Stephen Sondheim’s Art Stephen Sondheim’s Art
Despite beginning his career at the end of musical theater’s golden age, Sondheim helped bring the form to its artistic zenith.
Dec 1, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Shuja Haider
Donald Duck Quacks Again as Chile Elects a New President Donald Duck Quacks Again as Chile Elects a New President
A half-century after it fed the Pinochet regime’s bonfire of heretical books, a celebrated “handbook of decolonization” has new relevance to a country on the brink of a momentous c...
Nov 22, 2021 / Ariel Dorfman
Emily Ratajkowski: “I’m Very Displeased With Capitalism” Emily Ratajkowski: “I’m Very Displeased With Capitalism”
A conversation with the essayist and model about her debut collection My Body, critiquing capitalism, the commodification of one’s image, and much more.
Nov 17, 2021 / Q&A / Larissa Pham
George Packer’s Liberal Faith George Packer’s Liberal Faith
In his new book, Packer returns to his theme of liberalism in crisis and in need of renewal.
Nov 15, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Nikhil Pal Singh
Mort Sahl, 1927–2021: The Comic as Social Critic Mort Sahl, 1927–2021: The Comic as Social Critic
Sahl diagnosed the disease of America in 1967 as “right-wing social democracy,” an ideology that is fine with war.
Nov 15, 2021 / Column / David Bromwich
How Protest Moves From the Streets Into the Statehouse How Protest Moves From the Streets Into the Statehouse
In The Loud Minority, Daniel Gillion examines the relationship between electoral politics and protest movements.
Nov 13, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Erin Pineda
Kurt Vonnegut’s Prescient Insight Into Veterans’ Trauma Kurt Vonnegut’s Prescient Insight Into Veterans’ Trauma
Well before PTSD became an official diagnosis, his classic novel Slaughterhouse-Five described the psychic wounds of war.
Nov 11, 2021 / Tom Roston
The Anatomy of a Dog Whistle The Anatomy of a Dog Whistle
Acting outside of our awareness, using frequencies we may not consciously hear, dog whistles evade our better angels on race.
Nov 9, 2021 / Drew Westen
Dave Chappelle’s Comedy of Bitterness Dave Chappelle’s Comedy of Bitterness
In his recent special The Closer, and his response to critics of it, he outlines a strange version of identity politics where comedians are always the victims.
Nov 9, 2021 / Books & the Arts / Stephen Kearse
Colin Kaepernick, the Virginia Elections, and the Canary in the Coal Mine Colin Kaepernick, the Virginia Elections, and the Canary in the Coal Mine
The recent controversy sparked by his Netflix special’s depiction of slavery and the NFL is a microcosm of the political battles defining our country.
Nov 3, 2021 / Dave Zirin