The James Franco Project
Soap operas, enrollment in multiple graduate programs at once, student films alongside Hollywood blockbusters. Is James Franco’s entire career a piece of performance art?
Soap operas, enrollment in multiple graduate programs at once, student films alongside Hollywood blockbusters. Is James Franco’s entire career a piece of performance art?
Sam Anderson New York Jul 2010 25min Permalink
A psychological theory emerges to explain why young Americans are taking a while to grow up.
An interview with Sandy Koufax on “the management of excellence.”
Jack Olsen, Sandy Koufax Sports Illustrated Dec 1965 30min Permalink
Inside Rebecca West’s vast Black Lamb and Grey Falcon, an eerily timeless travelogue of the Balkans written on the eve of WWI.
Geoff Dyer The Guardian Aug 2006 15min Permalink
A firsthand account of prison’s dysfunctional relationships. The writer wasn’t able to gain access through official channels, so he completed guard training and took a job as a Sing Sing corrections officer.
Ted Conover New Yorker Apr 2000 40min Permalink
The bloody, often surreal, fight for Kosovo’s independence was led by a man moonlighting as a roofer in Switzerland.
William Langewiesche Vanity Fair Dec 2008 35min Permalink
Best Article Arts Business Music
In the early 1960s, Middle Eastern guys in Brooklyn introduced America to Arabic rock-and-roll.
Saki Knafo The Believer Jul 2010 10min Permalink
For nearly a decade, Laura Albert lived a double life as troubled teen turned cult writer J.T. Leroy, writing books, chatting constantly with celebrities, and convincing another woman to appear as J.T. Leroy in public.
Nancy Rommelmann LA Weekly Feb 2008 35min Permalink
A day in the political life of Barack Obama.
Todd Purdum Vanity Fair Aug 2010 Permalink
The New York Times reveals the deception of 27-year-old reporter Jayson Blair.
- New York Times May 2003 30min Permalink
After two New Jersey homes were robbed of their silver—only their silver—in the same night, the local police got a call from a detective in Greenwich, Connecticut. “I know the guy who’s doing your burglaries.”
Stephen J. Dubner New Yorker May 2004 35min Permalink
Arts Business World Media Music Religion
A new Egyptian TV channel called 4Shbab—“for youth” in Arabic—aims to get young people interested in Islam through music videos and reality shows.
Negar Azimi New York Times Magazine Aug 2010 Permalink
On the elegance and utility of the rice cooker.
Roger Ebert The Chicago Sun-Times Nov 2008 10min Permalink
An American, born into privilege, became a bootleg DVD kingpin in Shanghai and then, in an unprecedented development, landed in Chinese prison.
Joshua Davis Wired Oct 2005 25min Permalink
For many immigrants coming through Arizona, it’s not enough to pay a coyote to shepherd you across the border. You also need to pay the ransom demanded by your kidnapper after you arrive.
Monica Alonzo The Phoenix New Times Aug 2010 30min Permalink
The shooting death of the last wild Passenger Pigeon, atomic energy, mastodon watering holes, and other footnotes in Ohio history.
Geoffrey Sea The American Scholar Jan 2004 55min Permalink
Two sisters, heirs to the Bronfman fortune, may have blown $100 million supporting the cult-like group NXIVM.
Moe Tkacik The New York Observer Aug 2010 Permalink
In Mexico’s remote Copper Canyon, the Tarahumara Indians party hard, get by on a diet of carbs and beer, and can still run 100 mile races, even in their 60s.
C. McDougall Men's Health Apr 2008 Permalink
Slumdog Millionaire, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, and the arrival of “New India” in the American imagination.
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi Triple Canopy Jul 2010 Permalink
Tony Judt on sex, the academy, and dating a graduate student while chairing NYU’s History Department.
Tony Judt New York Review of Books Mar 2010 Permalink
How Juarez became the murder capital of the world.
Sarah Hill Boston Review Jul 2010 Permalink
Is letting convicts roam free under electronic surveillance better than putting them behind bars?
Graeme Wood The Atlantic Aug 2010 10min Permalink
How Madden NFL went from a programmer’s childhood dream to a $3 billion business.
Patrick Hruby ESPN Jul 2010 30min Permalink
An interview with Greil Marcus on the songs of Van Morrison and why people are afraid of imagined things.
Colin Marshall, Greil Marcus 3quarksdaily Aug 2010 25min Permalink
An excerpt from a new biography explores the trio of tragedies that struck Dahl’s family just as his career was taking off.
Donald Sturrock The Telegraph Aug 2010 20min Permalink