Culture

Required Viewing: 2011’s Top Political Films

From The Black Power Mixtape to Werner Herzog's Into the Abyss, here's what you need to watch now.

Michael Atkinson

Christopher Hitchens: A D.C. Requiem

The fawning homages triggered by the prolific polemicist's death missed the true tragedy of his later career.

Chris Lehmann

ALEC’s Arizona Escort Service

Our intrepid reporter learns he is not welcome at an annual summit for business-friendly lawmakers.

Beau Hodai

Unequal Rites

Peyote sacraments and the First Amendment.

Remy Maldigian

What to Do About the Nanny?

Behind the female literati's neglect of its working-class sisters.

Jude Ellison Sady Doyle

Hollywood’s Fraud-Free Fantasies

On the big and small screens, the entertainment industry fails to explain why the U.S. economy collapsed.

Chris Lehmann

Guided by Our Grandchildren

It's hard not to be inspired by the youthful idealism at the center of the Occupy movement.

Jane Miller

Matana Roberts’ Genealogy of Jazz

The saxophonist delves into African-American history—from slavery to the present—in her twelve-part series Coin Coin.

Frances Morgan

Siri and the High-Tech Gender Gap

The bad habits of the iPhone 4's voice are a reminder: America's tech developers are overwhelmingly male.

Jude Ellison Sady Doyle

Our Mutual Enemy: Money

Like Dickens' cast of characters, we remain bewildered by money—and our lack of it.

Jane Miller

Introducing: Lady Loser Comedy

A new feminist genre gives women a chance to be crass, pathetic and hilarious.

Jude Ellison Sady Doyle

Au Revoir, Noblesse Oblige

The sense of duty America's ruling class once felt to support the greater good is gone.

Chris Lehmann

The Secrets, Lies and Elisions of J. Edgar

Clint Eastwood's biopic of the FBI Director inventively avoids the massive damage he inflicted.

Michael Atkinson

Gordon Quinn: Man With a Movie Camera

The veteran documentarian looks back over 45 years of filmmaking, and finds change to be the crucial constant.

David Moberg

Chronicles of Vonnegut

Two new books delve into the life and work of a man who couldn't silence his political conscience.

Steve Weinberg

George Clooney: The Man From Yesterday

Ides of March isn't great, but at least its director and star actually cares about politics, history and memory.

Michael Atkinson

The Girl’s Guide to Staying Safe Online

It's still dangerous out there for feminist bloggers. Here's how to deal with sexist trolls.

Jude Ellison Sady Doyle

In Search of ‘A Good Man’

Veteran filmmaker Gordon Quinn discusses his latest documentary, Bill T. Jones: A Good Man

David Moberg