Pop Culture

Columnist Kaity Kline says a serious Assassin's Creed: Black Flag habit helped her ace a surprise quiz on the Caribbean.

Video Games Don't Have To Be Educational To Spark Learning

9:36am May 29, 2020

by Kaity Kline

Our video gaming columnist says she was a reluctant student as a child — but video games, even non-educational ones like the Assassin's Creed series, helped her get interested in learning.

Questlove has written two cookbooks, and pre-pandemic, was a frequent potluck host.

Arts

'Food Is Social Adhesive,' So Questlove Is Hosting A Virtual Potluck

8:11pm May 28, 2020

by Elizabeth Blair

The Roots drummer, DJ and cookbook author isn't letting a pandemic slow him down — he's still performing on The Tonight Show, and now he's hosting a virtual potluck dinner party on the Food Network.

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Illustrator Kirk Reedstrom says his life began to feel surreal when his state imposed quarantine measures.

Arts

'Quaranzines' Bring Readers Together Despite Distancing

10:29am May 28, 2020

by Allyson McCabe

During the coronavirus pandemic, the Internet has become home to a growing number of self-published "quaranzines" on everything from cutting your own hair to building emergency hand washing stations.

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The Trekkie Community Reacts To The Use Of 'Their' Term

5:44pm May 27, 2020

The term "warp speed" was popularized by the Star Trek TV series. With the President announcing Operation Warp Speed to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, scientists and Trekkies discuss the term's history.

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Darby (Anna Kendrick) waits for love (and the A Train) in Love Life, an original series launching with HBO Max.

Arts

HBO Max's Original Series: A Guide For The Perplexed

5:01am May 27, 2020

The new streaming service launches with a handful of original series, featuring ballroom culture, Anna Kendrick, Elmo and crafting. We take a look at what's on offer.

Arts

Movie Review: 'On The Record' With Russell Simmons' Accusers

7:53am May 24, 2020

by Eric Deggans

A new documentary looks at allegations that the hip-hop mogul sexually assaulted several women, and places his case against the larger question of how black women are treated by the #MeToo movement.

Arts

Sharon Horgan And Kristin Scott Thomas' 'Military Wives' Out On Hulu

8:00am May 23, 2020

NPR"s Scott Simon speaks to actors Sharon Horgan and Kristin Scott Thomas about the new movie, which follows a group of women who form a choir to cope with their husbands' deployments to Afghanistan.

Arts

Janelle Monae Gets Series Lead Debut In Season 2 Of Amazon Prime's 'Homecoming'

6:58am May 22, 2020

by Eric Deggans

Janelle Monae has her first TV series lead role in Season 2 of Amazon Prime's psychological thriller Homecoming as a vet who wakes up in a rowboat with no memory of who or where she is.

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Arts

Taika Waititi Leads Star-Studded Virtual Reading Of 'James And The Giant Peach'

5:51am May 22, 2020

Filmmaker Taika Waititi leads a read-along of Roald Dahl's novel James and the Giant Peach to raise money for Partners in Health. He is joined by the Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and others.

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When the real world seems too constrained, the endless horizons of Minecraft can be soothing.

Arts

Neither Flood, Nor Fire, Nor Virus Shakes The Virtual Calm Of 'Minecraft'

4:03pm May 21, 2020

by Kathryn Fink

A non-gamer discovers peace in the pixelated world of Minecraft, where the horizon stretches on forever, and while there may be zombies, spiders and skeletons — there are also ways to fight them.