A Theater Without Qualities A Theater Without Qualities
Immersive theater has no real style—except to fetishize its look.
Sep 30, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Ricky D’Ambrose
China’s New Frontiers China’s New Frontiers
How Africa and China’s own borderlands became the center of Beijing’s new empire.
Sep 30, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Audrea Lim
Poetry and Catastrophe Poetry and Catastrophe
By privileging historical catastrophe, a new poetry anthology narrows the definition of art.
Sep 30, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Benjamin Paloff
Extinction Pop Extinction Pop
Choreographed for maximum appeal, pop culture likes to say yes. History is made by those who say no.
Sep 30, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Joshua Clover
The Pretense of Balanced Debate: Behind the Media’s Blackout of Antiwar Views The Pretense of Balanced Debate: Behind the Media’s Blackout of Antiwar Views
Eric on this week's concerts and Reed on the two-party debate that has only one, pro-war side.
Sep 30, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Eric Alterman and Reed Richardson
5 Books to Build a Movement for Education Justice 5 Books to Build a Movement for Education Justice
A former public school teacher and union organizer picks his favorites.
Sep 24, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Kenzo Shibata
Life in the Ruins Life in the Ruins
How the destruction of architectural treasures became a weapon in Syria’s ongoing civil war.
Sep 23, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Frederick Deknatel
Under Pressure Under Pressure
How much of the pressure of reality can a work of art bear before it ceases to be art?
Sep 23, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky
The Resource Privilege The Resource Privilege
How law firms and lobbyists protect and whitewash petroleum dictatorships.
Sep 23, 2014 / Books & the Arts / James North
Crows Crows
—after Crows by Unknown, Japan In perpetual silhouette perform against bronze. As exhausted dancers, undressed behind a scrim, the suggestion of nakedness more erotic than… En masse, they argue and flee between slim sessions of peace. This is existence: pain leashed or unleashed. Wings press against ribs in politesse or unfurl in demonstrations of power. When it’s over, crows remain as debris, Ebony confetti, wrecking more the wrecked world.
Sep 23, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Paula Bohince