Whether “Gaza Burial” is actually fake or just “enhanced to bring out important details” is a philosophical dilemma.

Happy birthday, iTunes Store. A look at how the revolutionary media player, library and sales portal has upturned the way we consume media.

Public memorials play a critical role in our collective memory and create a bridge between our past, present and future.

No other modern leader — and perhaps no other political leader in history — inspired so much musical hatred.

Any careful follower of the case can boil the list of likely robbers down to three men, says Tom Mashberg. And all of them are Boston-area felons.

My MFA program gave me thick skin and knocked me down a few notches, both of which I desperately needed.

Movies win Oscars based on box office success, critical response, and the precursor awards. Right? Yes and no. There are other, more surprising, factors at play.

The Corwin Amendment — which would have made slavery constitutional and permanent — reveals a deep flaw in the design of the U.S. Constitution.

Tudor propagandists — including one by the name of Shakespeare — painted Richard III as a treacherous villain. But his supporters want a reappraisal of his standing in history.

The decision to bring J.J. Abrams on board to direct the new “Star Wars” movie was cause for much rejoicing. But can he reboot our imaginations? Our innocence?

A look at the history of inaugural poems and the surprising vitality of contemporary American poetry.

Jane Austen takes for granted that her female characters are human beings — no more and no less than their male counterparts. What’s more “feminist” than that?

A “definitive” biography of famed author Philip Roth is in the works. Ilan Mochari says, on behalf of the “Portnoy” faithful, it better break new ground.

I’m tired of writers passing judgment on entire genres. Journalistic narcissism — or, more politely, writing about oneself — has a place.

When people share live art experiences, they come together to be present with each other, to identify with points of view that are different from their own, to feel empathy, and to consider issues in a multi-layered and complex way.

Too often, the competition for art, money and attention obscure and, worse, corrode the core values of museums.

Picking through some of 2012′s most celebrated movies, says Aaron Beatty, is a troubling trip back. Three films stand out as bellwethers of the year’s disappointments.

Whether “Gaza Burial” is actually fake or just “enhanced to bring out important details” is a philosophical dilemma.

A hard, critical look at “Imagine,” the song that — sadly and improperly — personifies John Lennon’s legacy for far too many people.

Public memorials play a critical role in our collective memory and create a bridge between our past, present and future.

The Corwin Amendment — which would have made slavery constitutional and permanent — reveals a deep flaw in the design of the U.S. Constitution.

Jane Austen takes for granted that her female characters are human beings — no more and no less than their male counterparts. What’s more “feminist” than that?

No other modern leader — and perhaps no other political leader in history — inspired so much musical hatred.

Happy birthday, iTunes Store. A look at how the revolutionary media player, library and sales portal has upturned the way we consume media.

Any careful follower of the case can boil the list of likely robbers down to three men, says Tom Mashberg. And all of them are Boston-area felons.

Tolkien reminds us how to be a hero, how to take risks, how to be a good man or woman — or elf, dwarf, or hobbit.

My MFA program gave me thick skin and knocked me down a few notches, both of which I desperately needed.

Music writer Steve Morse says quintessential Southern rocker Gregg Allman is a survivor in more ways than one.

Tudor propagandists — including one by the name of Shakespeare — painted Richard III as a treacherous villain. But his supporters want a reappraisal of his standing in history.

If not for a new star-studded film, the election may have come and gone with almost no mention of the issue that matters most: education reform.

A look at the history of inaugural poems and the surprising vitality of contemporary American poetry.

I’m tired of writers passing judgment on entire genres. Journalistic narcissism — or, more politely, writing about oneself — has a place.

Thanks to the likes of Lady Gaga and “Fifty Shades of Grey,” S&M is making a comeback — but at what cost? Caryl Rivers examines the effects.

A “definitive” biography of famed author Philip Roth is in the works. Ilan Mochari says, on behalf of the “Portnoy” faithful, it better break new ground.

Too often, the competition for art, money and attention obscure and, worse, corrode the core values of museums.

My MFA program gave me thick skin and knocked me down a few notches, both of which I desperately needed.

Jane Austen takes for granted that her female characters are human beings — no more and no less than their male counterparts. What’s more “feminist” than that?

Too often, the competition for art, money and attention obscure and, worse, corrode the core values of museums.

Move over “gerrymander.” Step aside “scofflaw.” Our resident wordsmith investigates the claim that “canoodling” originated on the banks of the Charles River.

Thanks to the likes of Lady Gaga and “Fifty Shades of Grey,” S&M is making a comeback — but at what cost? Caryl Rivers examines the effects.

Perhaps nothing is more revealing than the home we keep. The art, the books, even the dish towels we choose can be very telling. But, asks Cheryl Katz, what happens when everyone has exactly the same stuff?

Morally ambiguous. Sharp witted. Absurdist. Surprising. And unpredictable. Before a crackdown in 1934, commentator Betsy Sherman says a frisky and creative energy reigned supreme in Tinseltown.

For many writers, Ray Bradbury was the spiritual father they always wished they’d had. Alice Hoffman pays tribute to the late author, who would have been 92 on Aug. 22.

In her long career as an editor and language columnist, Jan Freeman says one question remains as baffling as ever: Why do people love their language peeves so dearly?

In Moscow, the trial against three young punk rockers looks more like the Soviet Union than the “new Russia.” Joshua Rubenstein on the Pussy Riot controversy.

Alice Hoffman on why the development of “fictional” characters often tells us more about the writer — than the character.

Historic Boston was built of brick, a legacy that gave way in the ’60s to the so-called Brutalist style – and now to big, boring boxes. But, Renee Loth wonders, is there a better way?

TV is the new cinema — such is the prevailing sentiment of the time. But this casual acceptance of television’s coup-d’état as fact demands a little counter-programming.

E.L. James’ runaway bestseller fails as a novel and as porn. But Tom Perrotta says in a funny way, this dual failure is probably also one of the secrets of the book’s outlandish success.