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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Racism in Romance, or Why Is the Duke Always White
White people: how many people still think “Fabio!” when they hear “romance novel,” raise your hands. Thought so.
Inside the Chaos of Immigration Court
Gabriel Thompson takes us into San Francisco Immigration Court and the labyrinthine system that asylum seekers—and attorneys and judges—are up against.
Why Mr. Bauer Didn’t Like Me
As a child, Blaise Allysen Kearsley tried, in vain, to win over a white friend’s father.
Women and Pain: A Reading List
“…how do we begin to change the narrative of how women’s pain is perceived, understood, and treated?”
Swipe Right: A Reading List about Online Dating
Jacqueline Alnes shares her own dating app experiences and nine stories about the pitfalls of finding a partner online.
Workshopping Workshop: A Reading List
“In workshop, what, if anything, can be written on a syllabus or spoken aloud in class to ensure that each and every participant’s work is read with care?”
End of Discussion
There’s no such thing as a 140-character exegesis: the (non)-discourse around “Joker” is the latest to prove that social media is designed for emotion, not dialogue.
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You Talk Real Good
Alison Stine confronts the ways in which being hard of hearing has made her job search more difficult.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Pamela Colloff, Amanda Fortini, Atossa Araxia Abrahamian, Ira Glass, and Linda Holmes.

