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.
On SNL, Sydney Sweeney Proves She Can Do Anything
The show allowed the Euphoria star, who refuses to be pigeonholed, a chance to show her range.
A Movie That Understands the Absurdity of the American Dream
Julio Torres’s existential comedy Problemista is a marvelous mixture of surrealism and social satire.
America’s Last Morse-Code Station
Maritime Morse code was formally phased out in 1999, but in California, a group of enthusiasts who call themselves the “radio squirrels” keeps the tradition alive.
Why the Best Singers Can’t Always Sing Their Own Songs
Performing pop songs live offers a thrilling reward—if your voice doesn’t betray you, that is.
How a Middle-Aged Everyman Actor Won Everyone Over
Paul Giamatti’s performance in The Holdovers is just another high point in a long, memorable career.
Writing About Yourself Isn’t Inherently Selfish
For Édouard Louis, revisiting the past is an act of survival.
A Colossal Blockbuster That Justifies Its Scale
Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two is a triumphant—and tragic—look at the cost of power.
A Grim View of Marriage—And an Exhortation to Leave It
This American Ex-Wife vividly describes the liberating power of a divorce but falters when it tries to persuade readers to follow suit.
Arthur Miller Explains Death of a Salesman
In a newly discovered letter to a college student, written shortly after the premiere of his most famous work, the playwright describes his theory of tragedy.