All Arts & Culture
In a Word鈥楽anctions鈥� and 鈥榝lywheels鈥� dominate the newsAthens applied sanctions to a rival city-state in 432 B.C., but the word聽acquired its current economic and political sense after World War I.
In a WordHow "envy" is different than "jealousy"One has Latin roots, the other Greek. Both are used interchangeably and, perhaps, incorrectly. But is it worth nitpicking?
First LookAfter gloomy Oscars, Grammys and Batiste shineSinger and bandleader Jon Batiste was the star of Sunday鈥檚 Grammy Awards, taking home five and giving lively performances from his album 鈥淲e Are.鈥� The upbeat, celebratory mood of the evening stood in stark contrast to the Oscars.
In a WordSchedulers stumble over what 鈥榥ext鈥� week meansThe word "next"聽is what linguists and philosophers call an "indexical" 鈥� a "linguistic expression whose reference can shift from context to context."
鈥楬appiness is love.鈥� Decades of research yield a timeless truth.A new book takes the idea of happiness beyond self-help, and offers simple ideas we can all explore for deeper meaning.
Kid in space: 鈥楢pollo 10陆鈥� is a fanciful take on youthBesides offering an entertaining trip back to 1969, the animated 鈥淎pollo 10陆: A Space Age Childhood鈥� prompts viewers to ponder how memories form and shape us.- Kid in space: 鈥楢pollo 10陆鈥� is a fanciful take on youthBesides offering an entertaining trip back to 1969, the animated 鈥淎pollo 10陆: A Space Age Childhood鈥� prompts viewers to ponder how memories form and shape us.
Broadway鈥檚 鈥楶aradise Square鈥� is enthralling spectacle of history鈥淧aradise Square,鈥� a new Broadway musical, tells the story of a moment of racial harmony in Civil War-era New York City, and how it was disrupted.聽聽
First Look鈥楥ODA鈥�, DeBose, Campion big winners on dramatic Oscars night鈥淐ODA,鈥� a feel-good movie about a deaf family, took best picture at the Academy Awards ceremony on Sunday. Ariana DeBose made history as the first Afro-Latina and openly LBGTQ actor to win supporting actress.聽Jane Campion became the聽third woman to win best director.
In a WordReaching into the past for words about RussiaA "revanchist聽Moscow," "Potemkin village" armed forces,聽Vladimir Putin鈥檚 violent "irredentism." The war in Ukraine is also a war of words.
鈥業nfinite Storm鈥�: How a mountain rescue became a filmJoshua Rollins, screenwriter for the new film 鈥淚nfinite Storm,鈥� discusses the humanity and humility behind the heroic actions of hiker Pam Bales.聽
鈥榃riting With Fire鈥�: Film captures resolve of female journalists in IndiaOscar-nominated documentary 鈥淲riting With Fire鈥� shows how a team of reporters overcomes caste and gender biases to bring light and justice to India.
Oscar is only a start: A world of best performances from the past yearAhead of the Oscars ceremony on Sunday, the Monitor鈥檚 film critic shares his choices for the performances that transported audiences in the past year.
In a WordWhat makes learning a new language hard?Unfamiliar grammar and writing systems throw curveballs to those of us used to the rules and contours of English, our language columnist writes.
In Pixar鈥檚 鈥楾urning Red,鈥� a panda and puberty steal the showThe latest Pixar film, 鈥淭urning Red,鈥� covers familiar ground in the exploration of identity, but also experiments with more directly addressing puberty.- In Pixar鈥檚 鈥楾urning Red,鈥� a panda and puberty steal the showThe latest Pixar film, 鈥淭urning Red,鈥� covers familiar ground in the exploration of identity, but also experiments with more directly addressing puberty.
In a WordWhat is the hardest language for English speakers?Access is important. Are there materials online, or do you have to raft down the Maici River in Brazil hoping someone will teach you Pirah茫?
First LookBest movies of 2021? British 'Oscars' offer a sneak preview.The聽British Academy Film Awards gave the best picture prize to the western 鈥淭he Power of the Dog." The sci-fi epic 鈥淒une鈥� won five awards.
First LookHow the Gilded Age launched America's architectural Renaissance聽鈥淭he Gilded Age,鈥� the new HBO series from Julian Fellowes, offers insight into a late 19th-century architectural movement in North America that聽gave New York City some of its most iconic monuments.
Time travel + Ryan Reynolds = Fairly fun 鈥楾he Adam Project鈥�鈥淭he Adam Project鈥� draws on its sci-fi predecessors and the charm of its leading man to take viewers on a mostly entertaining ride.聽
