Culture
What the Paiva Family Means to Brazil What the Paiva Family Means to Brazil
In I’m Still Here, one Brazilian clan’s confrontation with the military dictatorship dramatizes the last half-century of Brazil’s democratic travails.
Beatriz Nascimento’s Histories of Afro-Brazilian Rebellion Beatriz Nascimento’s Histories of Afro-Brazilian Rebellion
The scholar, poet, and filmmaker devoted her life to sketching out a revisionist historiography of resistance in Latin America but also the world.
Trump’s Mafia Shakedown Might Destroy NATO—if We’re Lucky Trump’s Mafia Shakedown Might Destroy NATO—if We’re Lucky
America’s greedy gangster president is forcing European elites to finally reckon with the high price of protection.
The Sports Doc We’ve Been Waiting for, and the NBA at the All-Star Break The Sports Doc We’ve Been Waiting for, and the NBA at the All-Star Break
On this episode of Edge of Sports, documentarians talk about their important project and Arya talks NBA season.
Books
Henri Bergson’s States of Change Henri Bergson’s States of Change
Why did one of the early 20th century’s most famous philosophers go out of fashion?
The Making and Remaking of Karl Marx’s “Capital” The Making and Remaking of Karl Marx’s “Capital”
In the first English translation in half a century, Paul Reitter and Paul North distill the essence of the Marxist masterpiece by going back to basics.
Fady Joudah’s Poetry of Dislocation Fady Joudah’s Poetry of Dislocation
In his new book of poetry, […], the poet, translator, and ER doctor explores Palestinians’ experiences of exile and displacement—and the difficulty of healing amid the ongoing Nak…
Film
What the Paiva Family Means to Brazil What the Paiva Family Means to Brazil
In I’m Still Here, one Brazilian clan’s confrontation with the military dictatorship dramatizes the last half-century of Brazil’s democratic travails.
Trump’s Mafia Shakedown Might Destroy NATO—if We’re Lucky Trump’s Mafia Shakedown Might Destroy NATO—if We’re Lucky
America’s greedy gangster president is forcing European elites to finally reckon with the high price of protection.
The Sports Doc We’ve Been Waiting for, and the NBA at the All-Star Break The Sports Doc We’ve Been Waiting for, and the NBA at the All-Star Break
On this episode of Edge of Sports, documentarians talk about their important project and Arya talks NBA season.
The Uncomfortable Genius of Mike Leigh The Uncomfortable Genius of Mike Leigh
In “Hard Truths,” Leigh reminds us that a family dinner can tell the story of a whole society.
The Dubious Return of the Brutalists The Dubious Return of the Brutalists
Why the stark 20th-century architectural style is back in vogue.
Television
“The Pitt” and the Gritty Return of the Hospital Drama “The Pitt” and the Gritty Return of the Hospital Drama
In the frenzied medical drama, the limits and problems of the healthcare system serve as the basis for the show’s plot.
Trump’s Phony Trade Wars Are Evidence of American Imperial Decline Trump’s Phony Trade Wars Are Evidence of American Imperial Decline
President’s bullying of allies yields symbolic results—but betrays substantive weakness.
CNN Surrenders to Trump CNN Surrenders to Trump
The corporate media’s commitment to fighting autocracy proves fickle.
Architecture
The Real Problem With Trump’s Cheesy Neoclassical Building Fetish The Real Problem With Trump’s Cheesy Neoclassical Building Fetish
Sure, it’s a dog whistle for “retvrn” types and the results are tacky—but that’s not the worst part.
The Dubious Return of the Brutalists The Dubious Return of the Brutalists
Why the stark 20th-century architectural style is back in vogue.
Trump Will Not Make Architecture Great Again Trump Will Not Make Architecture Great Again
Last term, his ill-informed embrace of “traditional” aesthetics fanned the flames of the culture wars. This time, he’s poised to do even more damage.
Music
How the “Subversive Genius” of Kendrick Lamar Sent Trump Home a Loser How the “Subversive Genius” of Kendrick Lamar Sent Trump Home a Loser
The Philadelphia Eagles and Kendrick Lamar’s collective of geniuses made this the Super Bowl we needed.
How Spotify Remade the Music Industry How Spotify Remade the Music Industry
On this episode of Tech Won’t Save Us, Liz Pelly on the music streaming service.
The Introspective Club Hits of Jamie xx The Introspective Club Hits of Jamie xx
With In Waves, Jamie xx—whose real name is James Smith—has perfected what he explored in In Colour: an album full of searching tunes that can double as dance songs.
A Listener’s Guide to Jazz From 1964–1972 A Listener’s Guide to Jazz From 1964–1972
A selection of the best recorded examples of the otherwise mostly undocumented music heard in jazz clubs like Slugs’.
Jazz Off the Record Jazz Off the Record
In the late 1960s, the recording industry lost interest in America’s greatest art form. But in a small, dark club on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, jazz legends were …
Publishing
Novelist on a Deadline: Barry Malzberg, 1939–2024 Novelist on a Deadline: Barry Malzberg, 1939–2024
A speed demon at the typewriter, Malzberg wrote quickly and brilliantly in a variety of genres including mystery, thrillers, and erotica, but his core work was in science fiction….
The Impossible Story of Communism The Impossible Story of Communism
How do you tell the history of a global movement in all its hope and contradiction?
The Discontents of Michel Houellebecq The Discontents of Michel Houellebecq
What happened to the French novelist?
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