Who Is Loving “The Americans”?
By Joshua Rothman
The new season tells us more about ourselves than it does about Russia or Trump.
A Spiritual March on Washington
By Joshua Rothman
On the Mall and on the streets, eras, sensibilities, and aesthetics jostled for attention.
What Are the Odds We Are Living in a Computer Simulation?
By Joshua Rothman
The posthuman future has never been easier to imagine—especially for those who work at the forefront of technology.
The Screening Room: “Review”
By Joshua Rothman
In Dustin Guy Defa’s new short film, four friends are sitting around a table, and one of them is describing a movie to the others.
The Meaning of “Culture”
By Joshua Rothman
It goes without saying that “culture” is a confusing word, this year or any year.
Depth on the Dance Floor: The Music of DJ Sprinkles
By Joshua Rothman
Usually, electronic dance music is all about the sound. DJ Sprinkles’s songs are more like essays—through their samples, they make an argument.
A Better Way to Think About the Genre Debate
By Joshua Rothman
The distinction between literary fiction and genre fiction is neither contemporary nor ageless. It bears the stamp of a unique time in literary history.
The Real Amazons
By Joshua Rothman
In some archaeological digs in Eurasia, as many as thirty-seven per cent of the graves contain the bones and weapons of horsewomen who fought alongside men.
What “Gone Girl” Is Really About
By Joshua Rothman
David Fincher’s postmodern thriller exposes the irrational side of our fear of coupledom.
In Facebook’s Courtroom
By Joshua Rothman
We all carry in our pockets an omnipresent and unpredictable justice system. Pick up your phone and court is in session; put it down and it’s in recess.