This weekend on the Dish, we stepped away from politics to share the cultural coverage that fascinated us the most. In matters of religion and philosophy, Cass Sunstein reviewed the doubt-driven thought of Albert O. Hirschman, Ollie Cussen praised Anthony Pagden’s new history of the Enlightenment, Daniel Dennett offered a tip for assessing arguments, and a new study suggested that people who often talk in terms of “I” and “me” tend to be more depressed. Giles Fraser found that being a burden can be beautiful, Rod Dreher noted how you can find meaning in unexpected places, and John Waters talked about how nuns inadvertently inspired him. Christopher Brittain revealed which churches are growing the fastest, Julian Baggini described Kierkegaard’s leap of faith, and Dan Siedell connected his fascination with modern art to his religious life.
In literary coverage, Maria Popova cataloged the writing advice of famous authors, Alexander Aciman grappled with translating Proust, William Faulkner proved better on the page than the screen, and Orwell led the way for modern war correspondents. Keith Gandal deciphered one of The Great Gatsby‘s mysteries, S. Hope Mills mused on the meaning of not finishing books, Tom Shone defended sentimentality in film, and Jess Nevins found the source of H.P. Lovecraft’s longevity. William S. Burroughs also lived the chemical life, Words Without Borders featured a poet crushed by propaganda, L.E. Sissman compared writing poetry and writing ad copy, and Alex Dimitrov discovered poetic inspiration in using Grindr. We featured the work of poet Killarney Clary here and here.
In assorted news and view, Buddy Bradley marveled at a FILMography project, Doctor Science considered NC-17 rating from the perspective of a fanfiction reader, and Tom McCormack recalled the novel equipment used to film Vertigo. David Banks rooted the ethos of the Internet in the Cold War’s rivalry, Emily Witt embedded with a pornography shoot, and Amy Fleming offered a rundown of menu mindgames. Graeme Wood detailed the disturbing policy that the nation of Georgia used to tackle its prescription drug problem, Brain Pickings highlighted the history of the modern coffee industry, and Tim Fernholz looked to California’s manicure industry to understand the benefits of low-skilled immigrants. Hathos alert here, MHBs here and here, FOTDs here and here, VFYWs here and here, and the latest window contest here.
– M.S.
(Photo: Annie Hall, 1977, and FILMography by Christopher Moloney)
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