Culture

The curious case of fake diversity

Does some modern casting cross into absurdity – or is that the wrong way of looking at it? And what could be next - the Woke Wild West?

Sep 15 •

Is true art dead in the world of algorithms and AI?

A master of the streaming music universe suggests that maybe not

Jul 26 •

How Eurovision explains Trump

The cultural "elites" on one side; "ordinary" people on the other

May 12 •

Are the youth out of control—or the old out of touch?

We thought we were past generation gaps -- yet rarely has there been a more profound one

May 7 •

A tale of two scribblers

Garcia Marquez and Aswany were both betrayed, in a way

May 3 •

Is the last “Larry David Moment” the end of humor?

As the world went mad about halfway through Curb's run – snowflakes to the left of me, MAGA to the right – it is a wonder it managed to survive

Apr 16 •

The Tyranny of the Early Riser

Night Owls of the World, Unite!

Mar 15 •

The Farewell Waltz

Goodbye, Milan Kundera. You showed us that whereas a mere novel is a collection of inventions, literature is a rendering of the truth.

Jul 16, 2023 •

WEEKEND READ: You’re All I’ve Got Tonight

Will there ever again be a widely loved band?

Jul 7, 2023 •

Denmark may have figured something out

America may have its exceptionalism. But the Danes have a way of life

Jun 23, 2023 •

Despite the dumbing down, books will survive

While music has moved to a hell of streaming bits and bytes, books sales are at record highs. One reason is that they make such fine decoration.

Apr 18, 2023 •

Lamenting the late, great letter

First letters were replaced by emails. Then came the soul-crushing, interaction-cheapening social media storm. Now ChatGPT is writing them!

Apr 10, 2023 •

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