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.
Relatable Mom
A short story
The Pitt Has Revolutionized the Medical Drama
The smash-hit hospital show has brought the beloved genre back into the real world.
The Drink Americans Can’t Quit
Soda is still here—just with new cans and new slogans.
The Chinese Communist Party’s Ultimate Taboo
Fang Fang’s newly translated novel uncovers the brutal, buried history of land reform in China.
The Best American Poetry of the 21st Century (So Far)
The 25 most consequential collections from the past 25 years
A Much-Needed Course Correction for Marvel
The new Daredevil series explores the humanity of its superhero.
An Iranian American Rom-Com That Breaks the Mold
Mariam Rahmani’s debut novel is both charmingly familiar and totally unpredictable.
Dear James: Is This Sexless Marriage Over?
My best friend’s husband refuses to touch her.
The Lesson Snow White Should Teach Disney
The studio’s latest live-action remake shows hints of courage—but only hints.
A Country Imperfectly Pulling Itself Together
Wildcat Dome’s characters can’t escape the calamities that marked their lives—and their country’s history.