NPR Topics: Arts & Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008&ft=1&f=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 2010 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.93 Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:53:00 -0400 http://media.npr.org/images/npr_news_123x20.gif Arts & Life http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1008&ft=1&f=1008 Jokes To Tell Your Parents For Rosh Hashana When Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman's video of Hoffman's 60-something mother telling an off-color joke on YouTube went viral, they knew they had something special.  The success of their subsequent website, OldJewsTellingJokes.com, and their upcoming book have proved them right. Sun, 05 Sep 2010 07:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611213&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129611213&ft=1&f=1008 When Sam Hoffman and Eric Spiegelman's video of Hoffman's 60-something mother telling an off-color joke on YouTube went viral, they knew they had something special.  The success of their subsequent website, OldJewsTellingJokes.com, and their upcoming book have proved them right.

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]]> 'Phantom Tollbooth' Creators Reunited By An 'Ogre' In the early 1960s, writer Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer created <em>The Phantom Tollbooth</em>, which quickly became a kid-lit classic. Now, 50 years later, the two have finally collaborated once more -- this time, on a picture book called <em>The Odious Ogre</em>. They speak to NPR's Liane Hansen about their partnership and their new project. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795&ft=1&f=1008 In the early 1960s, writer Norton Juster and illustrator Jules Feiffer created The Phantom Tollbooth, which quickly became a kid-lit classic. Now, 50 years later, the two have finally collaborated once more -- this time, on a picture book called The Odious Ogre. They speak to NPR's Liane Hansen about their partnership and their new project.

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]]> Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist Paul Conrad Dies Paul Conrad took on U.S. presidents from Harry Truman to George W. Bush, mostly in the <em>Los Angeles Times</em>, where he worked for 30 years. He was fierce in his liberalism and expressed it with a stark, unmistakable visual style. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 17:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129654021&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129654021&ft=1&f=1008 Paul Conrad took on U.S. presidents from Harry Truman to George W. Bush, mostly in the Los Angeles Times, where he worked for 30 years. He was fierce in his liberalism and expressed it with a stark, unmistakable visual style.

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]]> Victory At Marathon Saved A Lot More Than A Race The story's a classic: An outnumbered band of Athenians pushes back the  mighty Persian army. But the battle of Marathon, 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece, left a legacy that extends far beyond the name of a famous race. Historian Richard Billows explores the legendary battle in his new book, <em>Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization</em>. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 16:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129652464&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129652464&ft=1&f=1008 The story's a classic: An outnumbered band of Athenians pushes back the  mighty Persian army. But the battle of Marathon, 2,500 years ago in ancient Greece, left a legacy that extends far beyond the name of a famous race. Historian Richard Billows explores the legendary battle in his new book, Marathon: How One Battle Changed Western Civilization.

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]]> Next Week: Franzen Talks About 'Freedom' Jonathan Franzen's new novel, <em>Freedom,</em> is being called a "masterpiece of American fiction." He was recently on the cover of <em>Time</em> magazine -- the first living author on its cover in more than a decade. Next weekend, Franzen will join us to talk about <em>Freedom</em>, the story of a contemporary American family in St. Paul, Minn. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129653897&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129653897&ft=1&f=1008 Jonathan Franzen's new novel, Freedom, is being called a "masterpiece of American fiction." He was recently on the cover of Time magazine -- the first living author on its cover in more than a decade. Next weekend, Franzen will join us to talk about Freedom, the story of a contemporary American family in St. Paul, Minn.

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]]> Meghan McCain Plays 'Not My Job' John McCain's daughter describes life on the campaign trail in her new book, <em>Dirty, Sexy Politics.</em> We've invited her to play a game called: "For dessert, how about a defibrillator-on-a-stick?" Three questions about State Fair food. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129627778&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129627778&ft=1&f=1008 John McCain's daughter describes life on the campaign trail in her new book, Dirty, Sexy Politics. We've invited her to play a game called: "For dessert, how about a defibrillator-on-a-stick?" Three questions about State Fair food.

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]]> Memories Of War And Reading Clubs Patrick Hennessey was the youngest front-line captain in the British Army, served in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a commendation for gallantry. Host Scott Simon speaks with Hennessey about his memoir, <em>The Junior Officers' Reading Club</em>. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647726&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647726&ft=1&f=1008 Patrick Hennessey was the youngest front-line captain in the British Army, served in Iraq and Afghanistan and earned a commendation for gallantry. Host Scott Simon speaks with Hennessey about his memoir, The Junior Officers' Reading Club.

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]]> English Lives. Tell The Grammar Police. Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute says we ought to remind ourselves that language lives, breathes and learns more as it goes along. He advises professionals to write carefully, but not defensively and certainly not drably. Host Scott Simon speaks with Clark about his new book, <em>The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English</em>. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 08:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647730&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129647730&ft=1&f=1008 Roy Peter Clark of the Poynter Institute says we ought to remind ourselves that language lives, breathes and learns more as it goes along. He advises professionals to write carefully, but not defensively and certainly not drably. Host Scott Simon speaks with Clark about his new book, The Glamour of Grammar: A Guide to the Magic and Mystery of Practical English.

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]]> Eat Your Way Down I-95, And Other Stops To Make In their seven-year love affair with Interstate 95, Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner have found the best Polish sausage, Berger cookies and a battleship you can spend the night on. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 04:19:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129635773&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129635773&ft=1&f=1008 In their seven-year love affair with Interstate 95, Stan Posner and Sandra Phillips-Posner have found the best Polish sausage, Berger cookies and a battleship you can spend the night on.

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]]> A Funny, Fractured Field Guide To A 'Wild Kingdom' Kevin Huizenga's alter-ego Glenn Ganges returns in his latest collection of spiky, intellectually adventurous stories -- drawn in friendly, stylized art. <em>The Wild Kingdom</em> is like entries from the Encyclopedia Britannica of an alternate, funnier universe. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 07:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129602401&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129602401&ft=1&f=1008 Kevin Huizenga's alter-ego Glenn Ganges returns in his latest collection of spiky, intellectually adventurous stories -- drawn in friendly, stylized art. The Wild Kingdom is like entries from the Encyclopedia Britannica of an alternate, funnier universe.

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]]> '666': A Tale Of The Tribulation So Bad, It's Good When Rhoda Janzen was 9, her mother busted her for reading the thriller <em>666</em> during an incredibly dull sermon at their Mennonite church. To this day, Janzen revels in the terribly written prose about the Antichrist, cannibalism, global famine and apocalyptic doom. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127482617&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127482617&ft=1&f=1008 When Rhoda Janzen was 9, her mother busted her for reading the thriller 666 during an incredibly dull sermon at their Mennonite church. To this day, Janzen revels in the terribly written prose about the Antichrist, cannibalism, global famine and apocalyptic doom.

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]]> Puns In Country Music Songs Done Right Puns have long been a part of country music songs -- think of song titles such as George Jones' "She Took My Keys Away, and Now She Won't Drive Me to Drink" or Lee Ann Womack's "Am I the Only Thing That You Done Wrong?" Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the genre's willingness to play with lyrics and song titles uncovers new layers of meaning. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129625588&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129625588&ft=1&f=1008 Puns have long been a part of country music songs -- think of song titles such as George Jones' "She Took My Keys Away, and Now She Won't Drive Me to Drink" or Lee Ann Womack's "Am I the Only Thing That You Done Wrong?" Linguist Geoff Nunberg says that the genre's willingness to play with lyrics and song titles uncovers new layers of meaning.

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]]> 'The American': A Domestic Bond, Drawn In Miniature George Clooney's latest outing showcases a more internal performance -- as an assassin whose personal life threatens to further complicate an already hard-to-manage career. Kenneth Turan says Anton Corbijn's drama is impeccably composed and beautifully shot -- if a little lacking on the emotional urgency front. Fri, 03 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129474712&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129474712&ft=1&f=1008 George Clooney's latest outing showcases a more internal performance -- as an assassin whose personal life threatens to further complicate an already hard-to-manage career. Kenneth Turan says Anton Corbijn's drama is impeccably composed and beautifully shot -- if a little lacking on the emotional urgency front.

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]]> 'Noodle Shop': A Coen Brothers Tale Goes East Director Zhang Yimou takes on the Coen brothers, remaking <em>Blood Simple</em> and setting it in the 17th-century "Chinese outback." Adultery, bloody mishaps and Chinese superstition are just the appetizers in this colorful film. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129475303&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129475303&ft=1&f=1008 Director Zhang Yimou takes on the Coen brothers, remaking Blood Simple and setting it in the 17th-century "Chinese outback." Adultery, bloody mishaps and Chinese superstition are just the appetizers in this colorful film.

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]]> 'Machete': Out Of The 'Grindhouse,' Trailer First Robert Rodriguez directs <em>Machete</em>, featuring a character first introduced in a fake trailer that played during his 2007 exploitation flick <em>Grindhouse.</em> <em><strong>(Recommended)</strong></em> Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129472808&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129472808&ft=1&f=1008 Robert Rodriguez directs Machete, featuring a character first introduced in a fake trailer that played during his 2007 exploitation flick Grindhouse. (Recommended)

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