Archive
More than thirty-five years of First Things articles at your fingertips
Articles
Disney Adulting (ft. Veronica Clarke)
In this episode, Veronica Clarke joins Germán and Virginia (who are subbing in for R. R. Reno) on The Editor’s Desk to talk about her recent review, “A Whole...
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Celebrates Elitism
There is a scene in The Devil Wears Prada 2 in which Miranda Priestly, the eminent editor of Runway magazine, is forced to fly economy because of budget cuts...
Conservative Culture Isn’t Real (ft. Dave Greene)
In this episode, essayist and YouTuber Dave Greene joins Virginia and Germán to discuss “conservative art.” Can it be made at all? They also discuss the death of discourse,...
Timothée Chalamet Is Right About Art (ft. Suzy Weiss)
In this episode, co-founder and reporter for the Free Press, Suzy Weiss, joins Virginia and Germán to discuss the most recent battle between artistic merit and popularity, brought about...
Dimes Square: An Oral History (ft. Nick Allen)
In this episode, Sovereign House and Reign founder Nick Allen joins Virginia and Germán to discuss Dimes Square, the New York City downtown cultural scene. What is its history?...
How Bad Bunny Mogged George Bush
On Sunday night, Americans had two options for the Super Bowl halftime show. The official NFL show was headlined by Puerto Rican artist Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio (aka Bad...
The Fanfiction Reckoning (ft. Veronica Clarke)
First Things is proud to introduce a new podcast series. Secret Third Thing is a show about contemporary culture. First Things editors Virginia Aabram and Germán S. Díaz del...
A Eulogy for Bullfighting
Growing up, I had always felt that I was “too sensitive” for bullfighting, and thus opposed it. I nevertheless visited La Plaza México—the world’s largest bullfighting arena—for the opening...
The God of Wes Anderson
The God of Francis Thompson is a stubborn God. In his seminal poem “The Hound of Heaven,” a soul is on the run from God: “I fled Him, down...
The Gospel Cinematic Universe
As I walked through Times Square and Jesus stared down at me from a giant illuminated billboard, I couldn’t help thinking of Marshall McLuhan. The Catholic father of media...
A Guide to the Oscars
Who even watches the Oscars?” said First Things editor R. R. Reno when I proposed to write this article. Around twenty million people, it turns out. Although it’s true...
Seeing Sacred Scripture
Is there a visual language to Sacred Scripture? Some passages of the Bible have become inextricably entwined with certain visual representations. Who can read of Saul’s encounter with Christ...
Make Villains Wicked Again
In recent years, Hollywood has produced movies that cast once irredeemable villains, such as Maleficent, Cruella de Vil, and the Joker, in a sympathetic light. The 2003 Broadway musical...
