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 Exhibit That Will Change How You See Impressionism
The National Gallery’s “Paris 1874” explores the movement’s dark origins.
The 21st Century’s Greatest, Ghastliest Showman
Donald Trump has made himself a spectacle—and inescapable.
The Strange History Behind the Anti-Semitic Dutch Soccer Attacks
Ajax, the Dutch soccer club that Maccabi Tel Aviv played before its fans were ambushed in Amsterdam, has long identified itself with Jews.
Political Comedy, With a Side of Desperation
The comedian-to-campaign-influencer pipeline has muddled the genre.
The Limits of Democratic Optimism
Kamala Harris’s position in an unpopular White House made her a tricky messenger for idealistic visions of the future.
A Precise, Cutting Portrayal of Societal Misogyny
In her new book, Cho Nam-Joo captures both the universality of sexism and the specificity of women’s experiences.
Why Democrats Are Losing the Culture War
The booming right-wing influencer ecosystem helped reelect Donald Trump—and the other side may not have an answer.
America Got the Father It Wanted
The appeal of Trump’s paternalism
I Love to Drive Fast, and I Cannot Stop
Is my bad habit going to be my demise?
The Freedom of Quincy Jones
The late producer came from hardship and knew his history, which allowed him to see—and invent—the future of music.