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 2013 NPR - For Personal Use Only NPR API RSS Generator 0.94 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:04:00 -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 Teens Find The Right Tools For Their Social-Media Jobs There was a time — a time long, long ago — when MySpace dominated the teen social-media world. Not anymore. NPR's Sami Yenigun looks at how teenagers use various social platforms in today's increasingly segmented online universe. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:04:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192718821/teens-find-the-right-tools-for-their-social-media-jobs?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192718821/teens-find-the-right-tools-for-their-social-media-jobs?ft=1&f=1008 There was a time — a time long, long ago — when MySpace dominated the teen social-media world. Not anymore. NPR's Sami Yenigun looks at how teenagers use various social platforms in today's increasingly segmented online universe.

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]]> Digital Scrapbook Collects Rock-Star Authors' Memories If any story screams out for a multimedia e-book treatment, it's the tale of The Rock Bottom Remainders, a small band of best-selling authors — including Amy Tan, Dave Barry and Stephen King — who yowled out rock standards. <em>Hard Listening</em><em> </em>is a digital scrapbook about their years as musicians. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:41:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/17/191288040/digital-scrapbook-collects-rock-star-authors-memories?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2013/06/17/191288040/digital-scrapbook-collects-rock-star-authors-memories?ft=1&f=1008 If any story screams out for a multimedia e-book treatment, it's the tale of The Rock Bottom Remainders, a small band of best-selling authors — including Amy Tan, Dave Barry and Stephen King — who yowled out rock standards. Hard Listening is a digital scrapbook about their years as musicians.

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]]> A Deceptively Simple Tale Of Magic And Peril In 'Ocean' Neil Gaiman's latest, <em>The Ocean at the End of the Lane</em>, is the story of an artist who returns to his childhood home and recalls a magical struggle he was involved in as a young boy. Reviewer Annalee Newitz says the book balances "frenetic action with wistful self-knowledge." Mon, 17 Jun 2013 14:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191346480/a-deceptively-simple-tale-of-magic-and-peril-in-ocean?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191346480/a-deceptively-simple-tale-of-magic-and-peril-in-ocean?ft=1&f=1008 Neil Gaiman's latest, The Ocean at the End of the Lane, is the story of an artist who returns to his childhood home and recalls a magical struggle he was involved in as a young boy. Reviewer Annalee Newitz says the book balances "frenetic action with wistful self-knowledge."

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]]> Sandwich Monday: The Wendy's T-Rex Burger (R.I.P.) For this week's Sandwich Monday, we try "The T-Rex Burger," a nine-patty monster that, until this week, had been on the menu of a renegade Canadian Wendy's franchise. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:55:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/17/192702863/sandwich-monday-the-wendys-t-rex-burger-r-i-p?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/17/192702863/sandwich-monday-the-wendys-t-rex-burger-r-i-p?ft=1&f=1008 For this week's Sandwich Monday, we try "The T-Rex Burger," a nine-patty monster that, until this week, had been on the menu of a renegade Canadian Wendy's franchise.

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]]> Spoken Dish Asks Southerners: What Is Your Food Identity? Food can reveal a lot about a person's history and values. A video history project is collecting the public's food memories — from grandma's cornbread to the favorite restaurants of civil rights giants — as a way to document the rituals of a changing South. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:44:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/17/192675809/spoken-dish-asks-southerners-what-is-your-food-identity?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/06/17/192675809/spoken-dish-asks-southerners-what-is-your-food-identity?ft=1&f=1008 Food can reveal a lot about a person's history and values. A video history project is collecting the public's food memories — from grandma's cornbread to the favorite restaurants of civil rights giants — as a way to document the rituals of a changing South.

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]]> In Slight Defense Of Miss Utah USA, A Little Bit, With Reservations What do you expect when you ask a terrible question in a ridiculous setting? Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:36:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192693012/in-slight-defense-of-miss-utah-usa-a-little-bit-with-reservations?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192693012/in-slight-defense-of-miss-utah-usa-a-little-bit-with-reservations?ft=1&f=1008 What do you expect when you ask a terrible question in a ridiculous setting?

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]]> WWII 'Deserters': Stories Of Men Who Left The Front Lines In his new book, journalist Charles Glass explores the little-known history of thousands of American and British soldiers who deserted during World War II. Glass describes how the strain of war can push a soldier to the breaking point — and how the line between courage and cowardice is never simple. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/189275754/wwii-deserters-stories-of-men-who-left-the-front-lines?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/189275754/wwii-deserters-stories-of-men-who-left-the-front-lines?ft=1&f=1008 In his new book, journalist Charles Glass explores the little-known history of thousands of American and British soldiers who deserted during World War II. Glass describes how the strain of war can push a soldier to the breaking point — and how the line between courage and cowardice is never simple.

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]]> In 'TransAtlantic,' The Flight Is Almost Too Smooth Colum McCann won the National Book Award for his 2009 novel, <em>Let the Great World Spin</em>, about a high-wire artist. Critic Maureen Corrigan says McCann's new novel, <em>TransAtlantic</em>, also has its head in the clouds. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 13:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191334200/in-transatlantic-the-flight-is-almost-too-smooth?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191334200/in-transatlantic-the-flight-is-almost-too-smooth?ft=1&f=1008 Colum McCann won the National Book Award for his 2009 novel, Let the Great World Spin, about a high-wire artist. Critic Maureen Corrigan says McCann's new novel, TransAtlantic, also has its head in the clouds.

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]]> Book News: 'Tweet,' 'Geekery' Make The Oxford English Dictionary Also: Judy Blume gets her own holiday; Michael Chabon considers the superhero costume; the best books coming out this week. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:31:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/17/192619687/book-news-tweet-geekery-make-the-oxford-english-dictionary?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/17/192619687/book-news-tweet-geekery-make-the-oxford-english-dictionary?ft=1&f=1008 Also: Judy Blume gets her own holiday; Michael Chabon considers the superhero costume; the best books coming out this week.

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]]> June 17-23: 1980s Edinburgh, 1590s Venice And A Study Of Dishonesty In softcover fiction, Irvine Welsh gives us a prequel to <em>Trainspotting, </em>and Regina O'Melveny tells the story of a 16th-century Renaissance woman. In nonfiction, Dan Ariely discovers what keeps us dishonest. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191304192/june-17-23-1980s-edinburgh-1590s-venice-and-a-study-of-dishonesty?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191304192/june-17-23-1980s-edinburgh-1590s-venice-and-a-study-of-dishonesty?ft=1&f=1008 In softcover fiction, Irvine Welsh gives us a prequel to Trainspotting, and Regina O'Melveny tells the story of a 16th-century Renaissance woman. In nonfiction, Dan Ariely discovers what keeps us dishonest.

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]]> In Neville's Thrillers, Belfast's Violent Past Still Burns The capital of Northern Ireland is no longer the city of snipers that it was before the Good Friday Agreement, but novelist Stuart Neville still draws inspiration from the decades of violence. In <em>The Ghosts of Belfast,</em> he examines the shattered life of an IRA killer in the aftermath of The Troubles. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:57:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191318613/in-nevilles-thrillers-belfasts-violent-past-still-burns?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191318613/in-nevilles-thrillers-belfasts-violent-past-still-burns?ft=1&f=1008 The capital of Northern Ireland is no longer the city of snipers that it was before the Good Friday Agreement, but novelist Stuart Neville still draws inspiration from the decades of violence. In The Ghosts of Belfast, he examines the shattered life of an IRA killer in the aftermath of The Troubles.

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]]> This Blumesday Celebrates Judy, Not Joyce Loyal fans of young adult novelist Judy Blume have riffed on Bloomsday — a celebration of James Joyce's <em>Ulysses — </em>and created Blumesday to honor the author of <em>Are You There God? It's Me Margaret,</em> <em></em><em>Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing</em> and <em>Blubber.</em> Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:56:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191651560/this-blumesday-celebrates-judy-not-joyce?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/17/191651560/this-blumesday-celebrates-judy-not-joyce?ft=1&f=1008 Loyal fans of young adult novelist Judy Blume have riffed on Bloomsday — a celebration of James Joyce's Ulysses — and created Blumesday to honor the author of Are You There God? It's Me Margaret, Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing and Blubber.

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]]> An 'Adventure' For Kids And Maybe For Their Parents, Too <em>Adventure Time</em> isn't your typical cartoon, but it's capturing an audience of kids and adults who believe it's getting at something special. Mon, 17 Jun 2013 02:54:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192385255/an-adventure-for-kids-and-maybe-for-their-parents-too?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/06/17/192385255/an-adventure-for-kids-and-maybe-for-their-parents-too?ft=1&f=1008 Adventure Time isn't your typical cartoon, but it's capturing an audience of kids and adults who believe it's getting at something special.

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]]> A Posthumous Tribute To Guns From A Sniper Shot To Death Considered by many to be the most deadly sniper in American military history, Chris Kyle was killed on a Texas gun range in February. He was an outspoken advocate for both veterans and gun rights, and his book, <em>American Gun</em>, has just been published. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 16:27:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191638791/a-posthumous-tribute-to-guns-from-a-sniper-shot-to-death?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191638791/a-posthumous-tribute-to-guns-from-a-sniper-shot-to-death?ft=1&f=1008 Considered by many to be the most deadly sniper in American military history, Chris Kyle was killed on a Texas gun range in February. He was an outspoken advocate for both veterans and gun rights, and his book, American Gun, has just been published.

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]]> Dr. Brazelton On Guiding Parents And Learning To Listen Dr. T. Berry Brazelton has been studying babies for the better part of the last century. Now 95 years old, the renowned pediatrician is the author of more than 30 books on child development. He talks about his latest book, and how babies themselves can teach us how to be better parents. Sun, 16 Jun 2013 15:53:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191695052/dr-brazelton-on-guiding-parents-and-learning-to-listen?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/06/16/191695052/dr-brazelton-on-guiding-parents-and-learning-to-listen?ft=1&f=1008 Dr. T. Berry Brazelton has been studying babies for the better part of the last century. Now 95 years old, the renowned pediatrician is the author of more than 30 books on child development. He talks about his latest book, and how babies themselves can teach us how to be better parents.

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