Cultural Criticism and Analysis

An Organized Jumble

An Organized Jumble An Organized Jumble

For all its postmodern flair, the revamped Benjamin Franklin Museum is surprisingly traditional and constrained.

Oct 16, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Julia M. Klein

Urgent, Unheard Stories

Urgent, Unheard Stories Urgent, Unheard Stories

New novels, poetry and short-story collections from up-and-coming and established writers of color.

Sep 24, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Roxane Gay

A Literature of Her Own: ‘It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris’, by Patricia Engel

A Literature of Her Own: ‘It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris’, by Patricia Engel A Literature of Her Own: ‘It’s Not Love, It’s Just Paris’, by Patricia Engel

The author's absorbing debut novel chronicles a young woman’s year in Paris, where she will have to choose the home wants most. 

Sep 13, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Roxane Gay

Rising Above the Failure of Imagination

Rising Above the Failure of Imagination Rising Above the Failure of Imagination

The conversation about diversity in Science Fiction & Fantasy reveals how racism constrains even imagination. 

Sep 10, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Roxane Gay

Broader, Better Literary Conversations

Broader, Better Literary Conversations Broader, Better Literary Conversations

Literary conversations are not representative of the diversity of modern letters. We can and I will do better. 

Sep 9, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Roxane Gay

‘Atlantic Rim’: Chomsky v. Zizek

‘Atlantic Rim’: Chomsky v. Zizek ‘Atlantic Rim’: Chomsky v. Zizek

An online dustup between two pop star penseurs shows them staggering through afterlives.

Aug 13, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Joshua Clover

White Wigs, Black Masks: On Surveillance Pop

White Wigs, Black Masks: On Surveillance Pop White Wigs, Black Masks: On Surveillance Pop

The cameras no longer look at us because we’re famous; we’re famous because they look at us to death.

Jun 5, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Joshua Clover

Oligarchs and Graphomaniacs

Oligarchs and Graphomaniacs Oligarchs and Graphomaniacs

No one dies for poetry anymore, not even in Russia. Enter the oligarchs, who steer clear of Putin’s ire by sponsoring literary prizes.

Apr 10, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Sophie Pinkham

Made in the USA? Letter From London

Made in the USA? Letter From London Made in the USA? Letter From London

Books about London in its Olympic year and after see Americanization eroding the city’s gift for democratic gradualism.

Mar 27, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Leo Robson

Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique

Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique Unreal Choices: On The Feminine Mystique

For Betty Friedan, feminism was humanism: a question of growth, maturation and identity.

Mar 20, 2013 / Books & the Arts / Julia M. Klein

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