Arts Mar 28 Breaking down the major moments from the Academy Awards Ripple effects continued Monday after some unscripted drama at Sunday night’s Academy Awards ceremony, as actor Will Smith struck presenter Chris Rock on stage. But there are also many other highlights to explore. Jeffrey Brown reports for our arts and…
World Mar 17 Ukraine’s cultural sites under threat from Russia’s invasion The theater in Mariupol that was reduced to rubble when it was bombed by Russian forces Wednesday is just one example of the risk the war poses to Ukraine's important cultural sites. Memorials, museums and churches, all places that speak…
Poetry Mar 16 Poet Cornelius Eady on exploring the everyday lives of Black people in America The National Book Critics Circle is presenting the Black poetry group "Cave Canem” with the inaugural Toni Morrison Achievement Award, saying “no institution has played such a definitive role in shaping the poetry of the 21st century.” For our CANVAS…
Education Mar 10 Nationwide effort to ban books challenges freedom of speech Advocates are sounding the alarm about a set of measures that they say target teaching and writing related to LGBTQ issues, race and freedom of speech. Around the country, efforts to ban specific books or even whole categories of books…
Arts Feb 28 Ukraine’s blue and yellow colors ‘everywhere’ as the world demonstrates solidarity Artists, entertainers, performers and others around the world are finding ways to show their solidarity with Ukrainians during this time of crisis. The efforts range from singing to light displays to prayer and beyond. Jeffrey Brown has a look for…
Arts Feb 18 Yo-Yo Ma and Gabby Giffords perform ‘Sound of Silence’ to honor lives lost to gun violence NewsHour profiled former Rep. Gabby Giffords' journey to "retrain her brain" after she was shot in 2011. Part of her routine includes playing her childhood instrument, the French horn. That piece caught the eye of cellist Yo-Yo Ma, who then…
Arts Feb 09 Black scuba divers explore the wreckage of slave ships and the ‘untold American story’ Between the 16th and 19th centuries, millions of enslaved Africans were forcibly transported to the Americas across the Atlantic ocean on a voyage known as the “Middle Passage." One group is taking a literal deep dive into that history, in…
Arts Jan 31 ‘Being the Ricardos’ actor Javier Bardem on pushing for broader Hollywood representation Academy Award-winning actor Javier Bardem has never shied away from challenging roles, including in his latest film "Being the Ricardos." Jeffrey Brown spoke to him as part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS.
Arts Jan 24 Miami City Ballet tackles Swan Lake with a nod to history, special emphasis on acting As COVID-19 rages this winter, the Miami City Ballet continues to dance, preparing to perform “Swan Lake” in February, under the careful eye of celebrated choreographer Alexei Ratmansky. Jeffrey Brown spent a day with Ratmansky and dancers to see how…
Arts Jan 20 In ‘Don’t Look Up,’ director Adam McKay makes allegorical plea to follow climate science Climate change and comedy might not seem like a natural pairing, but a new film combines the two to create a parable about how our society is responding to the climate crisis. William Brangham recently spoke to Adam McKay, director…