Literary Criticism

"Writing only leads to more writing." — Colette

The Greeting Card as Poem: Frank Wilderson and the Refiguring of a Genre
Marjorie Perloff reads the Afropessimist author Frank Wilderson’s New Year’s cards as poetry.
Marjorie PerloffMar 30, 2023
- Literary Criticism
Marginality and Mahua Literature: On Li Zi Shu’s “The Age of Goodbyes” and Cheow Thia Chan’s “Malaysian Crossings”
Jeremy Tiang reviews Li Zi Shu’s “The Age of Goodbyes” and Cheow Thia Chan’s “Malaysian Crossings: Place and Language in the Worlding of Modern Chinese Literature.”
Jeremy TiangFeb 11, 2023
- Fiction
- Literary Criticism
The Half-Century in Bullshit: On Peter Bogdanovich’s “Paper Moon” and Robert Greene’s “The 48 Laws of Power”
Paul Thompson examines the metabolization of bullshit into our lives, by way of analyzing Peter Bogdanovich’s film “Paper Moon” and Robert Greene’s book “The 48 Laws of Power.”
Paul ThompsonJan 28, 2023
- Film
- Literary Criticism
Somewhat Nebulous Contours: On Sasha Senderovich’s “How the Soviet Jew Was Made”
Yelena Furman reviews Sasha Senderovich’s “How the Soviet Jew Was Made.”
Yelena FurmanJan 15, 2023
Fuck the Poetry Police: On the Index of Major Literary Prizes in the United States
Dan Sinykin breaks down the Post45 Data Collective set on literary awards compiled by Stephanie Young and Juliana Spahr.
Dan SinykinJan 9, 2023
Truths That Cannot Be Offered Outside of Art: On Stephen D. Dowden’s “Modernism and Mimesis”
William Collins Donahue reviews Stephen D. Dowden’s “Modernism and Mimesis.”
William Collins DonahueJan 5, 2023
- Literary Criticism
This Other’s Body: On the Durability of American Racial Satire
Matthew K. Ritchie draws parallels between Mohsin Hamid’s “The Last White Man” and “Black No More,” George Schuyler’s satire from 1931.
Matthew K. RitchieJan 2, 2023
- Literary Criticism
- Politics
A Diary Is a Place for Dreaming: A Conversation with Amina Cain
Natalie Dunn speaks with Amina Cain about her new book “A Horse at Night: On Writing.”
Natalie DunnDec 30, 2022
A Communion of Pathless Solitudes: On Adam Nicolson’s “The Making of Poetry”
Joshua Hren reviews Adam Nicolson’s “The Making of Poetry: Coleridge, the Wordsworths, and Their Year of Marvels.”
Joshua HrenDec 11, 2022
Absolute Sovereignty: On Constance Debré’s “Love Me Tender”
Gracie Hadland reviews Constance Debré’s “Love Me Tender.”
Gracie HadlandDec 8, 2022
- Literary Criticism
- Memoir & Essay
Books That Sing: On Justin St. Clair’s “Soundtracked Books from the Acoustic Era to the Digital Age”
Nicholas C. Laudadio reviews Justin St. Clair’s “Soundtracked Books from the Acoustic Era to the Digital Age.”
Nicholas C. LaudadioNov 5, 2022
- Literary Criticism
- Music
The First Comedian
Jason Crawford discusses the career of Robert Armin, the first modern comedian.
Jason CrawfordNov 4, 2022
- History
- Literary Criticism