Articles of Note

“Curator” once meant amateur or iconoclast (think Barnum showcasing “industrious fleas”). Now we have “museum studies” and credentials. Have exhibits improved?... more »

New Books

Critics think that David Foster Wallace has been studied too narrowly, and that he belongs in a broader cultural context. But is it geographical, philosophical, or economic?... more »

Essays & Opinions

Stendhal compared Rossini’s reach to Napoleon’s, but life went bad for the composer. He lost his pension, his protégé died, his gonorrhea worsened... more »