Ted Solotaroff

Updike Evaluated: The Writer as Matchmaker Updike Evaluated: The Writer as Matchmaker

One measure of his genius lay in his ability to invoke the hard beauty of a man endlessly wandering the labyrinth of his own needs, abusively fearful of broken spells.

Jan 27, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Josephine Hendin

Star Wars Star Wars

The only film ever made that could be said to have cost the United States government billions--in a missile defense system that only Hollywood could make work.

Jan 25, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Robert Hatch

The Grapes of Wrath The Grapes of Wrath

Hollywood was concerned that the saga of the Joads might send a "pro-Communist" message, but in the end, even Whittaker Chambers liked this film, which says something.

Jan 23, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Franz Hoellering

The Godfather The Godfather

If one Paramount exec had his way, Don Corleone would have been played by Danny Thomas. Fortunately, Francis Coppola had no interest in turning Mario Puzo's novel into Make Room Fo...

Jan 23, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Robert Hatch

City Lights City Lights

Though the era of talking films was well underway, this lovely silent film about the Little Tramp and a poor blind girl remained Charlie Chaplin's personal favorite.

Jan 23, 2009 / Books & the Arts / Alexander Bakshy

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