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.
How a Tradition Forged in Slavery Persists Today
A new book argues that conjure—a Black spiritual practice—has touched nearly every corner of American life.
What’s the Point of a High-School Reunion?
Social media should have killed them. Instead, they’re popular again.
How Did Taylor Swift Convince the World That She’s Relatable?
The tidiest explanation for the pop star’s success is that she befriended an underestimated audience of girls and young women. That’s only part of the story.
Dear James: I’m Stuck Caring for a Husband I No Longer Love
For decades, I’ve wanted to leave him. Now he has dementia, and it’s awful.
A Truly Great Statue of a Sports Hero
A sculpture honoring the tennis legend Arthur Ashe highlights how disappointing tributes to Dwyane Wade and others have been.
Austin Butler Is Too Charming for This
The crime thriller Caught Stealing is a throwback to a gritty, bygone era—with none of the pathos.
The Music of Millennial Idealism
A new book shows how indie rock shaped a generation’s listening preferences, with lasting effects.
The Existential Terror of Monogamy
Splitsville understands why modern romance makes an open marriage so appealing.
Why a Chinese Animated Film Has Made More Money Than Any Star Wars Sequel
The success of the year’s biggest movie is less surprising than it may sound.