Cultural Comment
A Close Read of the Beatles in “Get Back”
It’s a revelation how gentle the four bandmates are with one another, in the pained, semi-articulate way of families.
December 16, 2021
Does Kenny G Make Good Music?
The documentary “Listening to Kenny G” will have you questioning your own musical taste.
December 6, 2021
The Pointless End of Legacy Admissions
Whenever a major reform is announced from within the admissions world, it’s a good idea to ask yourself what new powers the admissions department has given itself.
November 23, 2021
The Question We’ve Stopped Asking About Teen-Agers and Social Media
Should they be using these services at all?
November 9, 2021
Emily Ratajkowski and the Burden of Being Perfect-Looking
In a new collection of essays, “My Body,” the writer and model reckons with how her appearance has shaped her personal relationships, career, and psyche.
November 8, 2021
Dave Chappelle, Netflix, and the Illusions of Corporate Identity Politics
The controversy over the comedian’s latest special is most telling not for its lessons on cancel culture or comedy but as a window on the streaming platform’s approach to so-called content.
October 25, 2021
How Cities in the American North Can Reckon with Their Monuments
There are no statues honoring the Confederacy to be found in Boston or Cambridge, but there are plenty of historic memorials that obscure the achievements of Black Americans.
October 22, 2021
What Does Kyrsten Sinema Really Want?
The Arizona senator seems bent on proving to the world that she is not like other Democrats.
October 20, 2021
How to Explain Trump’s Love for the Musical “Cats”
To unlock this mystery, we went straight to the source: Betty Buckley, the actress who sang “Memory” in the original New York production of “Cats.”
October 4, 2021
The Tony Awards Are Telling You Broadway’s Not Going
The awards ceremony was a pep rally and a processing of trauma, but it also raised questions about inclusivity.
September 27, 2021
