10 Questions for Margo Jefferson 10 Questions for Margo Jefferson
The author of Negroland explains her long journey from cheerleader to literary critic.
Oct 22, 2015 / Jon Wiener
Trevor Noah Says He’s Not a Political Progressive. He’d Be Funnier If He Were. Trevor Noah Says He’s Not a Political Progressive. He’d Be Funnier If He Were.
The new Daily Show host doesn’t have much to say, which leaves him making jokes about tramp stamps and body weight.
Oct 9, 2015 / Katie Halper
Jonathan Franzen Withdraws Jonathan Franzen Withdraws
Why are the agonized liberals in Purity so skeptical of political conviction?
Oct 8, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Jon Baskin
October 3, 1925: Gore Vidal Is Born October 3, 1925: Gore Vidal Is Born
“In hindsight, I can see that our ending was implicit in our beginning.”
Oct 3, 2015 / Richard Kreitner
September 30, 2005: Cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed Appear in a Danish Newspaper September 30, 2005: Cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed Appear in a Danish Newspaper
“The cartoon scandal is about much more than freedom of speech. At its heart the controversy is about power.”
Sep 30, 2015 / Richard Kreitner
Our First Advice Columnist Is Taking Your Questions Our First Advice Columnist Is Taking Your Questions
Living under late capitalism is hard. Liza is here to help.
Sep 29, 2015 / Liza Featherstone
The Politics of Bad Art The Politics of Bad Art
In whose service does a painter paint, or a critic criticize?
Sep 24, 2015 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky
Hear! Hear! George Scialabba Hear! Hear! George Scialabba
A gathering of luminaries and friends—including artist Joseph Ciardiello, with this drawing—celebrated the essayist and critic on the day of his retirement.
Sep 24, 2015 / Rick Perlstein
September 12, 1880: H.L. Mencken Is Born September 12, 1880: H.L. Mencken Is Born
“What ails liberalism, as a practical scheme of reform, is its naive and irrational belief in law, a superstition that has cursed the human race long enough.”
Sep 12, 2015 / Richard Kreitner
September 10, 1885: Carl Van Doren Is Born September 10, 1885: Carl Van Doren Is Born
“He has labored untiringly to dig the weeds out of the annals of American fiction.”
Sep 10, 2015 / Richard Kreitner