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 Wed, 22 May 2013 12:37:00 -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 China's Artist Provocateur Explores New Medium: Heavy Metal In 2011, police detained Ai Weiwei for 81 days. Now, he's released a song that's turned the experience into a heavy metal protest song, along with a dystopian nightmare video. The lyrics are explicit and angry. Ai says his music is for the many political prisoners who remain jailed. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/22/186008930/chinas-artist-provocateur-explores-new-medium-heavy-metal?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/22/186008930/chinas-artist-provocateur-explores-new-medium-heavy-metal?ft=1&f=1008 In 2011, police detained Ai Weiwei for 81 days. Now, he's released a song that's turned the experience into a heavy metal protest song, along with a dystopian nightmare video. The lyrics are explicit and angry. Ai says his music is for the many political prisoners who remain jailed.

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]]> Cannes Diary: Delusions Of 'Gatsby' (And Dreams Of Notoriety) All is Gatsbyish excess on the Croisette, where the Cannes Film Festival's early tone might well have been set by Baz Luhrmann's lavish film — and by Sofia Coppola's accomplished <em>The Bling Ring.</em> Wed, 22 May 2013 13:47:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/22/186023186/cannes-diary-delusions-of-gatsby-and-of-notoriety?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/22/186023186/cannes-diary-delusions-of-gatsby-and-of-notoriety?ft=1&f=1008 All is Gatsbyish excess on the Croisette, where the Cannes Film Festival's early tone might well have been set by Baz Luhrmann's lavish film — and by Sofia Coppola's accomplished The Bling Ring.

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]]> Styling The NBA Basketball star Carmelo Anthony is known off the court for his signature fashion flare. Host Michel Martin speaks with his stylist, Khalilah Williams-Webb, about what goes into dressing Anthony and other high-profile clients. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186023464&ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=186023464&ft=1&f=1008 Basketball star Carmelo Anthony is known off the court for his signature fashion flare. Host Michel Martin speaks with his stylist, Khalilah Williams-Webb, about what goes into dressing Anthony and other high-profile clients.

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]]> Tattoos Still Taboo? America has a love/hate relationship with tattoos, but body ink is becoming more and more mainstream. Host Michel Martin speaks with Fatty, the owner of Fatty's Custom Tattooz in Washington, D.C, about America's fascination with tattoos, and the fading cultural taboos. Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186023466/tattoos-still-taboo?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/186023466/tattoos-still-taboo?ft=1&f=1008 America has a love/hate relationship with tattoos, but body ink is becoming more and more mainstream. Host Michel Martin speaks with Fatty, the owner of Fatty's Custom Tattooz in Washington, D.C, about America's fascination with tattoos, and the fading cultural taboos.

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]]> Fictional 'Mothers' Reveal Facts Of A Painful Adoption Process After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:08:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/184264231/fictional-mothers-reveal-facts-of-a-painful-adoption-process?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/184264231/fictional-mothers-reveal-facts-of-a-painful-adoption-process?ft=1&f=1008 After years trying to conceive, novelist Jennifer Gilmore and her husband decided to adopt. What they thought would be a relatively simple process was instead a long and painful one. In her latest novel, Gilmore channels these autobiographical experiences into fiction.

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]]> Book News: Newly Found Pearl Buck Novel To Be Published This Fall Also: shameless book blurbs; new plays from Ayad Ahktar; and a first edition of <em>Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone</em> draws a record price at auction. Wed, 22 May 2013 07:29:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/185964416/book-news-newly-found-pearl-buck-novel-to-be-published-this-fall?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/22/185964416/book-news-newly-found-pearl-buck-novel-to-be-published-this-fall?ft=1&f=1008 Also: shameless book blurbs; new plays from Ayad Ahktar; and a first edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone draws a record price at auction.

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]]> A Different Kind Of Immigrant Experience In 'Americanah' Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest, <em>Americanah, </em>follows the trials and tribulations of Ifemelu, a middle-class Nigerian immigrant to America. Reviewer Jennifer Reese calls <em>Americanah</em> a "rich and gloriously detailed tapestry ... hung on the sturdy scaffolding of a sweet love story." Wed, 22 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183997348/a-different-kind-of-immigrant-experience-in-americanah?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183997348/a-different-kind-of-immigrant-experience-in-americanah?ft=1&f=1008 Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest, Americanah, follows the trials and tribulations of Ifemelu, a middle-class Nigerian immigrant to America. Reviewer Jennifer Reese calls Americanah a "rich and gloriously detailed tapestry ... hung on the sturdy scaffolding of a sweet love story."

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]]> Real Butterscotch: The Beauty Of Sugar And Dairy Transformed When a few humble elements are combined in perfect balance, butterscotch is born. And food writer Deena Prichep says she turns this childhood favorite into a dinner-party star with counterpoints like flaky salt or crunchy nuts. Wed, 22 May 2013 05:23:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183933860/real-butterscotch-the-beauty-of-sugar-and-dairy-transformed?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/22/183933860/real-butterscotch-the-beauty-of-sugar-and-dairy-transformed?ft=1&f=1008 When a few humble elements are combined in perfect balance, butterscotch is born. And food writer Deena Prichep says she turns this childhood favorite into a dinner-party star with counterpoints like flaky salt or crunchy nuts.

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]]> 'Arrested Development' Leads The Charge For Old Brands In New Media Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media. Tue, 21 May 2013 15:37:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185783915/arrested-development-leads-the-charge-for-old-brands-in-new-media?ft=1&f=1008 Brands that found their original audiences in traditional, old-media platforms are finding ways to keep going in the world of new media.

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]]> China Builds Museums, But Filling Them Is Another Story China has been building museums with abandon, opening about 100 annually in recent years. Two of the biggest opened on the same day last fall on opposite banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. But filling these museums — with both art and visitors — is proving more challenging. Tue, 21 May 2013 13:58:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/21/185776432/china-builds-museums-but-will-the-visitors-come?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/05/21/185776432/china-builds-museums-but-will-the-visitors-come?ft=1&f=1008 China has been building museums with abandon, opening about 100 annually in recent years. Two of the biggest opened on the same day last fall on opposite banks of Shanghai's Huangpu River. But filling these museums — with both art and visitors — is proving more challenging.

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]]> The Art And Science Of Motivation Graduation season is upon us and that means a slew of uplifting commencement speeches trying to motivate young adults to greatness. Science and experience tell us that everyone is motivated differently, so how do speakers, coaches and business managers inspire people? Tue, 21 May 2013 13:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185809739/the-art-and-science-of-motivation?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/185809739/the-art-and-science-of-motivation?ft=1&f=1008 Graduation season is upon us and that means a slew of uplifting commencement speeches trying to motivate young adults to greatness. Science and experience tell us that everyone is motivated differently, so how do speakers, coaches and business managers inspire people?

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]]> The Starfleet Divide: The 'Star Trek' Universe Revisits One Of Its Great Debates J.J. Abrams isn't the first guy to bait <em>Star Trek</em> fans by messing with the brand. Tue, 21 May 2013 11:22:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185774613/the-starfleet-divide-the-star-trek-universe-revisits-one-of-its-great-debates?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2013/05/21/185774613/the-starfleet-divide-the-star-trek-universe-revisits-one-of-its-great-debates?ft=1&f=1008 J.J. Abrams isn't the first guy to bait Star Trek fans by messing with the brand.

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]]> Soderbergh's Liberace, 'Behind The Candelabra' In his new HBO film, the acclaimed director examines the five-year relationship between the flamboyant entertainer and Scott Thorson, who was 40 years Liberace's junior and still a teenager when they met. Michael Douglas plays Liberace and Matt Damon plays Thorson. Tue, 21 May 2013 12:42:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/180640022/soderberghs-liberace-behind-the-candelabra?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/180640022/soderberghs-liberace-behind-the-candelabra?ft=1&f=1008 In his new HBO film, the acclaimed director examines the five-year relationship between the flamboyant entertainer and Scott Thorson, who was 40 years Liberace's junior and still a teenager when they met. Michael Douglas plays Liberace and Matt Damon plays Thorson.

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]]> Book News: Stephen King's New Bogeyman? Digital Publishing Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:15:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185717055/book-news-stephen-kings-new-bogeyman-digital-publishing?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/05/21/185717055/book-news-stephen-kings-new-bogeyman-digital-publishing?ft=1&f=1008 Also: the legacy of Kierkegaard; the creator of Lyle Crocodile has died; Aussie airliner Qantas commissions flight-length books.

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]]> American Voices On 'The Unwinding' Of America's Values George Packer's <em>The Unwinding </em>explores the social and economic upheavals that have transformed the U.S. over the past 30 years. In a nuanced work of literary journalism, colorful characters from across the class divide tell their own stories of a social contract in tatters. Tue, 21 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184183771/american-voices-on-the-unwinding-of-americas-values?ft=1&f=1008 http://www.npr.org/2013/05/21/184183771/american-voices-on-the-unwinding-of-americas-values?ft=1&f=1008 George Packer's The Unwinding explores the social and economic upheavals that have transformed the U.S. over the past 30 years. In a nuanced work of literary journalism, colorful characters from across the class divide tell their own stories of a social contract in tatters.

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