Essays Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

All Essays

The Dream Redeemed: A Coda to the Same-Sex Marriage Struggle
Don Franzen examines the Obergefell v. Hodges decision which federally legalized gay marriage.
Don FranzenJul 18, 2015
- Cultural Studies
- Law
Taylor & Karlie & Lena: The Romance of Celebrity Female Friendship in the Feminist Selfie Generation
Romantic female friendship has made a comeback in pop culture with the television show Girls.
Rachel Vorona CoteJul 16, 2015
A Nice Hobby, Like Knitting: On Barbara Pym
Now recognized as a master for her wry, comic novels of spinsters and clergymen, Barbara Pym was unpublished until the very end of her life.
Victoria PattersonJul 16, 2015
- Fiction
Gods and Bachelors: On Lifetime's "UnREAL"
Dear Television on Lifetime's show Unreal
Phillip MaciakJul 15, 2015
- Dear Television
- Television
Nouveau Feral
On Crystal Moselle's documentary 'The Wolfpack'
Amy GerstlerJul 14, 2015
- Film
The Golden Muse
A brief survey of gold mining literature across the Americas.
Tom ZoellnerJul 14, 2015
The Marvelous and Twisted Genius of “Sole Man”
Is a powerful sports entertainment company situated to handle the work of documentary filmmaking?
Robert L. Kehoe IIIJul 13, 2015
- Film
My Life in Porn
Marie Chambers waxes poetic about her experiences bumping elbows as a speech coach in the porn industry.
Marie ChambersJul 12, 2015
“All I Have Is a Voice”: On Greece’s National Confusion
How is it possible, you might say, that an entire nation is befuddled?
Stephanos PapadopoulosJul 12, 2015
- Around the World
Pixar and the Brain Scientists
"Inside Out" is billed as a "major emotion picture," so it is not surprising that "thought" is pretty much a bad word throughout.
Wai Chee DimockJul 12, 2015
- Film
On Spinsters
The classic spinster challenges our understanding of love, sex, family, and power.
Briallen HopperJul 12, 2015
- Literary Criticism
Movie, Concert, or Act of Vandalism?
Nafis Shafizadeh explores the authenticity and worth of The Santa Barbara Symphony Orchestra's rendition of “City Lights” starring Charlie Chaplin.
Nafis ShafizadehJul 11, 2015
- Film
- Music
Mors Vincit Omni: On “It Follows”
Will Rees explores the subtle horror and beauty of director David Robert Mitchell's second film, "It Follows."
Will ReesJul 10, 2015
- Film
Ai Weiwei Reconsiders Himself
Ai Weiwei rebels against the idea the art matters less than the persona and views of the artist himself.
Rebecca LiaoJul 10, 2015
- Art & Architecture
The Women You Didn’t See: A Letter to Alice Sheldon
Alice Sheldon wrote under the names James Tiptree, Jr. and Raccoona Sheldon. Novelist Nicola Griffith sends her an open letter.
Nicola GriffithJul 9, 2015
- SF
True Detective, Season 2: "Maybe Tomorrow"
Mad Pitz: Fury Road
Phillip Maciak, Sarah MesleJul 7, 2015
- Dear Television