Apparently Tom Hanks is a fan of vintage typewriters.
The Lure of the Corona
Make Way for Native Excellence
"It’s about what they call Native Excellence — and creating a path to it with its own expectations and standards, instead of relying on those established by white academia or publishing." BuzzFeed News wrote an in-depth feature on the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), which offers the US's first indigenous-centered MFA program, Terese Marie Mailhot (author of Heart Berries: A Memoir), and Tommy Orange (author of There There). Read our interview with Marcie Rendon about writing a representative novel for today's Native Americans.
Civic Duty
Claudia Rankine’s new book of poetry, Citizen, is getting a lot of attention in part due to its meditations on race in modern America. In the latest issue of BOMB, Lauren Berlant interviews the poet, asking her about micro-aggressions, Kara Walker and the implicit tone of the word “citizen.”
●
●
“An uncommonly precocious writer.”
Think back to your time as a 14-year-old. What were you doing with your time? Were you beating Norman Mailer in a national essay contest? A Guide for the Perplexed author Dara Horn was.
Vanishing Point, Vol. II: Songs of the Living and Dying
This week saw the release of Vanishing Point, Vol. II: Songs of the Living and Dying. You may recall my earlier mention of the Vanishing Point project, which was recently borne out of Duke University’s Center for Documentary Studies. This time around, the publication boasts a redesigned appearance, and it features articles and essays about midwifery in Mali, the intersections between poetry and cinema, and a view of Walden Pond that you’ve never seen before — all presented with accompany visual material, and all produced by university students. This is outstanding stuff, and it’s well worth your time.
●
●
The “No Cry Challenge” Is Impossible To Win
An intrepid (or sadistic?) YouTube user created a "No Cry Challenge" video playlist composed of nineteen videos that will surely punch you in the gut. These things are heavy and heart wrenching. I don't want to mislead you at all: they could very well ruin your entire week. The first one in the queue is especially devastating; I recommend doing it last. After you watch a couple, go outside and take a walk. Hug a family member, a pet or a friend. (via)
●
●
●
●
Will the Real Philip Roth Please Stand Up?
Breaking news: turns out Philip Roth doesn't actually have a Twitter account.
●
●