The Rise of CliffsNotes Cinema
Oversimplified literary remakes miss the point of the works they are adapting.
Culture
Why Justin Bieber Played YouTube Onstage for Thousands of People
The pop star transformed the normal act of browsing your laptop into something interesting—and unsettling.
The New Age of Performance Anxiety
With the rise of screen culture, all the world has stage fright.
Where Did ‘Let Them’ Come From?
Years before Mel Robbins published her best-selling self-help book, a struggling writer posted a poem with a similar message.
The Fabulous Desperation of Our Celebrities
Jennifer Lopez would like us to take her seriously now.
Please, No More Shared Cinematic Universes
Madame Web doesn’t just scrape the bottom of the barrel—it finds new depths.
A Hail Mary to Save The Daily Show
Jon Stewart’s return to the show he popularized isn’t a mere nostalgia ploy—it’s a sharp spin on an old formula.
Anita’s Secrets
A short story
No One Is Prepared for a New Era of Global Migration
Erasing prejudice alone won’t solve the migrant crisis.
The James Bond Trap
Ian Fleming created the superspy—and then couldn’t get rid of him.
The Raw Talent in Usher’s Halftime Show
Roller skates and all, the R&B veteran’s performance underscored the value of showmanship.
Marilynne Robinson Makes the Book of Genesis New
In her hands, scripture becomes a precursor to the novel.
The Hollywood Pros Finally Getting Their Due
A new Oscars category will recognize casting directors, who perform a mysterious but vital component of moviemaking.
A Big-Box-Store Allegory
A satirist of literary Brooklyn now explores life in an upstate shopping warehouse.