Arts News

Food Documentary Debate Misses Mainstream Farmers
Food Inc., a documentary film about the modern agricultural industry, is a hit with big-city movie reviewers, small organic farmers and vegetarians. The movie argues that large-scale agriculture produces inexpensive meat and vegetables, but imposes high costs on the environment and Americans' health. But ordinary farmers — the people who grow the lion's share of what America eats — have largely been left out of the mainstream media debate over Food Inc. Frank Morris, of member station KCUR in Kansas City, drove out to hear what farmers are saying.
Artists Make Money By Forgoing Traditional Galleries
It isn't easy to make money as an artist these days, but three crafty New Yorkers are managing to sell their work — and make a living — outside the traditional gallery system.
Different Year, Same 'Marienbad'
When it came out in 1961, Alain Resnais' Last Year at Marienbad perplexed and excited audiences with its surrealistic storytelling. John Powers has a review of the film's Criterion Collection re-release.
For Sale: Your Michael Jackson Memorabilia
Since Michael Jackson died last week, his trading cards, old albums and autographs are selling for huge amounts of money. A letter Michael Jackson wrote to an unknown "Greg" sold for $20,000, and an album signed by all of the Jackson 5 sold for $27,000.
Chat While Reading: The Future Of Books?
BookGlutton.com, a new interactive site, allows readers to chat while reading. Could this mark the beginning of a change in how we read books?
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough Michael Jackson
It's been a week since Michael Jackson's death at 50 stunned the world. But seven days after the King of Pop stepped off stage and left us behind, it's clear we just can't seem to get enough of him.
Oscar Winner Karl Malden Dies At 97
The powerful, sensitive character actor with the twice-broken nose had stirring roles on the big screen — notably A Streetcar Named Desire — and was a hit on TV in The Streets of San Francisco. He later served as a pitchman for American Express.
Battle Likely Over Jackson Will
Pop icon Michael Jackson's will filed Wednesday in a Los Angeles court gave his estate to the Michael Jackson Family Trust. Who controls that trust is sure to be a huge legal battle. Stevenson Jacobs, a business writer for The Associated Press, offers his insight.
From 'Ice Age' - 'Floppy Green Thing'
Sweet, silly and solid enough to entertain most anybody, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs insists that even carnivorous reptiles can learn a little something from the cooperative approach.
Loud Family Paved Way For Reality TV
In the early 1970s, a documentary called An American Family followed the lives of Bill and Pat Loud and their five children. The filmmakers, Susan and Alan Raymond, talk about how the PBS series paved the way for what we now call reality TV.
From 'Public Enemies' - 'Goodbye Mr. Dillinger'
This lush, good-looking crime flick doesn't really have a theme, and it never quite sparks to life. But it's got lots of incidental pleasures — Johnny Depp's spirited performance chief among them.
From 'Dead Snow' - 'Amputation'
Zombies, long a horror-movie staple, are taking bigger bites out of pop culture, infecting books, banking, even our vocabulary. Beth Accomando surveys a genre trope that refuses to die.
From 'Public Enemies' - 'Goodbye Mr. Dillinger'
Centered on a fatalistic portrait of a great American outlaw, Michael Mann's slick, authentic-looking drama is simultaneously an art film and a crime saga — one dazzling enough to keep the Dillinger legend alive for years.
Love Words With Staying Power?
In May, we marked the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's sonnets by asking NPR listeners and readers to write in with modern love poems or songs that they think will be remembered 400 years from now. Here are a few of those suggestions.
Director Seeks To Capture Life In Modern Tibet
Pema Tseden is the first director in China ever to film movies entirely in the Tibetan language. His latest film, The Search, won the Grand Jury Prize at Shanghai's recent International Film Festival. He says Tibet has always been depicted by outsiders who pander to their own imagination.