Abie’s Yiddish Muse Abie’s Yiddish Muse
Like a lot of red revolutionaries, Abraham Cahan ended up to the right of where he began.
Jan 29, 2014 / Books & the Arts / D.D. Guttenplan
Tested Tested
Diane Ravitch’s latest call-to-arms against the privatization of public schools.
Jan 29, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Joseph Featherstone
Eurydice Eurydice
It’s more like the sound a doe makes when the arrowhead replaces the day with an answer to the rib’s hollowed hum. We saw it coming but kept walking through the hole in the garden. Because the leaves were bright green & the fire only a pink brushstroke in the distance. It’s not about the light—but how dark it makes you depending on where you stand. Depending on where you stand his name can appear like moonlight shredded in a dead dog’s fur. His name changed when touched by gravity. Gravity breaking our kneecaps just to show us the sky. We kept saying Yes— even with all those birds. Who would believe us now? My voice cracking like bones inside the radio. Silly me. I thought love was real & the body imaginary. But here we are—standing in the cold field, him calling for the girl. The girl beside him. Frosted grass snapping beneath her hooves.
Jan 28, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Ocean Vuong
Pete Seeger’s Biggest Day Pete Seeger’s Biggest Day
In a life of memorable moments, one of the most important was the day Seeger sang “Give Peace a Chance” with half a million people.
Jan 28, 2014 / Blog / Jon Wiener
Pete Seeger Brought the World Together Pete Seeger Brought the World Together
Pete’s fingers can strum no longer, but, thanks to him, people around the world can have many “singing tomorrows.”
Jan 28, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Peter Dreier
This Week in ‘Nation’ History: ‘Dr. Strangelove’ as ‘a Cold Blade of Scorn Against the Spectator’s Throat’ This Week in ‘Nation’ History: ‘Dr. Strangelove’ as ‘a Cold Blade of Scorn Against the Spectator’s Throat’
Robert Hatch’s conflicted review of Stanley Kubrick’s great satire, released fifty years ago this week.
Jan 25, 2014 / Blog / Katrina vanden Heuvel
Permission to Fail Permission to Fail
MFAs aren’t a problem: it’s artists being content with what they know.
Jan 22, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Barry Schwabsky
Law of Life, and Light Law of Life, and Light
A new history of Chile is a wrestling match between fatalism and optimism.
Jan 22, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Lorna Scott Fox
‘Think of Me With Joy’ ‘Think of Me With Joy’
The worlds of Sholem Aleichem.
Jan 22, 2014 / Books & the Arts / Julia M. Klein