May 06 Watch 5:04 A contemporary composer considers the musical legacy of Johannes Brahms By PBS News Hour Saturday will mark the 183rd birthday of the celebrated German composer and pianist Johannes Brahms. A complicated and utterly self-guarded man, Brahms liked to claim that his music didn’t flow from his heart, but the soulful and passionate nature of… Continue watching
May 05 Watch 6:41 Seeing Robert Mapplethorpe's idea of perfection in a new retrospective By PBS News Hour Artist Robert Mapplethorpe found himself at the center of the culture wars of the 1980s and ‘90s for his best-known work, homoerotic and often explicit photographs that drew the ire of federal lawmakers. Now two major Los Angeles museums have… Continue watching
May 05 Watch 2:45 She's 91 but she feels 15. Here's her secret By PBS News Hour Flossie Lewis says she’s 91 years old and badly crippled. But just because her body is starting to go doesn’t mean her personality or character should. Taking walks, watching politics and writing a little bit of light verse help keep… Continue watching
May 04 Watch 7:39 You don't have to search for James Brown's musical influence By PBS News Hour “Kill ‘Em and Leave” -- that was James Brown’s philosophy on stage, and it’s also the title of a new biography. Author James McBride joins Jeffrey Brown to discuss the godfather of soul’s inner life and his under-appreciated influence on… Continue watching
May 03 Watch 5:32 Vietnamese American poet contemplates his personal ties to the war By Anne Azzi Davenport In “Night Sky With Exit Wounds,” poet Ocean Vuong pays tribute to the oral tradition of his family and his personal connection to the Vietnam War. Continue watching
May 03 War and sexuality overlap in Egyptian-American playwright's work By Laila Kazmi, KCTS Weaving themes of war, betrayal and sexuality, Yussef El Guindi's latest play addresses the current atmosphere of mutual distrust between America and Arab countries. Continue reading
May 03 'Hamilton' sets record for most Tony nominations ever By Corinne Segal Hamilton has continued its banner year with 16 Tony nominations, the most ever given to a single production in the awards' 70-year history. Continue reading
May 02 How poetry helps us understand mental illness By Corinne Segal Poet Shira Erlichman writes about her relationship to Lithium to treat mental illness. Continue reading
May 02 There's more to Janis Joplin than tragedy By Joshua Barajas Amy Berg’s documentary complicates the public memory of Joplin as a cautionary tale of rock and roll excess. Continue reading
May 01 WATCH: Obama drops the mic at final White House Correspondents' Dinner By Michael D. Regan and Douglass K. Daniel, Associated Press President Barack Obama performed his brand of sharp-tongued comedy at the White House Correspondents' Dinner for the last time - wrapping up with "Obama out" and dropping the mic while the crowd cheered. Continue reading