America’s democratic ideal doesn’t work perfectly. Sometimes it doesn’t work at all, and in these cases it feeds our cynicism to the point where we’re tempted to conclude that the very possibility […]
Ten years on: was Columbine the rule or the exception?
Part two in a series How did it happen? Why did it happen? There’s simply no way to measure how many hours have devoted to these questions in the ten years and […]
Let the economy die?! Rushkoff's goals are noble but his plan needs work
A couple of weeks ago author and NYU media theory lecturer Douglas Rushkoff penned a provocative essay for Arthur Magazine. Entitled “Let It Die,” the essay explains why we should stop trying […]
Dignity restored
Meanings, pt. 3: public service
by Michael Tracey Let me return to a period which is widely regarded within the advanced industrial societies as a high water mark of public service broadcasting, the BBC in the early […]
Meanings, pt. 2: a crisis of prevailing values
by Michael Tracey It isn’t just that there is an appetite for scandal, sex, sleaze, death narratives, it is also that feeding such appetites can be very profitable. The fact is that […]
Up next: Meanings
When we launched Michael Tracey’s series on the Ramsey case we frankly didn’t know what to expect. We hoped for intelligent engagement around the essay’s central thesis – a runaway media and […]
From Christmas to August: Prologue
AN ESSAY ON MURDER, MEDIA MAYHEM AND THE CONDITION OF THE CULTURE by Michael Tracey FOR PATSY RAMSEY, SHERRY KEENE-OSBORNE, and BARB SMITH Courageous and Good Ladies All Oft in the stilly […]
From Christmas to August: an S&R exclusive on the JonBenet Ramsey case and what it says about America
Few events in recent memory have inflamed the American imagination quite like the murder of JonBenet Ramsey. More to the point, it’s hard to recall a case where passion and profound ignorance […]
Meet Satan's towel boy, Ralph Nader, and other famous rabblerousers in a call for open debates
He’s the man who caused Sep. 11, war in the Gulf, a million Iraqi deaths and probably mad cow disease too, as you’ve no doubt heard from disgruntled Democrats. Of course I’m […]
