We asked writers and editors to choose some of their favorite stories of the year in various categories. Here is the best in arts and culture.
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Posted inReading List
This Week In Books: A ‘Melancholia’ or ‘Take Shelter’ Situation
I will become power-mad and lock my boyfriend inside forever!
Posted inFeature
Tea, Biscuits, and Empire: The Long Con of Britishness
The soft-focus Britain of Downton Abbey bears little resemblance to the real Britain collapsing under the weight of racism, austerity, and COVID-19. As Brexit plods on, it’s time for an honest reckoning of the history and future of this outsize little island.
Posted inNonfiction
The Case for Letting Malibu Burn
Many of California’s native ecosystems evolved to burn. Modern fire suppression creates fuels that lead to catastrophic fires. So why do people insist on rebuilding in the firebelt?
Posted inEssays & Criticism, Feature, Nonfiction, Story
Body of Lies
Deenie Hartzog-Mislock confronts a lifetime of body image trauma when her marriage turns south and sexless.
Posted inEssays & Criticism
Better Late
From straightening her teeth to finding her true love, Summer Block has reached the milestones in her life later than most.
Posted inBooks, Essays & Criticism, Nonfiction, Story
Kissed a Girl
Vickie Vértiz maneuvers her way around teenage love, friend envy, and being outed by her Mexican mother.
Posted inArts & Culture, Books, History, Nonfiction, Profiles & Interviews, Story
Mathematics as a Cultural Force
Historian Amir Alexander on Euclidean geometry’s far-reaching effects.
Posted inBooks, Fiction, Profiles & Interviews, Story
‘I Loved God, I Loved Believing’: An Interview with R.O. Kwon
Not only will I never get my faith back, but I’m going to keep missing it. I’ll always have that longing — but there’s no going back into the garden.
