Arts

Elvis Presley, in the studio in 1956 — Presley's success was undoubtedly driven by the material he appropriated from black musicians.

Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

5:18pm June 28, 2017

by K. Tempest Bradford

Recently, the New York Times published an essay defending cultural appropriation as necessary engagement. But that's a simplistic, misguided way of looking at appropriation, which causes real harm.

Michael Bond sits with a Paddington Bear toy in 2008. Bond died Tuesday, according to his publisher, nearly six decades after his beloved character first appeared in print.

Michael Bond, The 'Giant' Behind Paddington Bear, Dies At 91

3:45pm June 28, 2017

by Colin Dwyer

"Mr. and Mrs. Brown first met Paddington on a railway platform" — and readers first met Paddington with those words in 1958. Bond, who died Tuesday, turned that bear into an unforgettable friend.

Arts

'Baby Driver' Is An Action-Packed, Elegant Joyride

2:13pm June 28, 2017

by David Edelstein

Director Edgar Wright rejects computer-generated unreality and instead focuses on breathtaking driving in his new heist thriller. Critic David Edelstein says the result is terrifically entertaining.

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Author Michael Wallis says there are modern lessons to learn from the Donner Party — primarily about the fatal combination of ignorance and arrogance. Above, an undated drawing of the pioneers, looking to make their way West.

Books
Arts

'What Would You Do?' Author Wants To Stop Sensationalizing The Donner Party

11:25am June 28, 2017

by Dave Davies

In The Best Land Under Heaven, Michael Wallis chronicles the saga of a band of pioneers who resorted to cannibalism after getting stranded en route West. He says "there's so much more" to the story.

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Actor Michael Nyqvist poses for photos in Munich in 2015.

Arts

Actor Michael Nyqvist, Of Swedish 'Dragon Tattoo' Films, Dies At 56

10:34am June 28, 2017

by Glen Weldon

Nyqvist, whose other films include John Wick and Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol, died of lung cancer, according to his representative.

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei has had several confrontations with Chinese authorities.

'They Love Freedom': Ai Weiwei On His Lego Portraits Of Fellow Activists

9:56am June 28, 2017

by Elizabeth Blair

The Chinese artist created Trace while under house arrest, and he wasn't allowed to travel to their San Francisco debut. Now, he has his passport back, and was finally able to see it on display.

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Books
Arts

Multiple Narratives Mean Non-Stop Action In 'The Child'

7:00am June 28, 2017

by Bethanne Patrick

Fiona Barton's latest — a followup to last year's hit The Widow — picks up with journalist Kate Waters as she digs into another cold case, this one an infant skeleton found at a building site.

'The Strange Death Of Europe' Warns Against Impacts Of Immigration

5:47pm June 27, 2017

NPR's Robert Siegel talks to Douglas Murray about his new book, The Strange Death of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam. He argues that European civilization is dying as a result of immigration.

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Baby (Ansel Elgort) looks dubious as Doc (Kevin Spacey) convinces him to do One! Last! Job! in Edgar Wright's Baby Driver.

Arts

In 'Baby Driver,' The Action, The Script And The Music Go Full Throttle

5:00pm June 27, 2017

by Chris Klimek

"This is a squealing-tires symphony that owes more to Jacques Tati ... than to Justin Lin or Michael Bay," says critic Chris Klimek.

A college student and her mother head west on the Empire Builder in Albert Maysles' In Transit.

Documentary Giant Albert Maysles' Last Film, 'In Transit,' Is Still In Limbo

4:41pm June 27, 2017

by Joel Rose

Before he died, Maysles (who also made Grey Gardens) said In Transit was his "dream film." But questions about who owns the rights has made it difficult to see.