All Essays

• The Oldest Story: Toward a Theory of a Dead Girl Show

  Alice Bolin theorizes the commonality of the Dead Girl in Twin Peaks, True Detective, and Pretty Little Liars.

  Alice BolinApr 28, 2014

  • Noir

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  Let’s Have Reasoned Debate, Not Distortion and Calumny: A Reply to Russell Berman

  Joel Beinin, Hilton Obenzinger, and David Palumbo-Liu respond to Russell Berman’s essay criticizing the movement to boycott, divest, and sanction Israel (BDS).

  David Palumbo-Liu, Hilton Obenzinger, Joel BeininApr 27, 2014
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  For National Poetry Month: "Empowered Cadaver"

  It’s National Poetry Month! Check out this new poem by Sean Singer.

  Sean SingerApr 26, 2014
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  For National Poetry Month: "Days of Valentine," "Forgiveness," "Dark Notes I," "Dark Notes II"

  Fady JoudahApr 24, 2014
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  “Take the Good Life and Be Happy”: On “The Americans”

  The joke of “The Americans” is that it’s quintessentially American.

  Albert Wu, Michelle KuoApr 24, 2014
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  For National Poetry Month: "Doubloon Oath," "India Is Great" by Kiki Petrosino

  Continuing our celebration of National Poetry Month, we bring you a selection of new poetry by Kiki Petrosino.

  Kiki PetrosinoApr 23, 2014
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  Mad Men, Season 7: "A Day's Work"

  Father-Daughter Dance

  Anne Helen PetersenApr 22, 2014

  • Dear Television

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  The Career of David Levithan: It Gets Better and Better

  David Levithan’s Two Boys Kissing honors not only the struggles of gay youth, but those whose sacrifices have made contemporary queer visibility possible.

  Jonathan AlexanderApr 22, 2014
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  Descent into the Desert

  Cynthia Cruz fasts in the desert.

  Cynthia CruzApr 22, 2014
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  Her Flaming Fingers: Wendy C. Ortiz and Rhapsodomancy

  Wendy C. Ortiz’s Rhapsodomancy is a literary event not to be missed; Jessica Dewberry explains.

  Jessica DewberryApr 22, 2014

  • Literary Fiction

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  "Silicon Valley" And Responsible Satire

  Will ButlerApr 21, 2014
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  Game of Thrones, Season 4: "Breaker of Chains"

  'Do I Have a Champion?'

  Sarah MesleApr 21, 2014

  • Dear Television

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  For National Poetry Month: "History," "Monotheism in Kentucky, Present Time," "My Aunt Fanny," "A Translation"

  A selection of new poetry by Maurice Manning.

  Maurice ManningApr 21, 2014
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  For National Poetry Month: "O Tree (Borassus)," "Passenger Pigeon," "After the Murder Ballad"

  It’s National Poetry Month! To celebrate, we are publishing new poems by Hoa Nguyen.

  Hoa NguyenApr 21, 2014
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  It Wasn’t Just a European War: WWI in Arabia

  What can we learn from the Arab Middle East through the history of World War I?

  Shehryar FazliApr 20, 2014
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  Below Zero

  LARB contributor Ben Ehrenreich reports on his recent trip to Gaza City.

  Ben EhrenreichApr 20, 2014