Essays Archive | Los Angeles Review of Books

All Essays

How the Golden Age Lost Its Memory
“The ‘golden age’ simply isn’t what it used to be.”
Andrew HeiselMar 22, 2015
- Television
The Froth Estate: VICE’s Cult of Immersion
VICE’s preoccupation with “immersive” journalism places undue emphasis on vicarious thrills and not enough on reporting.
Franҫois KiperMar 21, 2015
- Television
Feminist Artifacts: The Archive of Germaine Greer
According to Greer, the woman of today is actually the eunuch herself — dehumanized and desexualized by an oppressive patriarchy that engulfs her autonomy and, thereby, her personhood, as well as her womanhood.
Nathan SmithMar 21, 2015
- Gender & Sexuality
Radio Hour: “Satin Island,” Cultural References & Finding a Lost City
LARB AVMar 19, 2015
Country Enough: From Conway and George to Maddie & Tae
In response to the rising tide of “bro-country” comes Maddie & Tae’s “Girl in a Country Song,” the latest chapter in country’s music’s long reflexive tradition.
Sam WorleyMar 19, 2015
- Music
Take a Walk in a Wild City: Noir and New Orleans
New Orleans crime writer Michael Allen Zell on the state of New Orleans crime fiction.
Michael Allen ZellMar 18, 2015
- Noir
Hatchet to Hatchet, Dust (Jacket) to Dust: Reading The New York Times Nonfiction Bestseller List
Zach Dorfman on the NYT Nonfiction Bestseller List.
Zach DorfmanMar 17, 2015
- Cultural Studies
Winchester Cathedral
A new installment in Deanne Stillman's "Letter from the West" series.
Deanne StillmanMar 17, 2015
- Cultural Studies
Spinning Wheels: Thought and Motion in Raymond Chandler’s Fiction
The hardboiled detective’s lack of a sidekick has significant attendant costs to the author’s narrative repertoire.
Sand Avidar-WalzerMar 17, 2015
- Noir
Early Exposure: The First Films of Andy Warhol
Jordan Cronk examines the films of Andy Warhol
Jordan CronkMar 16, 2015
- Art & Architecture
- Film
Invest Yourself (Against the Limited Liability Society)
Born an American shareholder.
Stuart WhatleyMar 15, 2015
- Politics
The Land of Columbus: Echoes of LA’s Russian Past
The lost Russians and found books of Los Angeles.
Boris DralyukMar 14, 2015
- Memoir & Essay
Eric Garner and Me
Clifford Thompson shares his experiences with racism.
Clifford ThompsonMar 13, 2015
- Memoir & Essay
The Meeting That Never Was
"Although Orwell and Camus were two of the most intriguing political and literary figures of their time, they are rarely considered in relation to each other"
Matthew LambMar 13, 2015
- Nonfiction
Radio Hour: Schmaltz, "Citizen Four" & Rachel Cusk's "Outline"
LARB AVMar 12, 2015
Drunk Dialer’s Ballad: Drinking in 20th Century American Short Fiction
A drunk dialer’s ballad for the 20th century.
Caroll Sun YangMar 11, 2015
- Literary Criticism