A Wink and a Leer A Wink and a Leer
Nick Cave's self-lacerating sense of humor helps him avoid being just another pretentious old rocker.
May 15, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Jess Harvell
Boxed In Boxed In
Electoral reform in the United States will require federal intervention to empower voters and overcome the challenges posed by state and local autonomy.
May 15, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Peter C. Baker
Playing Games Playing Games
Are virtual-world video games just another plaything or a new frontier with vast potential to upend social norms?
May 15, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Totilo
Competitive Sliming Competitive Sliming
At least McCain's being creative.
May 14, 2008 / Column / Calvin Trillin
Unlovable Unlovable
The contemporary art world, reflected in the 2008 Whitney Biennial, is themeless and heading in no identifiable direction.
May 8, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Arthur C. Danto
The Age of the Wooden Spoon The Age of the Wooden Spoon
The radical subjectivity and reckless politics of Norwegian writer Knut Hamsun find new expression in recent English translations and editions.
May 8, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Benjamin Lytal
The Counter-Family The Counter-Family
British author Jonathan Coe departs from grand social transformations and turns to the domestic sphere in The Rain Before It Falls.
May 8, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Chris Lehmann
Market Media Meltdown Market Media Meltdown
Financial news outlets, tethered to a mission to pump up confidence and support their advertisers, helped fuel the subprime meltdown.
May 8, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Danny Schechter
Looking Past Clichés Looking Past Clichés
The Visitor is that rare film that defines Arabs not as ethnic or religious stereotypes but as individuals.
May 6, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Laila Lalami
Guantánamo Ain’t No Joke Guantánamo Ain’t No Joke
Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantánamo Bay is very funny. Nothing about the real place is.
May 1, 2008 / Books & the Arts / Shayana Kadidal