The disease of theory:
“Crime & Punishment” at 150
by Gary Saul Morson
On theory’s deleterious effects in Crime and Punishment.
Features
The disease of theory:
The French non-resistance
by Dominic Green
On Islamism and the decline of French identity.
The doctor who cured the Opéra
by James F. Penrose
On the now-forgotten Louis-Désiré Véron.
All that’s Gehrish
by Bruce Cole
On Paul Goldberger’s new biography of Frank Gehry.
Poems
Most popular
Letters from the World
Island time
by Richard Tillinghast
On the charms of Hawaiian life.
Theater
Women on the verge
by Kyle Smith
On “Bright Star,” at the Cort Theatre; “She Loves Me,” at Studio 54; and “The Crucible,” at the Walter Kerr Theatre.
Art
Van Dyck portraits at the Frick
by Marco Grassi
On a new show of the Dutch master at the Frick.
America’s modern art
by Karen Wilkin
On William Agee’s Modern Art in America: 1908–1968.
Exhibition note
by Mario Naves
On “Vigée Le Brun: Woman Artist in Revolutionary France” at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, February 15–May 15, 2016.
Exhibition note
by Christie Davies
On “Russia and the Arts: The Age of Tolstoy and Tchaikovsky” at the National Portrait Gallery, London, March 17–June 26, 2016.
Exhibition note
by Eric Gibson
On “Kamakura: Realism & Spirituality in the Sculpture of Japan” at the Asia Society, New York, February 9–May 8, 2016.
Gallery chronicle
by James Panero
On “Amy Lincoln” at Morgan Lehman Gallery; “Paul Resika: Recent Paintings” at Lori Bookstein Fine Art; “Rob de Oude: Tilts & Pinwheels” at DM Contemporary; and “Thornton Willis: Step Up” at Elizabeth Harris Gallery.
Music
New York chronicle
by Jay Nordlinger
On Karawane, with the New York Philharmonic; Joshua Bell at Lincoln Center; Don Pasqualeat the Metropolitan Opera; Steven Hough at 92Y; and Timo Andres and Gabriel Kahane at Carnegie Hall.
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The media
Scandals & experts
by James Bowman
On the media’s need for scandal.
Notes & Comments
Safe from “safe spaces”
by The Editors
On the rare good sense of a college administrator.