Alex Burns
@alexgraceburns
Alex Burns
Since its founding in 2012, A24 has consistently been on the upswing. The company’s success doesn’t come down to one thing, but a variety of factors: the championing of up-and-coming auteurs (Ari Aster, Greta Gerwig, Robert Eggers, the directorial duo known as the Daniels), which has established the studio as a reliable tastemaker; the execution of... See more
With ‘Civil War,’ A24 Joins the Blockbuster Front Lines
‘Decoder Ring’
Willa Paskin’s deep-dive investigations into questions you never thought to ask (Is Parmesan cheese “authentic” Italian? What ever happened to slow dancing? What was the deal with hovercraft?) are more rigorous than they need to be, which is what makes them so fun. Paskin — a former television critic, and among the best writers worki... See more
Willa Paskin’s deep-dive investigations into questions you never thought to ask (Is Parmesan cheese “authentic” Italian? What ever happened to slow dancing? What was the deal with hovercraft?) are more rigorous than they need to be, which is what makes them so fun. Paskin — a former television critic, and among the best writers worki... See more
Best Podcasts of 2023
So, last year, I decided to throw more work at my students...I added something I call “craft journals.” Each week, in addition to reading their peers’ work, my students choose from a bank of 100+ stories, each of which offers specific craft lessons...They then write about their chosen story in a “craft journal.” They reverse-outline each piece to t... See more
Celine Nguyen • How to Begin
Taste is not the same as correctness, though. To do something correctly is not necessarily to do it tastefully. For most things, correctness is good enough, so we skate by on that as the default. And there are many correct paths to take. You’ll be able to cook a yummy meal, enjoy the movie, build a useable product, don a shirt that fits. But taste ... See more
Organize a weekly card game
Or a board game. Catan-heads stand up. A little competition, a couple hours of shooting the shit...this is the exact sort of thing we all once took for granted. Find a few reliable people in your orbit and bring it back. Bonus points if everyone agrees to leave their phones in their jacket.
Or a board game. Catan-heads stand up. A little competition, a couple hours of shooting the shit...this is the exact sort of thing we all once took for granted. Find a few reliable people in your orbit and bring it back. Bonus points if everyone agrees to leave their phones in their jacket.
The Analog Life: 50 Ways to Unplug and Feel Human Again
On the decidedly informal and amateur end (I use the term amateur lovingly and respectfully!)...I’d also say that the best content on the internet is created by people who have turned research into their leisure activity.
Celine Nguyen • research as leisure activity
To get the most out of third places, you’ve got to find one you enjoy frequenting. Mine your interests, Littman says, to discover a location that fulfills your needs. For instance, if you love books but don’t necessarily want to discuss them with others, find a bar or café that offers silent reading nights for people who want to read communally. Se... See more
Allie Volpe • If You Want to Belong, Find a Third Place
When Mark Walter, the owner of the Dodgers and the chief executive officer of Guggenheim Partners, met with two-way star Shohei Ohtani this past winter, he attempted to sell a vision based on these conflicting truths, the immense pride and deep frustration within his franchise. The Dodgers had become a colossus since Walter’s group took over in 201... See more