Out of the Ether Out of the Ether
On Mank, Let Them All Talk, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Minari, and more films from the end of 2020.
Dec 30, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Stuart Klawans
Open Mike Eagle’s Songs of Redemption Open Mike Eagle’s Songs of Redemption
His new album—Anime, Trauma and Divorce—uses rap as a vehicle for self-examination and restoration.
Dec 30, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Kearse
Random Assignment Random Assignment
It seems to want to rain but can’t. It fades to pink, an argument. Relinquish the dream. You can’t ever get what you want, You can’t please any of the people Any of the time. Time…
Dec 29, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Elisa Gabbert
Apples Apples
The townspeople paste wax apples on the trees, glow shyly out their windows as the Dictator struts past the monument of his father strutting past nothing at all. Yesterday, the Dic…
Dec 29, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Claire Schwartz
The Groundbreaking Honesty of Joe Sacco’s Comics Journalism The Groundbreaking Honesty of Joe Sacco’s Comics Journalism
His decades-long project of reportage in graphic form works like oral history—bearing witness to the historical traumas of his subjects.
Dec 28, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Jillian Steinhauer
‘Christmas in My Soul’ ‘Christmas in My Soul’
Fifty years ago this season, Laura Nyro delivered a timeless rebuke to racism, militarism, and “the sins of politics.”
Dec 25, 2020 / John Nichols
Modern Hollywood Discovers Its Jazz ‘Soul’ Modern Hollywood Discovers Its Jazz ‘Soul’
Pixar’s Christmas release is the best jazz film in a long time. But then, there isn’t a lot of competition.
Dec 24, 2020 / Ethan Iverson
‘Mank’ Recovers the Radical Roots of ‘Citizen Kane’ ‘Mank’ Recovers the Radical Roots of ‘Citizen Kane’
The biopic of writer Herman Mankiewicz recuperates the subversive politics of a cinematic masterpiece.
Dec 18, 2020 / Jeet Heer
The Best Albums of 2020 The Best Albums of 2020
Our music critic’s 11 favorite pieces of music from this year.
Dec 18, 2020 / Books & the Arts / David Hajdu
Shakespeare’s Contentious Conversation With America Shakespeare’s Contentious Conversation With America
James Shapiro’s recent book looks at why Shakespeare has been a mainstay of the cultural and political conflicts of the country since its founding.
Dec 17, 2020 / Books & the Arts / Alisa Solomon