Category Archives: Popular Culture

05.13.gradsign

Dear Students of “We Are Not Interested in Your Advice” High

Sean Beaudoin is asked to write a letter to a graduating class of high school students and quickly discovers how impossible it is to give anyone advice, least of all an auditorium full of seventeen-year-olds. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
JT - Press Photo 2 (Credit Tom Munro RCA R.JPG

JT and the Trouble with Wives

Matthew Norman attempts to bring “Sexy Back” back. Continue reading

Posted in Memoir, Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment
Novels

Luka Magnotta in the Hall of Mirrors: A Brief History of True Crime

Wherein Larry Benner delivers a glimpse into madness. And pulp. And legend. And 24 hour murder. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments
URS

The BP Oil Spill of Fashion

In a bravura stream of consciousness, Gabe Durham encapsulates an entire relationship, a good deal of US foreign policy, and the odds of death raining from above in the form of an acronym. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment
...and she's not a bad cook, either.

Four Foolproof Ways to Become a Rich, Famous, and Critically-Acclaimed Novelist

Against the wishes of his editors, agents, publicists, and fellow novelists, Greg Olear reveals publishing’s best-kept secrets. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture, The Arts | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment
Sun_Ra_ED-364

Disappearing

Wherein John Tottenham presides over the gentrification of a Los Angeles that may never have existed, along with the attention of a desirable young woman. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments
dolly

Like This Essay

Art Edwards on the places where Person and Persona divurge. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 6 Comments
WestofBabyloncov

Goodnight, Sweet Print

Novelist Ted Heller asks: e-book or not e-book? Continue reading

Posted in Memoir, Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments
Greg wins the argument?

Point/Counterpoint: Sean Beaudoin vs. Greg Olear (Anniversary Edition)

Take a front row seat for this exciting, no-holds-barred game of style and wit, in which eight topics of the day are parsed, thrust, and parried as you listen to the intellectual steel clang! Continue reading

Posted in Point/Counterpoint | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments
One of these boys will grow up to sing "Dick in a Box"

One Direction, One Survivor

Greg Olear spots a boy band trend. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment
A man cave waiting to happen

Beating a Manly Retreat

Sometimes a man needs an outbuilding. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The Agony and the Ecstasy of PBS Kids

Patrick Wensink’s Top 10 educational cartoons playing right now. Continue reading

Posted in Popular Culture | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments