Essays Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

All Essays

The Ark Sinks: Alexander Sokurov’s “Francofonia”
The Ark Sinks: Alexander Sokurov’s Francofonia
Marijeta BozovicJul 8, 2016
- Film
Radiohead’s Emotional Cryonics
Every Radiohead album has occasioned famously bad music criticism. Why is it so hard to write about Radiohead’s music?
Nicholas MirielloJul 7, 2016
- Music
Death by Prefix? The Paradoxical Life of Modernist Studies
What is modernism, anyway?
Gayle RogersJul 3, 2016
- Literary Criticism
“Paint It Black” by Janet Fitch
After the mysterious death of her lover, art model Josie finds herself caught in a twisted relationship with his mother in this bewitching story of love, betrayal, and obsession. Check out our Summer 2016 pick for the LARB Book Club: “Paint It Black” by Janet Fitch.
Jul 2, 2016
Double Remembrance
With the centenary of the Battle of the Somme and the Easter Rising arriving this year, Richard Kearney considers their impact on Ireland.
Richard KearneyJul 1, 2016
- History
- Poetry
Cocks and Flowers
What do we see when we look at Robert Mapplethorpe's flowers?
Sven BirkertsJul 1, 2016
- Art & Architecture
Woman With a Movie Camera: The Art of Not Looking Away in Kirsten Johnson’s “Cameraperson”
Kirsten Johnson operates both in front of and behind the camera in "Cameraperson."
Lauren Du GrafJun 29, 2016
- Film
Game of Thrones: Season 6, "The Winds of Winter"
Winter is here!
Aaron Bady, Sarah MesleJun 28, 2016
- Dear Television
Precarious Paintings, Precarious Lives: On “Kerry James Marshall: Mastry”
Kerry James Marshall: Mastry, the first museum retrospective of the Chicago artist’s work.
Francey RussellJun 28, 2016
- Art & Architecture
Black Lives Matter in Higher Learning
Why #blacklivesmatter still matters.
Jody D. ArmourJun 22, 2016
- Politics
Game of Thrones: Season 6, "Battle of the Bastards"
Evil Father’s Day: or, We’re Not Going to Do That, at Least Maybe Not
Aaron Bady, Sarah MesleJun 21, 2016
- Dear Television
Democracy — Too Much of a Good Thing?
Roslyn Fuller and Andrew Sullivan discuss the United States’s current political system and debate whether more or less of it is beneficial.
Andrew Sullivan, Roslyn FullerJun 21, 2016
- Law
- Politics
“The Best Revenge is Your Paper”: Notes on Women’s Work
Alice Bolin on dating, social media, emotional labor, and Beyoncé.
Alice BolinJun 19, 2016
- Gender & Sexuality
Lobster in Purgatory
On the irresolutions of Yorgos Lanthimos's "The Lobster".
Wai Chee DimockJun 18, 2016
- Film
A Note on the Contemporary Canon: Public Fiction’s Show at MOCA Los Angeles
A look at the exhibition curated by Lauren Mackler that includes Nathaniel Mackey, Nevine Mahmoud, and Lynne Tillman.
Paloma Checa-GismeroJun 17, 2016
- Art & Architecture
Game of Thrones, Season 6: "No One"
Let's not go to Riverrun, it's a silly place.
Aaron Bady, Sarah MesleJun 14, 2016
- Dear Television