Cultural Criticism and Analysis

Dustin Hoffman And Jon Voight In 'Midnight Cowboy'

Rough Trade, Big City: The Legacy of ‘Midnight Cowboy’ Rough Trade, Big City: The Legacy of ‘Midnight Cowboy’

Glenn Frankel’s new book explores the making of a film that has become almost synonymous with New York City.

May 26, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Adam Nayman

Recent History

Recent History Recent History

Reviewing the year, in stitches.

May 25, 2021 / OppArt / India Tresselt

Is It Time to Abolish Museums? Is It Time to Abolish Museums?

From problematic funders to union-busting, museums around the world have been beset by controversy. Can reform actually change these institutions?

May 25, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Dana Kopel

Spiral Jetty Sculpture In Utah

The Roving Mind of Rachel Kushner The Roving Mind of Rachel Kushner

Her new collection of nonfiction—exploring life, death, motorcycles, land art, experimental film and much more—is exhilarating.

May 24, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Jennifer Schaffer-Goddard

Why Critics Need to Let Their Guard Down

Why Critics Need to Let Their Guard Down Why Critics Need to Let Their Guard Down

A conversation with Larissa Pham about desire, the politics of vulnerability, and practicing a more generous form of criticism.

May 19, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Chalay Chalermkraivuth

Richard Wagner.

Richard Wagner’s Pandemonium Richard Wagner’s Pandemonium

The contested life and afterlife of the composer.

May 18, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Mina Tavakoli

Jordan Peterson

Jordan Peterson’s New Rules Are Old News Jordan Peterson’s New Rules Are Old News

The Canadian contrarian is back with another book. It isn’t any better than the last one.

May 18, 2021 / Column / Katha Pollitt

Óscar Castro Ramírez

How Theater Can Help Us Survive How Theater Can Help Us Survive

The saga of Chilean director and playwright Oscar Castro is a vivid example of how art can help us endure—and thrive.

May 6, 2021 / Ariel Dorfman

Virgina Woolf

Helpful Men: Defending Philip Roth, Dismissing Virginia Woolf Helpful Men: Defending Philip Roth, Dismissing Virginia Woolf

Like most women who write, I live my life according to the firmly stated judgments of literary men.

May 6, 2021 / Alyssa Harad

Phillip Roth

Philip Roth and His Defensive Fans Are Their Own Worst Enemies Philip Roth and His Defensive Fans Are Their Own Worst Enemies

Why did it take a sexual assault scandal to raise red flags about a deeply flawed biography?

Apr 30, 2021 / Jeet Heer

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