Get curated editors’ picks, peeks behind the scenes, film recommendations and more.
Think of a piece of crime fiction. What broad plot points spring to mind? There’s a not-so-terrible chance your selection includes a beautiful dead woman and a sad male protagonist for whom the crime prompts a journey of discovery and personal development. In this brief animation, the US writer Laura Lippman argues that it’s time for writers to strike a fatal blow to this tired trope, and make sure that victims – especially female victims that belong to marginalised groups – are treated as human beings instead of mere plot devices.
video
Music
The peculiar beauty of a song caught between composition and improvisation
3 minutes
video
Rituals and celebrations
A beginner’s guide to a joyful Persian tradition of spring renewal and rebirth
3 minutes
video
Politics and government
How it looked to Afghan women to see the Taliban return to power
33 minutes
video
Love and friendship
Love looks a bit different for a chain-smoking couple in a small apartment
11 minutes
video
Biography and memoir
Passed over as the first Black astronaut, Ed Dwight carved out an impressive second act
13 minutes
video
The ancient world
The six priestesses who kept the flame of ancient Rome alight at risk of death
5 minutes
video
Engineering
A close-up look at electronic paper reveals its exquisite patterns – and limitations
9 minutes
video
Architecture
West Africa was once an architectural laboratory. Is it time for a revival?
12 minutes
video
Work
A Swedish expat in the Philippines wonders: what’s up with people sleeping at work?
14 minutes