arts and culture
‘Speaker for the God’: Historical fiction about Jeremiah illuminates enduring social issues
December 14, 2020Jeremiah, like other biblical prophets, was a spokesperson for the poor and powerless. He also warned the ruling class of his day to take the Babylonian threat seriously.
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Brazilian poet diplomat Vinícius de Moraes and ‘The Worker in Construction’
December 11, 2020The year 2020 marked 40 years of farewell to the poet Vinícius de Moraes.
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The revolutionary history of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony
December 8, 2020Like few other composers, Beethoven expresses the will for freedom, the democratic longing of the people.
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John Brown’s maid: Brown as buffoon in ‘The Good Lord Bird’ vs. Brown as radical in ‘Underground’
December 7, 2020The last two episodes of Ethan Hawkes' recounting of the John Brown story have some emotional resonance.
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How capitalism underdeveloped Appalachia: The economic truth ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ ignores
December 1, 2020It’s a tough trip for J.D. Vance and the viewer, but as the ride bumps along, it stays safely above the larger issues that actually shape the afflictions of Appalachia.
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