Yahoo News The Atlantic ’s Week in Culture
Don’t Miss
Little House and the Art of Hiding Your Feelings — Emily Anderson on how Laura Ingalls Wilder’s popular book series championed emotional restraint, an approach she’s come to both question and appreciate in adulthood.
Film
On the Abysmal, Excruciating Independence Day: Resurgence — David Sims on how Roland Emmerich’s sequel to his monumental 1996 disaster movie is a lifeless, low-stakes embarrassment to the genre.
The Shallows Is Torture Porn, With a Shark — Megan Garber on how the Blake Lively vehicle, the harrowing tale of a surfer stalked by an angry cartilaginous fish, jumps the … yeah.
The Last of the Great Escapist Blockbusters — Megan Garber on how Roland Emmerich’s 1996 alien invasion fantasy Independence Day’s supreme silliness was precisely what made it awesome.
Serena Is a Compelling Portrait of Greatness — Sophie Gilbert on how a new Epix documentary captures the public face and the private reality of being one of the best athletes of all time.
Recommended: 'The Shallows' Is Torture Porn, With a Shark
The Promise of an Actually Fun Justice League — David Sims on how the director Zack Snyder is making changes to his next superhero film after the overwhelmingly negative reaction to Batman v Superman.
Beautiful Thing Is a Masterpiece of Gay Storytelling — Brandon Tensley on how the 1996 British film portrayed its working-class LGBT characters with remarkable sensitivity and nuance.
The Hidden Insights of Ben Affleck’s Viral Armageddon Commentary — David Sims on how the actor and director’s cynical accounting of the blockbuster that launched him to fame sheds surprising light on the Hollywood machine.
Television
Orange Is the New Black, Season 4 Recaps — Sophie Gilbert and Spencer Kornhaber pair off reviewing each episode of the Netflix hit’s latest season.
Any Given Wednesday Is Sports TV Without All the Hot Air — David Sims on how Bill Simmons kept things surprisingly cool in the first episode of his new HBO talk show.
Justice for Sansa Stark — Megan Garber on how the elusive death that offers both justice and catharsis was, for one Game of Thrones character in particular, finally achieved.
Game of Thrones: To the Reckless Go the Spoils — Three Atlantic staffers discuss “Battle of the Bastards,” the ninth episode of the sixth season.
Music
Indie Rock’s Recent, Clear-Eyed Take on Depression — Spencer Kornhaber on how excellent new albums from Mitski and Car Seat Headrest describe sadness with precise, piercing insights.
Recommended: The Assault on Antidepressants
Frank Ocean’s Radically Humane Response to the Orlando Shootings — Spencer Kornhaber on how the R&B star, who has sung about loving a man, draws a line between seemingly very different interpretations of God.
Books
The Paradox of ‘Pretty’ — Megan Garber on how the new book Face Value: The Hidden Ways Beauty Shapes Women’s Lives takes aim at a culture that tells women they should be beautiful, and that they should never feel beautiful enough.
Sports
The Return of the King — Robert O’Connell on how LeBron James has suffered from PR missteps and public criticism alongside his accomplishments on the court, but on Sunday night, he achieved an unequivocal triumph.
Food
The Most Contentious Meal of the Day — Megan Garber on how breakfast has long been a source of medical confusion, moral frustration, and political anxiety.
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