Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley: The Unlikely Star of the Hit Show “Empire”

Delve into the art and culture of Fox’s “Empire” through the monumental portrait paintings of Kehinde Wiley.
George Costanza

Renegade and Folk Hero: The Lasting Appeal of George Costanza

Seinfeld's George Costanza holds a strange place in culture. He's loved, but unlovable. At the heart of that contradiction is his status as folk hero.
Frank Sinatra was arrested when he was 19 years old for the crime of "seduction" in New Jersey.

Frank Sinatra’s Radical Past

On the occaision of Frank Sinatra's centennial, we look into his radical past.
Devo onstage in their trademark bright yellow costumes.

Devo’s Brilliant Use of Irony

The New Wave band Devo mocked the music industry from within.
Music act Neurosis performing live at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple, New York, January 19, 2013 - (Copyright Tim Bugbee/The Hell Gate/Corbis / APImages)

Heavy Metal’s Classical Roots: Neurosis’ Symphony of Sludge

Relapse Records recently reissued Neurosis' famous "Times of Grace," and the album is a sadomasochistic symphony.
Miles Davis at the Nice Jazz Festival in July 1989



Do We Overstate Miles Davis’ Genius?

There are things about Miles Davis we never discuss. Maybe it's time we did.
Left: Pinball. Right: Game Controllers

From Pinball to Video Games: How Sex Shaped the Gamer Revolution

From the start, sex played a strong role in marketing games to teenagers.
Photo of Carmen Miranda published by the New York Sunday News in 1943.

From Vaudeville to Hamilton: Racial Minorities in Musicals

Hamilton, the Lin-Manuel Miranda play, is taking Broadway by storm. Its use of a "race-blind" cast has been unprecedented in modern theater.
Collage of cosplay

Unpacking the World of Cosplay

We go into the world of cosplay, where men and women dress up and role-play as their favorite fictional characters.
Imagine John Lennon Memorial

The John Lennon Memorial

Strawberry Fields, the John Lennon memorial in Central Park, has become somewhat of a pilgrimage for Beatles and non-Beatles fans alike.