Culture : NPR https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008 Art and entertainment commentary plus interviews, book reviews, movie reviews, music reviews, comedy, and visual art. Subscribe to podcasts and follow trends in music, painting, art, architecture, photography, and design. en Copyright 2023 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:01:10 -0500 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 Culture https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008 What's making us happy: A guide to your weekend viewing Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: <em>Alice in Borderland</em> Season 2, and the films <em>Aftersun, After Yang</em> and <em>Jeanne Dielman.</em> Fri, 13 Jan 2023 17:01:10 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148380176/alice-in-borderland-aftersun-after-yang-jeanne-dielman https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148380176/alice-in-borderland-aftersun-after-yang-jeanne-dielman

Each week, the guests and hosts on NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour share what's bringing them joy. This week: Alice in Borderland Season 2, and the films Aftersun, After Yang and Jeanne Dielman.

(Image credit: Kumiko Tsuchiya/Netflix)

]]> Ronald Young Jr. Encore: The lasting legacy of Bob Ross This week marks the 40th anniversary of <em>The Joy of Painting. </em>We revisit a story about a wildly popular Bob Ross solo exhibition in Virginia. The late PBS painter's popularity continues to soar. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:04:05 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135815/encore-the-lasting-legacy-of-bob-ross https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135815/encore-the-lasting-legacy-of-bob-ross This week marks the 40th anniversary of The Joy of Painting. We revisit a story about a wildly popular Bob Ross solo exhibition in Virginia. The late PBS painter's popularity continues to soar.

]]> Kat Lonsdorf Amateur archaeologist deciphers 20,000-year-old cave writing NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Ben Bacon, a London-based furniture conservator, about decoding a 20,000-year-old writing system. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 16:04:05 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135787/amateur-archaeologist-deciphers-20-000-year-old-cave-writing https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149135787/amateur-archaeologist-deciphers-20-000-year-old-cave-writing NPR's Mary Louise Kelly talks with Ben Bacon, a London-based furniture conservator, about decoding a 20,000-year-old writing system.

]]> Here are six podcasts to listen to in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day Here are conversations from across public media to listen to as we reflect on the life and legacy of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 14:31:47 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148690803/podcasts-mlk-martin-luther-king-jr-day https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148690803/podcasts-mlk-martin-luther-king-jr-day Here are conversations from across public media to listen to as we reflect on the life and legacy of civil rights leader, Martin Luther King Jr.

(Image credit: Silvio Avila/AFP via Getty Images)

]]> Jessica Green The Missouri House tightens its dress code for women, to the dismay of Democrats As lawmakers met to debate House rules, one proposed requiring women to wear jackets. They ultimately passed a modified amendment (permitting cardigans), but not without vocal pushback from Democrats. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:53:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149057491/missouri-house-dress-code-women-cardigan https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149057491/missouri-house-dress-code-women-cardigan

As lawmakers met to debate House rules, one proposed requiring women to wear jackets. They ultimately passed a modified amendment (permitting cardigans), but not without vocal pushback from Democrats.

(Image credit: Jeff Roberson/AP)

]]> Rachel Treisman Revisiting Larry Sultan's 'Pictures from Home,' a photo memoir of post-WWII life The new Broadway show, <em>Pictures from Home, </em>draws on the late photographer's memoir about his childhood in the baby boom generation in Southern California. <em>Originally broadcast in 1989. </em> Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:50:40 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149015284/revisiting-larry-sultans-pictures-from-home-a-photo-memoir-of-post-wwii-life https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149015284/revisiting-larry-sultans-pictures-from-home-a-photo-memoir-of-post-wwii-life The new Broadway show, Pictures from Home, draws on the late photographer's memoir about his childhood in the baby boom generation in Southern California. Originally broadcast in 1989.

]]> Terry Gross Remembering Russell Banks, a novelist who depicted working-class life Banks, who died Jan. 7, wrote about ordinary people coping with difficulties in contemporary society. His books included <em>The Sweet Hereafter </em>and <em>Affliction. </em>Originally broadcast in 1989 and '95. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 13:50:40 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149013814/remembering-russell-banks-a-novelist-who-depicted-working-class-life https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1149013814/remembering-russell-banks-a-novelist-who-depicted-working-class-life Banks, who died Jan. 7, wrote about ordinary people coping with difficulties in contemporary society. His books included The Sweet Hereafter and Affliction. Originally broadcast in 1989 and '95.

]]> Terry Gross In 'No Bears', a banned filmmaker takes bold aim at Iranian society In 2010, Iranian the authorities charged Jafar Panahi with making anti-government propaganda. <em>No Bears,</em> which was filmed in secret, is a brilliant, layered drama — and an idiosyncratic self portrait. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 10:50:42 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148414249/no-bears-review-jafar-panahi-iran https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148414249/no-bears-review-jafar-panahi-iran

In 2010, Iranian the authorities charged Jafar Panahi with making anti-government propaganda. No Bears, which was filmed in secret, is a brilliant, layered drama — and an idiosyncratic self portrait.

(Image credit: TIFF)

]]> Justin Chang 'Sam,' the latest novel from Allegra Goodman, is small, but not simple The novel follows a white working-class girl from age 7 through her late teens, navigating a world tightly circumscribed by class and culture. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:01:06 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148647857/allegra-goodman-sam-book-review https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148647857/allegra-goodman-sam-book-review

The novel follows a white working-class girl from age 7 through her late teens, navigating a world tightly circumscribed by class and culture.

(Image credit: Penguin Random House)

]]> Maureen Corrigan 'Wakanda Forever' receives 12 NAACP Image Award nominations The awards honoring entertainers and writers of color will air live in Pasadena, California on Feb. 25. The two-hour show will be held in front of an audience for the first time in three years. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:00:59 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148971605/wakanda-forever-receives-12-naacp-image-award-nominations https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148971605/wakanda-forever-receives-12-naacp-image-award-nominations

The awards honoring entertainers and writers of color will air live in Pasadena, California on Feb. 25. The two-hour show will be held in front of an audience for the first time in three years.

(Image credit: Ilze Kitshoff/AP)

]]> The Associated Press NPR's most anticipated video games of 2023 Even with the game delays we've gotten used to, 2023 is shaping up to be a banner year. Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:00:36 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148436265/most-anticipated-games-2023 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148436265/most-anticipated-games-2023 Even with the game delays we've gotten used to, 2023 is shaping up to be a banner year.

]]> James Perkins Mastromarino Author Kai Thomas on the Underground Railroad's unexplored history in Canada NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with author Kai Thomas about his debut novel IN THE UPPER COUNTRY and exploring the Underground Railroad's little-known history in a community of free Black people in Canada. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 15:57:58 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148810144/author-kai-thomas-on-the-underground-railroad-s-unexplored-history-in-canada https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148810144/author-kai-thomas-on-the-underground-railroad-s-unexplored-history-in-canada NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with author Kai Thomas about his debut novel IN THE UPPER COUNTRY and exploring the Underground Railroad's little-known history in a community of free Black people in Canada.

]]> At the end of humanity, 'The Last of Us' locates what makes us human Like the video game it's based on, the HBO series about a mutated fungi that destroys civilization spotlights the connections between its compelling characters, not the monsters they face. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 10:33:32 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148349973/last-of-us-review-hbo https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148349973/last-of-us-review-hbo

Like the video game it's based on, the HBO series about a mutated fungi that destroys civilization spotlights the connections between its compelling characters, not the monsters they face.

(Image credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO)

]]> Glen Weldon Joni Mitchell wins Gershwin Prize for Popular Song from Library of Congress Pathbreaking folk singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell has been awarded one of the nation's highest honors in songwriting. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 08:01:49 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148207575/joni-mitchell-gershwin-prize https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148207575/joni-mitchell-gershwin-prize

Pathbreaking folk singer and songwriter Joni Mitchell has been awarded one of the nation's highest honors in songwriting.

(Image credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images for The Recording Academy)

]]> Neda Ulaby Roberta Flack's first piano came from a junkyard – five Grammys would follow <em>The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music</em> recounts the story of Flack's father finding her a beat-up, old, upright in a junkyard — a treasure that led to a life in music. Thu, 12 Jan 2023 07:01:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148089864/roberta-flack-the-green-piano-tonya-bolden-hayden-goodman https://www.npr.org/2023/01/12/1148089864/roberta-flack-the-green-piano-tonya-bolden-hayden-goodman

The Green Piano: How Little Me Found Music recounts the story of Flack's father finding her a beat-up, old, upright in a junkyard — a treasure that led to a life in music.

(Image credit: Random House)

]]> Elizabeth Blair