Arts

Arts

His Work Is Set In Stone All Over Washington, D.C.

5:41pm February 11, 2020

by Mikaela Lefrak

Nick Benson upholds the ancient craft of stone-carving letters. His work has been recognized with a MacArthur "genius" grant. Now he's working on the new Eisenhower Monument in Washington, D.C.

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Harvey Weinstein arrives at the Manhattan Criminal Court on Monday, during the defense portion of his rape trial. Six women took the stand to say they were sexually assaulted by Weinstein — then Weinstein's legal team got the opportunity to have its say

'That Never Happened': The Key Moments During Harvey Weinstein's Defense

4:41pm February 11, 2020

by Colin Dwyer

The former megaproducer's legal team has rested its case, and only the closing arguments remain before jurors begin deliberations. Here are some points from the defense that they'll have to consider.

An Art Critic Was Mocking A $20,000 Work She Didn't Like — Then It Shattered

6:31pm February 10, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

The sculpture by Mexican artist Gabriel Rico included a large pane of glass with objects suspended within. How it suddenly broke into pieces on Saturday is a matter of fervent disagreement.

Today's stories about disease — like The Walking Dead with its zombies — tend to be rooted in political and social realities.

What Fictional Pandemics Can Teach Us About Real-World Survival

5:22pm February 10, 2020

by Neda Ulaby

People have been telling stories about pandemics for thousands of years — once, they were tales of divine retribution, but today they're often rooted in current events like the coronavirus outbreak.

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Michael Pollan gave up caffeine entirely for three months while working on his audiobook, Caffeine. "I recommend it," he says of his time without the drug. "I had some great sleeps." But he didn't realize that a temporary "loss of confidence" and lack of

Michael Pollan Explains Caffeine Cravings (And Why You Don't Have To Quit)

4:51pm February 10, 2020

by Terry Gross

When Pollan decided to write about caffeine, he gave it up — cold turkey. "I just couldn't focus," he says. "I was irritable. I lost confidence." Caffeine reshapes the brain in surprising ways.

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Students wearing headscarves and helmets learn to navigate traffic cones in a scene from the Oscar-winning documentary, "Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're a Girl)."

An Oscar Goes To A Documentary About Skateboarding Girls In Afghanistan

12:56pm February 10, 2020

by Diaa Hadid

The short documentary is called Learning to Skateboard in a Warzone (If You're A Girl. "This movie is my love letter to the brave girls of that country," says director Carol Dysinger.

Set during the first World War, 1917 was made to look like it was filmed in a single shot. "It operates more like a ticking-clock thriller," says director Sam Mendes.

Arts

The Rise Of The Single-Shot Movie In A Hyper-Edited World

5:06pm February 09, 2020

by Neda Ulaby

The very earliest movies were all long takes, but the immersive minimalism of one-shot films carry extra appeal in an era of congested platforms and CGI overload.

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Spanish actor Antonio Banderas is photographed after winning the best leading actor award for Pain and Glory at the Spanish Film Academy's Goya Awards in Málaga, Spain, on Jan. 26.

Why Labeling Antonio Banderas A 'Person Of Color' Triggers Such A Backlash

2:51pm February 09, 2020

by Lucía Benavides

When media called him one of the few actors of color nominated for an Oscar, many Spaniards mocked the term or got angry.

Books
Arts

Ever Wonder About That 'Old Truck'? 2 Brothers Wrote Its Backstory

8:01am February 09, 2020

by Samantha Balaban

Jerome and Jarrett Pumphrey have worked together on creative projects since they were kids. Their new book — illustrated with 250+ stamps — is about family, farm life, determination and hard work.

Books
Arts

'Black Sunday' Will Destroy You — Let It

7:00am February 09, 2020

by Gabino Iglesias

Tola Rotimi Abraham's wrenching novel follows a four young children in Lagos, Nigeria, whose comfortable life is blown apart when their mother loses her job, and their father abandons them.