The Atlantic’s Week in Culture

Don’t Miss

Frank Ocean’s Blond(e) Is a Monument to Memory—Spencer Kornhaber meditates on the ideas of time and timelessness that dominate the singer’s highly anticipated new album.

Film

Ben-Hur Was Hollywood’s Epic $100M Mistake—David Sims bemoans the industry’s latest attempt at remaking Lew Wallace’s classic novel.

Southside With You Is a Gentle Bit of Political Nostalgia—David Sims reviews the new film that takes a look back at Barack and Michelle Obama’s first date.

Music

So Is It Blond or Blonde?—Spencer Kornhaber reveals how the album title’s ambiguity may be more significant for the music industry than it seems.

Britney Spears Finds Grace in the Hook-Up—Spencer Kornhaber traces the iconic pop star’s changing views on sex and intimacy on her ninth album.

Television

Can Ryan Lochte Redeem Himself on Dancing With the Stars?—Megan Garber explores whether the tainted swimmer might find forgiveness on the show where many celebrities have gone to fix their images.

Halt and Catch Fire Is TV’s Most Underrated Drama—David Sims discusses the brilliance of the AMC show as it enters its third season.

Reality (TV) Is Getting Kinder—Megan Garber investigates a tendency toward empathy in today’s competition shows.

RuPaul’s Drag Race Claims Its Queer Cultural Crown—Spencer Kornhaber revels in the giddiness of the Logo show’s new season premiere.

What Happens to Mr. Robot Without Mr. Robot?—Lenika Cruz weighs in on how the hit USA show fares without its titular personality.

Sport

Immigrant Runners Winning More Than Olympic Medals—Ben Geman explains how competitors like Mo Farah offer a rejoinder to nationalistic sentiment in the U.S. and Britain.

Media

Why the Debate Over Nate Parker Is So Complex—Morgan Jerkins traces the tricky historical politics behind the Birth of a Nation star’s recently resurfacing rape allegations.

Tim Kaine Embraces His ‘Dadhood’—Megan Garber explores how the vice presidential candidate is renegotiating ideas of family and masculinity.

Design

When T.G.I. Friday’s Loses Its Flair—Megan Garber examines the increasingly uniform aesthetic sweeping across America’s popular chain restaurants.

Games

The Joy of Naming Things in No Man’s Sky—David Sims looks at the delight of labeling discoveries in the new video game’s boundless universe.