Pop Culture

Rev. and Mrs. Greer in Earle, Ark., in 1970

Politics & Government

A Photographer Saw An Arkansas Town Fading. His New Book Keeps Its Stories Alive

6:23am June 26, 2021

by Melody Rowell

In the day i was born, Eugene Richards shares stories from Black residents of Earle, Ark., documenting themes of racism, segregation, voter suppression, gun violence and homophobia.

National

AMC Flipped What Could Have Been A Faddish Blip Into A Substantial Financial Boost

6:55pm June 25, 2021

by Erika Beras

AMC Theaters is the latest stock to have gotten caught in a meme wave. But this time, the company seems to be taking advantage of the ride.

Christian Vázquez as Gerardo and Armando Espitia as Iván in I Carry You with Me.

Arts

'I Carry You With Me' Blends Reality And Drama In A Wrenching Gay Love Story

4:24pm June 25, 2021

by Bob Mondello

Iván and Gerardo can't be gay in Mexico, and can't be undocumented in the U.S. Filmmaker Heidi Ewing tells this real-life story with documentary footage and a swooning fictionalized drama.

Supporters of Britney Spears protesting during her conservatorship hearing in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Opinion: Britney Is The Latest Victim Of The Industry Machine

9:28am June 25, 2021

by Anastasia Tsioulcas

Britney Spears' appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday points to a broader history of how women in entertainment and the music business have been treated.

Sexy Beasts comes to Netflix on July 21.

Books
Arts

What's Making Us Happy: A Guide For Your Weekend Watching, Listening And Reading

9:00am June 25, 2021

Every Friday, Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts and guests share the shows, movies, books and music that brought them joy. This week: Sexy Beasts, Launchpad shorts, a Hunchback history and Mythic Quest.

Lucy (Ilana Glazer) undergoes a procedure in Hulu's False Positive.

Arts

Pregnancy Horror 'False Positive' Doesn't Deliver

7:01am June 25, 2021

by Glen Weldon

Hulu's horror-thriller about a woman (Ilana Glazer) who begins to suspect there's something sinister about her pregnancy grasps at many ideas without developing them.

Letty (Michelle Rodriguez) and Dom (Vin Diesel) are still together in F9, 20 years after the franchise began.

Arts

'Fast & Furious' Owner's Manual: A Guide As The Best Worst Franchise Turns 20

7:01pm June 24, 2021

by Linda Holmes

Critic Linda Holmes argues that as mindless as The Fast & The Furious may seem, it's also brilliant for surviving and thriving in Hollywood for 20 years.

U.S. Marines take cover as they push into the center of Fallujah, Iraq, in November 2004. The battle for the city produced the heaviest urban fighting of the Iraq war.

National

Is It OK To Commemorate One Of Iraq's Bloodiest Battles In A Videogame?

4:34pm June 23, 2021

by Quil Lawrence

'Six Days In Fallujah' is based on the fight between U.S. troops and Iraqi opposition forces in 2004. The project was shelved for a decade, but the creator says it offers a serious look at the battle.

Farming Simulator is a realistic farming experience — minus bugs, droughts and disasters.

Arts

This Farming Video Game Is So Popular, People Pay To Watch Gamers Play It

3:35pm June 22, 2021

by Jonathan Ahl

The video game Farming Simulator has found a loyal and niche audience in the gaming world. This isn't the cheesy Farmville game from years ago, but one emulating the real challenges of running a farm.

Arts

Chrissy Teigen Embroiled In Bullying Controversy

7:57am June 20, 2021

Chrissy Teigen is facing backlash after bullying tweets she wrote to others came to light. NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks to reporter Taylor Ferber about why canceling Teigen might not be the answer.