Arts & Life

Books
Arts

'The Raven's Tale:' O, For A Muse Of Angst

7:00am April 19, 2019

by Caitlyn Paxson

Teenaged, angst-ridden Edgar Allan Poe seems like a great protagonist for a supernatural young adult novel — but The Raven's Tale has some serious flaws that leave a void at the story's heart.

Under the Silver Lake is the newest film from David Robert Mitchell, who directed 2015's It Follows.

Arts

In Pulpy L.A. Noir 'Under The Silver Lake,' A Man Chases Signs And Portents

5:00pm April 18, 2019

by Danny Hensel

There's a lot of flash and less substance in writer/director David Robert Mitchell's tale of a young man (Andrew Garfield) who sees hidden clues everywhere. But that flash is lovingly executed.

Lily James and Tessa Thompson play sisters struggling to stay afloat in Little Woods.

Arts

'Little Woods' Is Grimly Lovely — Dark And Deep

5:00pm April 18, 2019

by Ella Taylor

Two sisters (Lily James, Tessa Thompson) struggle to navigate the opioid crisis in their small town. Nia DaCosta's first film is a "quietly feminist thriller" that's "modest but intensely empathetic."

Arts

'Hail Satan?': Documentary Examines Protest Group That Bedevils Religious Conservatives

5:00pm April 18, 2019

by Andrew Lapin

The film spotlights the Satanic Temple, an organization that stages wry publicity stunts to underscore the separation of church and state. The doc "makes for an electric modern theological debate."

Greek philosopher Plato with the philosopher and scientist Aristotle in 350 BC painted by Raphael as part of his School of Athens in the Vatican.

Books
Arts

'Tragedy, The Greeks, And Us' Examines How Classical Philosophers Saw Early Dramas

4:31pm April 18, 2019

by Nicholas Cannariato

The Stone's Simon Critchley premises tragedy on action — as opposed to the generally more passive approach philosophy has a reputation for — and examines how Plato and others saw it as a threat.

Vocalist Angelique Kidjo pays tribute to Celia Cruz on her new album, Celia.

How Angélique Kidjo Brings Out The Africa Of Celia Cruz's Catalog

3:50pm April 18, 2019

by Felix Contreras

The West African vocalist talks about bringing out the Afrobeat in Celia Cruz's rich Cuban catalog with the tribute album Celia.

Books
Arts

'Lost And Wanted' Grapples With Grief, Regret And The Existence Of God

1:57pm April 18, 2019

by Maureen Corrigan

Nell Freudenberger's gorgeous new novel tells the story of a middle-aged woman who receives messages sent from her college friend's cell phone — even after her friend has died.

From Fastballs To Greaseballs, 'K' Offers A History Of Baseball's Most Iconic Pitches

1:27pm April 18, 2019

by Dave Davies

NY Times baseball writer Tyler Kepner spoke to 22 hall-of-fame pitchers about what they throw, and how they get a mental edge over hitters. His new book is K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches.

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Books
Arts

Writer Yanyi Reads A Poem From His Collection, 'The Year Of Blue Water'

5:11pm April 17, 2019

For National Poetry Month, writer Yanyi reads a poem from his first book The Year of Blue Water and explains how poetry helped him realize his desires.

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The writers' union says that talent agencies are taking too large a share in the deals they negotiate, and that conflicts of interest may prevent them from working in their clients' best interest.

Arts

The Writers Guild Of America Is Suing Hollywood's Biggest Talent Agencies

5:03pm April 17, 2019

by Laurel Wamsley

At issue is "packaging fees" – deals that allow agents to be paid by studios, rather than receiving a standard 10 percent of writers' income. The writers say such deals create conflicts of interest.