A selection of work I've commissioned and edited
Joyce Carol Oates on falling under Edward Hopper’s spell
Author Joyce Carol Oates delves into the uncanny world of Edward Hopper.
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R.L. Stine: “I never planned to be scary"
At the age of nine, Robert Lawrence Stine found a typewriter in his parents’ attic, carried it to his room, and began to write.
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The Power and Pain of Hazel Scott's Story
Poet and cultural critic Hanif Abdurraqib writes about Hazel Scott’s forgotten legacy, revealing how “the immense love she had for her people” came at a great cost.
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How parenthood fuels artistic expression
Angela Garbes, author of “Essential Labor” and “Like a Mother,” reflects on the relationship of parenthood to the arts, connecting four short films from In The Making as a springboard for these themes.
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Mark Vonnegut challenges the myth of “creative genius”
In this personal essay, author and pediatrician Mark Vonnegut draws parallels to Brian Wilson and challenges the stigmas of mental illness. Reflecing on the label of “creative genius” that was assigned to both Wilson and his own father, author Kurt Vonnegut.
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Author Stephen Graham Jones writes about carving space for Native representation in media, inspired by Lily Gladstone's standing ovation at Cannes.
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How Jimi Hendrix made “flower power” fashionable
"What many consider to be innovation in fashion today was done 50 years ago by a young musician," writes Derek Guy.
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The unflinching protest albums of Max Roach
Journalist Marcus J. Moore describes Roach's "rewind factor."
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Why is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” a classic?
Annie Zaleski dissects the brilliance of Brenda Lee's holiday anthem.
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Banning our books won’t erase our stories
As the United States faces increasing book bans and censorship, John Phillip Santos reflects on what this means for excluded voices.
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Jerry Brown: A progressive in pinstripes
Menswear expert Derek Guy shares how politician Jerry Brown's style and progressive principles elevated him to rockstar status.
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The culinary slang of Cambodian cuisine
Poet Monica Sok writes about the memory, significance and nostalgia of her family's cuisine.
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Dick Cavett writes about his friendship with Groucho Marx
Dick Cavett remembers his friendship with Groucho Marx, from the moment they met to the “magical hours” they spent together on television.
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The Buddha on TV: Nam June Paik’s fraught relationship to Buddhism
Nam June Paik, the father of video art, had a fraught relationship to Buddhism that was tied into his complex relationship to Korea, belonging, wealth, and the avant-garde.
Creating space for Black cinema
Maya S. Cade is the creator and curator of Black Film Archive and a scholar-in-residence at the Library of Congress. In this reflection, she shares her journey to creating a new space for Black cinema.
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My time on “Sesame Street” with Buffy Sainte-Marie
Sonia Manzano shares why Buffy Sainte-Marie is the boldest woman she knows.
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Rethinking disability representation on-screen
Kristen Lopez, TV Editor at IndieWire, shares her thoughts on the legacy of Helen Keller and disability media representation.
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How Little Richard fought to be the architect of rock ‘n’ roll
Tyina Steptoe shows how Little Richard paved the way for early rock 'n' roll and a new generation of performers inspired by his style, innovation and courage.
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Ojibwe myths in the art of Jonathan Thunder
The Ojibwe (Chippewa) have a rich, living culture that includes thousands of legends, stories and songs that range from sacred and ceremonial to pure entertainment.
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The untold story of women and Indigenous communities in the AIDS crisis
Among the women who were AIDS activists, Sharon M. Day helped to create the Indigenous Peoples Task Force (IPTF) in response to the lack of resources and attention provided to Indigenous communities.
Black women have deep roots in country music
Black women have deep roots in country music, and are among the originators of the genre.
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Groucho Marx jokes can show us how comedy has evolved
Author and journalist Abby Ellin reflects on the legacy of Groucho Marx—acknowledging his brilliance, shortcomings and influence on a new generation of female comedians.
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What Roberta Flack’s music means to her LGBTQIA+ audiences
Flack consciously includes the most marginalized at all times, connecting along that line of outsiderdom and systemic, multi-generational trauma.
My Uncle Groucho: Memories of a Marx child
There’s a very short list of people who can say they had an uncle named Groucho.
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Saul Bellow wanted Jewish stories to be seen as American stories
Bellow’s books spoke to people who saw their stories reflected in them.
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How Native Hawaiian surfers used the ocean as sanctuary
Dr. Isaiah Walker explains the cultural importance of surfing and how Duke Kahanamoku was a champion of generosity, aloha and bravery during a complex time in Hawaiian history.
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This musician views Max Roach as the north star of drumming
Musician Kendrick A. D. Scott delights in the legacy of Max Roach, whose passions and innovation changed the art of drumming.
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Singer-songwriter Bob Dylan’s enigmatic career has captivated audiences for decades. Writer Tom Casciato dissects Dylan’s most recent installment of the Never Ending Tour and the artist’s evolving persona.
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Loving the unknown Alvin Ailey
Journalist and former professional dancer Juan Michael Porter II shares an intimate perspective on Alvin Ailey’s transformative career, finding inspiration in Ailey’s hidden battle with AIDS.
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This Japanese Actor Became One of Hollywood’s First Heartthrobs | HISTORY
Sessue Hayakawa was a sex symbol of the silent era. By Katie Gee Salisbury