Back Story
Our column on arts and culture distinguishes the back story from the foreground; the ephemera from what matters, and might last
Culture
Ovation inflation has spread from Broadway to London’s West End
Why do dud plays get standing ovations?
Culture
“Babygirl” and the trouble with equality
In Nicole Kidman’s new film, a female CEO has an affair with an intern. Boo or bravo?
Culture
Gifts for friends and enemies: a fictional guide
From the “Iliad” to “Succession”, storytelling can help with your Christmas shopping
Culture
In “Anora”, strippers and Russian heavies are not what you expect
Many stories rely on character types. The best reimagine them
Culture
What the row over Ta-Nehisi Coates’s book reveals about free speech
The deep message of “The Message” is about narrow-mindedness, not Israel
Culture
Is TV’s next sure-fire hit, “Disclaimer”, a must-watch or a dud?
The glitzy new thriller is both
Culture
Roald Dahl was a genius—and a shocking bigot
No magic potion or friendly giant can resolve this tension, as a new play shows
Culture
Sally Rooney shows how to escape the trap of success
In “Intermezzo” the Irish author is artfully growing up
Culture
“The Perfect Couple” and the new map of Moneyland
Depictions of the super-rich on screen reflect the times
Culture
Twenty-five years on, “Fight Club” punches harder than ever
Actually, the first rule of the cult film is that people never stop talking about it
Culture
On some holidays, beauty and bloodshed are entwined
In grand old cities like Verona, your gelato comes with a moral education
Culture
The drama of election night: a critical guide
In a bumper year for voting, elections are the top-billing show
Culture
What a row over sponsorship reveals about art and Mammon
It betrays childish misconceptions about money, morality and power
Culture
Jürgen Klopp’s masterclass in how to win—and lose
Two gestures capture the Liverpool manager’s method: the fist pump and the hug
Culture
The trial of Donald Trump, considered as courtroom drama
Sensational witnesses, high stakes—it has the classic elements. Sort of