Books & the Arts

Beyond Zombie Figuration

Beyond Zombie Figuration Beyond Zombie Figuration

The craze for figurative painting might be at an impasse. These three painters stand above the pack, making work that challenges the very idea of the form.

Dec 19, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky

The Mythology of George Balanchine

The Mythology of George Balanchine The Mythology of George Balanchine

A conversation with Jennifer Homans about the ballet master's literary influences, his complicated legacy, and the metaphysical side of dance.

Dec 15, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Dilara O’Neil

The Radical Internationalism of the Spanish Civil War

The Radical Internationalism of the Spanish Civil War The Radical Internationalism of the Spanish Civil War

A new graphic history charts the exploits of those Americans serving in the war’s International Brigades.

Dec 14, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Bill Fletcher Jr.

Nell Zink’s California

Nell Zink’s California Nell Zink’s California

There is Hollywood, there are lights, but only the rich are allowed to enjoy them.

Dec 13, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Alana Pockros

Were We All Wrong About “Tár”?

Were We All Wrong About “Tár”? Were We All Wrong About “Tár”?

What made the movie both striking and dubious was somewhat overlooked in the initial critical fervor.

Dec 13, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Phoebe Chen

Nation Poetry

Congo: Curriculum Vitae (excerpt) Congo: Curriculum Vitae (excerpt)

[When one of us goes] When one of us goes to the other world, we gather and weep so that the ocean of our tears may take the deceased to their final resting place. [The path of lif…

Dec 13, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Alain Mabanckou

Mall of America, 1992.

The Rise and Fall of the Mall The Rise and Fall of the Mall

Alexandra Lange's Meet Me by the Fountain recovers the forgotten past and the still hopeful future of the American shopping mall.

Dec 12, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Melvin Backman

Margo Jefferson and the Art of Life

Margo Jefferson and the Art of Life Margo Jefferson and the Art of Life

In her work, especially her new book Constructing a Nervous System, she transforms criticism into an experience one feels in the body, not just the mind.

Dec 9, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Kelton Ellis

Nation Poetry

Dawning Dawning

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Dec 8, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Dashaun Washington

The Melancholy Return of “Black Panther”

The Melancholy Return of “Black Panther” The Melancholy Return of “Black Panther”

After the death of Chadwick Boseman, the makers of the superhero movie had to reimagine the series. The result makes for a sobering and affecting sequel. 

Dec 8, 2022 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Kearse

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