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.
Comfort TV Is Overrated
Many of today’s most talked-about shows have something in common: They are wildly anxiety-inducing.
Dear James: Am I Wrong Not to Dwell on the Past?
More often, I obsess about the future.
Why Marriage Survives
The institution has adapted, and is showing new signs of resilience.
Preamble to the West
A poem
How Justin Bieber Finally Gave Us the Song of the Summer
American listeners don’t want to party; they just want a break.
All End-of-the-World Menace, All the Time
The latest Fantastic Four reboot never lets the heroes have a good time.
Hulk Hogan Stayed In Character to the End
The pro wrestler sold himself as a conquering American hero. The truth was far more complicated.
The Problem With Rewards Credit Cards
Their fees are getting higher—and their benefits are sometimes wildly complicated to redeem.
The Human Side of Music’s Prince of Darkness
Ozzy Osbourne was an unruly chaos agent and a beloved family man alike.
When It Feels Good to Root for a Bad Guy
The film Eddington inspires an uncomfortable empathy for its most twisted character.