Oil painting of an older woman from the late 1800's; "The Spinster" painted by Evert Larock

Original Spin: On the History of the Spinster

The cultural and economic history of the spinster.
Gunter Grass

Gruppe 47: The Group That Made Günter Grass

How did Günter Grass go from child soldier to literary titan? Part of the answer lies in the history of literary group Gruppe 47.
Poet Claudie Rankine

Claudia Rankine Nominated for Poetry and Criticism Awards by National Book Critics Circle

Claudia Rankine's Citizen: An American Lyric, was the first book to be nominated by the National Book Critics Circle for both poetry and criticism.
Linda Taylor, 49, the so-called "welfare queen", was sentenced to serve two-to-six years in prison in Chicago, May 13, 1977. She is shown on her way to sentencing. Taylor was convicted March 17 of theft and perjury. Man escorting her is unidentified. (AP Photo)

Tracing the Specter of the ‘Welfare Queen’

The origins of the controversial phrase Welfare Queen.
Marc Maron podcasting in his garage.

Why You Know Marc Maron Better Than Your Own Family

How the transmedia work of Marc Maron engages with fans.
Eduardo Galeano

Eduardo Galeano 1940-2015

A historian of Latin America, and a victim of two dictatorships, Galeano was also inevitably a historian of the colossus to the north.
Ken Gonzales-Day's piece, "Die-in, Los Angeles, CA" depicting several protesters laying on the ground

Ken Gonzales-Day and the Art of the Die-in

Artist Ken Gonzales-Day uses die-in photos from Ferguson and Los Angeles to visually trace the roots of our justice system today.
M.I.A.'s "Arular" album image

New Brown Godz Look Back: M.I.A.’s Arular at 10

A look at M.I.A's groundbreaking Arular at ten years old.
A group of friends laughing happily as they spend time outdoors in the sun

All the Young Dudes: Generic Gender Terms Among Young Women

The linguistics behind gender neutral terms among young women.
Laura Keene

What Role Did Laura Keene Play on Abraham Lincoln’s Last Night?

Actress Laura Keene's role on the night of Lincoln's assassination is shrouded in myth.