Christian Science Monitor | The Culture

Mastering the language of my second home

Vocabulary and cadences, phrasings and simple expressions shifted from canton to canton, even valley to valley.

Movies that capture the moon’s wonder

Ahead of the 50th anniversary of the first moon walk, our critic surveys lunar movies, from a semi-animated 1902 classic to the recent “First Man.”

The not-so-secret life of James Thurber

James Thurber spent his formative years in Columbus, Ohio, and the house where he lived reveals signs of the humorist’s budding creativity.

With his oud, this musician transports audiences to Iraq

Rahim AlHaj, who has been nominated for Grammys, hopes to draw attention to the experiences of those caught in violent conflict in Iraq and elsewhere.

‘Gobsmacked’ and other astonishing words

My London-born mother-in-law has been known to jokingly say “shut your gobs!” to my children. Getting smacked in the gob will make you stop gabbing.

I keep on the sunny side of siding

I maintain that willful avoidance of difficult subjects is a successful emotional strategy, and I’m good at it.

An octopus has many arms, and also plural forms

Octopus came into English only in the 18th century. Before then, these creatures had been referred to as poulps or prekes with a nice, easy “s.”

My kingdom for an egg cream

I have limited myself to one egg cream per week, and how I long for Friday evening when I whip up heaven’s own soda.

From blockbusters to unexpected treasures: the best June movies

Besides “Toy Story 4,” the lesser known “American Woman,” “Pavarotti,” and “The Spy Behind Home Plate” are our critic’s June offerings worth seeing.

A new '70s album brings lost Philly funk music to light

After a call about an abandoned storage unit, Drexel University's music department inherited almost 7,000 tapes with hidden gems from David Bowie to Stevie Wonder. This spring, the university released a never-heard-before Nat Turner Rebellion R&B album.

How metalsmith revival is forging better future for a steel town

The art and craft of metalwork could help shape the future of Johnstown, Pennsylvania, a former steel mill town.

Kyle Kashuv case: What does forgiveness mean in modern America?

Kyle Kashuv’s rejection from Harvard is raising a timely question for the social media age: Where should the boundaries of forgiveness begin and end?

How ‘When They See Us’ is affecting views of justice system

‘When They See Us,’ a drama about the conviction and exoneration of the Central Park Five, is causing a range of reactions to how justice is meted.

Confused by plural nouns? Blame Latin.

English speakers often run into trouble when grappling with plural nouns because of their Latin roots.

A lifelong gift from the grand shaman

The Grand Shaman always wanted to know what we had observed in the woods that week. It was time for nature reports.

Welcome to the museum. Did you bring a spoon?

To generate discussion around exhibits, museums add something unexpected: food. In Washington, the Hirshhorn serves up Thai food – and protest art.

Move over, Beethoven. A modern composer is winning classical music.

Streamed by millions, Ludovico Einaudi’s classical music offers an escape from hectic lives. In an interview, he talks about what inspires him.

You can’t keep a good fan down

Having such unbridled enthusiasm hasn’t always been considered a good thing. But baseball brought fan back.

A little toy car’s cycle of happiness

My grown-up grandchildren's new toys consist of electronics. So I decided to pass along the little red-and-yellow toy car to someone else’s driveway.

'Hadestown' and diversity big winners at 2019 Tony Awards

Ali Stroker, the first actor in a wheelchair to win, is among dozens of women recognized in the 2019 Tony Awards. Buoyant winners used their acceptance speeches as platforms to highlight inclusivity and diversity as the way forward for Broadway.