Archive

The Fallacy of Religious Freedom: On Spencer W. McBride’s “Joseph Smith for President”
When the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith ran for president, he wasn’t seeking further glory but a policy change in religious liberty.
Tamarra KemsleyJun 11, 2021
- History
A Bridge He Didn’t Know Existed: On Emil Draitser’s “In the Jaws of the Crocodile”
Jun 11, 2021
Creating a Literary Culture: A Short, Selective, and Incomplete History of LGBT Publishing, Part II
Michael Nava walks through the explosion of gay and lesbian publishing from 1980 to 1995, in this second installment of a three-part series for the LA Review of Books.
Michael NavaJun 11, 2021
- Gender & Sexuality
In Tune with the Blues: A Recovered Interview with the Late Al Young, Former California Poet Laureate of California
In this 2008 interview, Persis Karim talks with Al Young.
Persis KarimJun 10, 2021
- Poetry
Surviving Is the Crux of Celebration: An Interview with Camille T. Dungy
Jasmine Elizabeth Smith talks to Camille T. Dungy about her most recent books, “Trophic Cascade” and “Guidebook to Relative Strangers.”
Jasmine Elizabeth SmithJun 10, 2021
- Poetry
Of Schools, Movements and Manifestos: Where Are the Poetry Wars of Yesteryear?
Stephen KesslerJun 10, 2021
Two Roads: A Review-in-Dialogue of Donika Kelly’s “The Renunciations”
Victoria Chang and Dean Rader discuss “The Renunciations” by Donika Kelly.
Dean Rader, Victoria ChangJun 10, 2021
- Poetry
- Two Roads: Poetry Reviews in Dialogue
Of Poets and Critics: A Conversation Between Anahid Nersessian and Michael Robbins
Anahid Nersessian talks with Michael Robbins about what the last year has taught us.
Anahid Nersessian, Michael RobbinsJun 9, 2021
- Literary Criticism
The Genre Guantánamo Made
With the recent releasee of "The Mauritanian," Miriam Pensack considers the legacy of Guantánamo Bay in music, movies, books, and art.
Miriam PensackJun 9, 2021
- Film
The Black Performance of Literary Quiet: A Conversation with Hanif Abdurraqib
The celebrated poet and essayist discusses his inspirations and the power of improvisation.
DJ Lynnée DeniseJun 9, 2021
- Memoir & Essay
Grief Is Never Finished: A Conversation with María José Ferrada
The award-winning children’s author discusses her first adult novel about the legacy of the disappeared in Chile.
David MartinezJun 8, 2021
- Fiction
Cobra Kai, the Twilight of American Empire, and the Allure of Paramilitary Violence
Albert Wu and Michelle Kuo explore how Cobra Kai manages to tackle American empire, wealth disparity, and rising fascism without cynicism.
Albert Wu, Michelle KuoJun 8, 2021
- Television
The Comedian in Pain
If our great comics have all been martyrs, maybe the great martyrs were also comics.
Jason CrawfordJun 8, 2021
- Cultural Studies
My Palestinian Poem that “The New Yorker” Wouldn’t Publish
Fady JoudahJun 7, 2021
Sex Work as (Anti)Work: On Heather Berg’s “Porn Work”
Scott Stern reviews Heather Berg’s “Porn Work,” a new study that explores how labor functions — or doesn’t — within the adult film industry.
Scott W. SternJun 7, 2021
- Gender & Sexuality
“Glittering Silver Trails”: On Deborah Warren’s “Connoisseurs of Worms”
A. E. Stallings relishes “Connoisseurs of Worms” by Deborah Warren, a collection of poems that “starts small and ends with the panoramic sweep.”
A. E. StallingsJun 7, 2021
- Poetry