Without Public Arts Funding, We Wouldn’t Have ‘Les Misérables’ Without Public Arts Funding, We Wouldn’t Have ‘Les Misérables’
Blockbusters don't usually have strong ties to public funding. Les Mis is an exception.
Jan 7, 2013 / Blog / Michelle Dean
‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Raises Dark Memories ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ Raises Dark Memories
What's really bothering us is not whether torture works but that Americans are torturers.
Dec 14, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
The Political Narcissism of the New York Marathon The Political Narcissism of the New York Marathon
Insisting on holding a sporting event in the midst of disaster is a microcosm of everything that’s wrong with American politics.
Nov 2, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
On FEMA, Inequality and the Need for Better Government On FEMA, Inequality and the Need for Better Government
The To-FEMA-Or-Not-To-FEMA belies a bigger problem with the political priorities of this country.
Oct 31, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
The Clueless Politics of ‘Cloud Atlas’ The Clueless Politics of ‘Cloud Atlas’
The blockbuster adaptation’s “deep thoughts” come in about as cheap as its prosthetics.
Oct 26, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
What Mitt Romney Could Learn From Taylor Swift What Mitt Romney Could Learn From Taylor Swift
A tale of two entitlements, one of which leads to blockbuster sales and the other to losing the election.
Oct 24, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
The Strangest Rodeo Show in Nashville The Strangest Rodeo Show in Nashville
Nashville understands something crucial about “kickass” women: they’re professionals first.
Oct 19, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
Suck It, Roth: On Hilary Mantel’s Second Booker Win Suck It, Roth: On Hilary Mantel’s Second Booker Win
Literary prizes aren’t everything, though Mantel’s is worth celebrating.
Oct 17, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
The Week of Unhappy Men on the Internet The Week of Unhappy Men on the Internet
It’s time for some men on Twitter to handle criticism better.
Oct 12, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean
What We Talk About When We Talk About Lena Dunham What We Talk About When We Talk About Lena Dunham
Why does Lena Dunham really inspire so much charged debate?
Oct 9, 2012 / Blog / Michelle Dean