Pop Culture

A course on Harry Styles is coming to Texas State next spring

6:13am July 26, 2022

NPR's Juana Summers speaks with digital history professor Louie Dean Valencia about his future course at Texas State University, focusing on Harry Styles and themes like internet culture and identity.

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Arts

What makes a death scene 'immortal?' A writer explains his favorite fictional deaths

5:10pm July 25, 2022

NPR's Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Dan Kois about his list of "The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time" in Slate.

Members of the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra pose onstage after winning the Eurovision Song Contest on May 14 in Turin, Italy. The winning country typically hosts the next year's competition, but Russia's war in Ukraine has disrupted that tradition.

It's official: The U.K. will host next year's Eurovision contest on behalf of Ukraine

11:48am July 25, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

Officials approached the U.K., this year's runner-up, after concluding that Russia's war makes Ukraine unfit to hold the competition. This isn't the first time the U.K. has stepped in to host.

For Swedish musician Jens Lekman, recrafting old albums was a lesson in self-love

10:44am July 25, 2022

by Alex Cheng

Two of Jens Lekman's early albums were taken off streaming services due to sample clearance issues. During the pandemic, the singer recrafted and revisited his old work.

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Prehistoric Planet's vision of a hatzegopteryx.

Science
Arts

'Prehistoric Planet' shows complex dinosaur behavior. But how do we actually know?

8:03am July 23, 2022

by Alexander Tuerk

How can scientists peek into the minds of creatures dead for millions of years? A TV show presented by Sir David Attenborough attempts to do it.

You know who would support you in your efforts to catch up however you can? This guy, Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) — the former Jimmy McGill — of Better Call Saul.

Arts

Catching up with 'Better Call Saul' like a con artist would

8:00pm July 22, 2022

by Linda Holmes

There's no law against a couple of shortcuts when you're catching up on a beloved TV show. And even if you were, Better Call Saul's Jimmy McGill would tell you to take them anyway.

Books
Arts

What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend reading, listening and viewing

5:00pm July 22, 2022

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Hurricane Season, A Strange Loop, and more.

Daniel Kaluuya, Keke Palmer, and Brandon Perea in Nope.

Arts

Jordan Peele subverts expectations (again) with 'Nope'

9:30pm July 21, 2022

by Aisha Harris

If you think you know what to expect with Nope based on the previews, you're wrong.

Harry Styles performs at a Tiny Desk Concert in 2020. He'll soon be the subject of a course at Texas State University.

Music for a college classroom: A Texas school will soon offer a Harry Styles class

4:26pm July 21, 2022

by Rachel Treisman

Texas State University professor Louie Dean Valencia spoke with NPR about the creation and aims of the class, which is capped at 20 students. He's one of many who hopes it will eventually reach more.

Shawna (Aida Osman) and Mia (KaMillion) in Rap Sh!t.

In 'Rap Sh!t,' women in rap strive and thrive

10:04am July 21, 2022

by Aisha Harris

A new comedy series created by Issa Rae taps into the complexities of being an aspiring female rapper in the age of social media.