popular culture

‘Suffering Sappho!’ Unghosts the Lesbian in Lesbian Camp

‘Suffering Sappho!’ Unghosts the Lesbian in Lesbian Camp

Lesbian camp is not a thing of the past. It evolves and remains relevant to subsequent generations. Suffering Sappho! Unghosts the lesbian in lesbian camp.

W.E.B. Du Bois’ Prescient Masterpiece ‘The Souls of Black Folk: A Graphic Interpretation’

W.E.B. Du Bois’ Prescient Masterpiece ‘The Souls of Black Folk: A Graphic Interpretation’

Rutgers University Press’ engaging, accomplished interpretation of ‘The Souls of Black Folk’ confirms it as W.E.B. DuBois’ most prescient and indelible work.

How Catholicism Shaped Sting’s Creative Vision

How Catholicism Shaped Sting’s Creative Vision

In Sting and Religion, Evyatar Marienberg explores links between the rock icon’s Catholic upbringing and the religious themes in his lyrics.

By the Book: ‘Rocking the Closet: How Little Richard, Johnnie Ray, Liberace, and Johnny Mathis Queered Pop Music’

By the Book: ‘Rocking the Closet: How Little Richard, Johnnie Ray, Liberace, and Johnny Mathis Queered Pop Music’

Vincent L. Stephens confronts notions of the closet—both coming out and staying in—by analyzing the careers of Liberace, Johnny Mathis, Johnnie Ray, and Little Richard. This excerpt of Rocking the Closet explores the work of "Mr. Emotion", Johnnie Ray.

‘Zombies, Migrants, and Queers’ Make for a Monstrous Economy

‘Zombies, Migrants, and Queers’ Make for a Monstrous Economy

One of the intellectual strengths of Fojas’ book is how she consistently surprises in historicizing and theorizing neoliberalism.
‘The Long March of Pop’ Offers a Fresh Experience of Pop Art

‘The Long March of Pop’ Offers a Fresh Experience of Pop Art

This new and provocative survey of Pop Art widens the scope of its subject while keeping the focus on the artists.

On James Wolcott’s Engaging, Irritating, Snarky and Insightful Criticisms

The Polymorphous Questlove Shape Shifts Into a Memoirist with ‘Mo’ Meta Blues’

Linguistic Inanities, Sung Howlers, Spoken Clunkers & Verbal Tics: ‘The Grammar of Rock’

‘Psychedelia’ Is All You Can Imagine, and Then Some

A Verdict on the Visual and Aesthetic Energy of Punk and Its Restive Relations: ‘The Art of Punk’

Girl Power: The Nineties Revolution in Music by Marisa Meltzer