Why Does Alex Garland's 'Annihilation' Perpetuate the Hidden Figure of Henrietta Lacks?

Alex Garland relied on HeLa easter eggs to proffer a "key" to the Shimmer in Annihilation, but his interpretation mimics the instrumentalization decried throughout Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

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On 'Love and Strife', but Mostly the Stife, of Saul Bellow

Zachary Leader's thorough work, 'The Life of Saul Bellow: Love and Strife...' begins appropriately with Below asking himself, "Was I a man or was I a jerk?"

Books

Volcano Emits Acid-washed Afrobeat on "The Island" (premiere)

Volcano spins tales to the sounds of acid-washed Afrobeat on new track "The Island".

Music

Why Does Alex Garland's 'Annihilation' Perpetuate the Hidden Figure of Henrietta Lacks?

Alex Garland relied on HeLa easter eggs to proffer a "key" to the Shimmer in Annihilation, but his interpretation mimics the instrumentalization decried throughout Rebecca Skloot's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Film

Michael DeForge's 'Brat' Challenges the Act of Reading Comics

While dimension-deforming environments are normal in cartoon worlds, few wander as far to the edge of pure abstraction—let alone cross it -- as Michael DeForge does in Brat.

Books

Raye Zaragoza Inspires in Her "Live at Rockwood Music Hall" EP (album stream) (premiere)

Known for her protest songs in the era of Donald Trump and the Dakota Access Pipeline, Raye Zaragoza shares a short but sweet set of inspiriting numbers performed live at the prestigious Rockwood Music Hall.

Music

Surachai Once Again Plunges the World in Darkness

In his new record Come, Deathless, the prolific producer Surachai puts forth his ambient vision, blending post-industrial and noise to create a mesmerizing work of dark ambient bliss.

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TENDER Explores Anxieties and the 'Fear of Falling Asleep'

TENDER create a rudderless sense of melancholy married to truly memorable, hook-filled songs that leave lasting impressions even as the consciousness is enveloped by sleep.

Music

After Funk Illustrates a Complicated Romance in "The Mess We've Become" (premiere)

Replete with rich production and a polished, soulful sound, Toronto R&B group After Funk's newest single is a scorcher.

Music

Aesop Rock and Tobacco Are Malibu Ken and They're Here to Get Weird

Noted hip-hop wordsmith Aesop Rock cedes production duties to focus on making the most of his million-word vocabulary on Malibu Ken.

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Conny Ochs Gets Contemplative With "Dark Tower" (premiere)

Through Conny Ochs is beloved in the heavy rock community, "Dark Tower" transcends musical boundaries, with an appeal that recalls Soundgarden at its most tuneful and emotive.

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filous and klei Team Up Again For an Acoustic Spin on "Bicycle" (premiere)

Trading in sun-washed synth beats and hum for acoustic guitar and sprightly keys, filous and klei's fun-loving nature shines through their new rendition of their hit single "Bicycle".

Music

Radar State Asks "What's a Rebel?" (premiere)

Radar State features members of the Get Up Kids, the Anniversary, and the Architects. Their new album, Strays, is out now and new tour begins 24 January.

Music

Searching for Answers in Denis Villeneuve’s 'Prisoners'

As in all the best detective stories, the heroes of Denis Villeneuve's Prisoners are wrestling with questions much deeper than those of the case itself.

Film

Rocky Dawuni Aims to Re-energize the Forces of Love and Hope on "Beats of Zion" (premiere)

Ghanaian roots-reggae star Rocky Dawuni leads the charge against apathy on new single "Beats of Zion".

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Tangents Trace a Shifting Landscape with "Lake George" (premiere)

Borderless Australian band Tangents combines their mesmerizing New Bodies track "Lake George" with warping aerial footage of its namesake location.

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