Scientists Have Always Been Political
Science has always been political, with questions about who pays for research, and who gets to do it, influencing the type of work that gets done.
How WWI Sparked an Artistic Movement That Transformed Black America
African-American literary works born out of the ashes of World War I went on to spur the bold spirit of resistance of the African-American protest movement.
The Birth of Planned Obsolescence
Before WWII, American businesses began embracing “creative waste”—the idea that throwing things away and buying new ones could fuel a strong economy.
The Turkish Origins of the “Deep State”
The "deep state" idea of a shadowy parallel government, heard much in the news now, seems to be a concept borrowed from the Turkish experience.
How to Talk About Diego Rivera and Mexican Art
Diego Rivera’s artwork has always been intimately tied to the culture of his native Mexico, although this was not always seen as a sophisticated choice.
What if We Acknowledged That People Use Drugs Because They’re Fun?
In the modern Western world, drug use fits well into economies that divide our days into disciplined, production-oriented “clock time,” and leisure time.
Louise Erdrich
Friday Reads: An exclusive short story by Louise Erdrich (author of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry), originally published in The Georgia Review in 1985.
Ten Favorite Love Poems
Love poems by Pablo Neruda, Joyce Carol Oates, Kenneth Koch, Willie Perdomo, Robert Penn Warren, Edith Wharton, and more.
Sesame Street’s Controversial Early Years
Sesame Street's original purpose was to use TV to deliver research-based educational techniques and prepare low-income kids for school.
Why It Matters That Sesame Street’s Newest Resident Has Autism
Julia, a muppet with autism, is part of an effort to be more inclusive of all children, increasing tolerance through representation.