MEMETERIA by Thomas May

Arts & Culture Stories from NPR

• 20 Years Later, 'Boys Don't Cry' Still Inspires Admiration And Debate
  The tiny independent film became a critical and box office hit by introducing mainstream audiences to a transgender hero. It fictionalized the true story of the brutal murder of Brandon Teena.
• Despite Helen Mirren's Star Turn, 'Catherine The Great' Is Just OK
  HBO's new series has plenty of court intrigue, scandals and betrayals, but the script amounts to little more than a historical greatest hits, bouncing from well-known event to event.
• New Janis Joplin Biography Reveals The Hard Work Behind The Heart
  Onstage, Joplin oozed confidence, sexuality and exuberance, but biographer Holly George-Warren describes the singer as a bookworm who worked hard to create her "blues feelin' mama" musical persona.
• 3 Fresh New Romances For October
  As the October days shorten, it's a good time to curl up with a romance novel — this month, we're featuring stories about people who defy traditional expectations to find their happy-ever-afters.
• In 'The Less People Know About Us' A Mysterious Identity Theft Hits Close To Home
  Axton Betz-Hamilton was 12 when her family's mail began disappearing. Her memoir details what follows and, when she discovers the culprit, the painful process of collecting the pieces of her past.
• Remembering Ballet Dancer Alicia Alonso
  Alicia Alonso, one of the finest ballet dancers of the 20th century, died Thursday in Havana. The dancer helped start the American Ballet Theatre, then built the Cuban state ballet program.
• The Future And Past Of Barneys
  NPR's Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaks with New York Times Chief Fashion Critic Vanessa Friedman about the closure of Barneys stores.
• Sculptor Mark Di Suvero Creates Joy Out Of Steel
  Suvero's acclaimed sculptures are in public spaces all over the world and in the collections of major museums. The sculptor recently installed his largest work at the Storm King Arts Center.
• 'Tis In Season: A Harvest Of New VeggieTales, In Time For Christmas
  Hugely popular in the 1990s, the computer-animated Christian series — featuring Bob the Tomato and Larry the Cucumber retelling Bible stories — has been rebooted on Trinity Broadcasting Network.
• 'Curious Toys' Gets Itself Into Unnecessary Trouble
  Elizabeth Hand's new historical thriller has a compelling main character and vivid, carefully drawn settings — but its treatment of the story's murderous villain leaves an unpleasant aftertaste.