Culture

The Voice’s Empty Promise of the American Dream

The NBC reality singing competition has been selling glittering visions of fame for 11 seasons, but has rarely delivered on them.

• Julie Beck
• 11:47 AM ET

The Subtle Radicalism of Julio Cortázar's Berkeley Lectures

A new collection of the author’s classroom chats reveals his lifelong quest to reevaluate reality.

• Dustin Illingworth
• 8:18 AM ET

Why Saturday Night Live Is Actually Going Live

The show will air at the same time across the U.S. for the first time ever starting in April—thanks to social media.

• David Sims
• Mar 27, 2017

The Soul of Big Little Lies Is in Its Music

The HBO miniseries takes a novel approach to its score: letting its characters’ listening habits dictate what the audience hears.

• Spencer Kornhaber
• Mar 27, 2017

PBS's To Walk Invisible Finds Fire in the Lives of the Bronte Sisters

The two-hour work, written and directed by Happy Valley’s Sally Wainwright, is a vibrant dramatization of how three sheltered women became such extraordinary novelists.

• Sophie Gilbert
• Mar 26, 2017

Chuck Berry and Drake: The Week in Pop-Culture Writing

Highlights from seven days of reading about arts and entertainment

• The Editors
• Mar 25, 2017

When the Cliffhanger Takes Its Sweet Time

A collection of new shows are setting up mysteries that remain unsolved ... and unsolved ... and unsolved.

• Megan Garber
• Mar 25, 2017

The Atlantic’s Week in Culture

A roundup of our recent writing on arts and entertainment

• The Editors
• Mar 24, 2017

Life Is a Fun and Scary Creature Feature in Space

Daniel Espinosa’s new horror film stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson, and Ryan Reynolds as astronauts fighting a hostile alien.

• David Sims
• Mar 24, 2017

The Timely Comforts of Craig Finn's We All Want the Same Things

The Hold Steady singer’s new album collects small, graceful fables about the downtrodden raising each other up.

• Spencer Kornhaber
• Mar 24, 2017

Kendrick Lamar Will Battle Until the Apocalypse

“The Heart Part 4” seems to announce a new album while taking aim at rivals, Donald Trump, and the state of the world.

• Spencer Kornhaber
• Mar 24, 2017

March Madness, Plus Future NBA Stardom

Beyond busted brackets and buzzer-beaters, the men's NCAA tournament offers the broader public an early look at likely professional draftees.

• Robert O'Connell
• Mar 24, 2017

T2 Trainspotting: Older, Scarcely Wiser

Danny Boyle's nostalgic sequel to his breakthrough film proves that you can go home again.

• Christopher Orr
• Mar 24, 2017

The Ethical Minefield of Missing Richard Simmons

Who, in the 21st century, has the right to be left alone?

• Sophie Gilbert
• Mar 23, 2017

Power Rangers Is Exactly as Silly as It’s Supposed to Be

The big-budget reboot of the ’90s kids TV show never takes itself too seriously, even as it dials up the teen angst.  

• David Sims
• Mar 23, 2017

Selling What They Preach

From Amazon to Apple, from Starbucks to upscale hotel chains, brands are making claims not just about what people should buy, but about what people should be.

• Megan Garber
• Mar 23, 2017

Drake's Playful More Life and the Limits of Ambition

His latest project borrows sounds from around the world for a successful party—but also hints at burnout.

• Spencer Kornhaber
• Mar 22, 2017

Daniel Clowes on Creating Wilson and Translating Him to Screen

The legendary cartoonist talks about turning one of his most irascible protagonists into someone who could be the hero of his own film.

• David Sims
• Mar 22, 2017

The Enduring Legacy of the Pocahontas Myth

Four hundred years after her death, misperceptions of the Native American icon continue to shape the cultural image of indigenous peoples—though that’s starting to change.

• Gregory D. Smithers
• Mar 21, 2017

Netflix Believes in the Power of Thumbs

The company is swapping out its five-star rating system for a simpler one—another sign of its changing approach to the user experience.

• David Sims
• Mar 21, 2017