2011
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The Autobiography of Malcolm X, Reexamined
Behind The Autobiography of Malcolm X, there is a discussion over whether or not the book is an authentic depiction “of a martyred black icon or a sly act of ventriloquism by his more moderate collaborator,” that is Alex Haley.…
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So If You See the Vulture Coming
“So if you see the vulture coming flying circles in your mind remember there is no escaping
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Orson Welles’ Nose
Orson Welles was self-conscious about the size of his nose, a small issue that lead to make-up malfunctions and a lot of prosthetics. You can track this compulsion of a legendary actor/director through the size of his nose in his…
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The Real Lesbians of Damascus
No, it’s not a new “reality” show airing network tv this fall (though we shouldn’t give anyone any ideas). It’s the subject of a piece by Daniel Nassar in today’s Guardian, and it’s really worth reading in its entirety. He…
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Evolutionary Arguing
Next time you’re basking in the glory of your ability to reason, thinking that you’re closer to arriving at some sort of ultimate truth, consider this first. Apparently, our reasoning instincts come from a primordial impulse to win arguments, a…
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Rombes in the Spotlight
Nicholas Rombes’ piece, “Julia Kristeva’s Face,” was given a shout-out on Columbia University Press’ blog, with an excerpt that will surely make you want to read it, if you haven’t already. And thank you to Columbia University Press!
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The Last Poem I Loved: “Cockroach” by Randall Mann
More accurately: the last poem I envied, and isn’t envy but one form of love? From time to time you come across a poem that makes you stop, read (once, then again, and again, which in 2011, is quite a…
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F**king Sleep at the Library
“Motherfuckers are e-mailing me from China and shit,” Adam Mansbach said last night at the book launch party for his popular new bedtime story for parents, Go the Fuck to Sleep, held at the New York Public Library. Mansbach told…
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Wanting Light and Buying Hammers
Even the hardest books ultimately cohere, it’s just a matter of whether their internal logic will eventually open up and allow you entrance. Lily Brown’s Rust or Go Missing is such a book.
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Social Scientist in the City
Evolutionary biologist David Sloan Wilson applies Darwinian theory to an urban landscape, in order to help improve Binghamton, New York. A city is the perfect subject for studying social dynamics among people, applying his research of evolutionary social traits to…
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Dan Weiss’s Morning Coffee
Things you can do with abandoned nuclear plants: turn them into amusement parks! Today is a good day to check out pictures of Soviet Moscow int he 30s and 40s because that is true everyday. A lovely look at the…