Pop Culture

Ted Schultz edited a new book called The Fringes of Reason, which compiles conflicting opinions of supernatural, New Age, and cosmological world views. Schultz is now studying entomology, which he says is related to his curiosity about what is and isn't real.

Critic-at-large Laurie Stone says that recent advertisements, TV shows, and theater betray a cultural shift toward a new traditionalism that debases feminism and expects women to return to conventionally feminine roles.

Garrison Keillor retired from the public radio show A Prairie Home Companion in 1987. He says he was overwhelmed by the celebrity, and wanted to focus on writing fiction. Keillor moved with his wife from his native St. Paul to New York City. His recent novel is called Leaving Home; a forthcoming collection of short stories is titled We Are Still Married.

Historian Lawrence Levine's new book examines the split between high and low culture. He argues that one should look at cultural horizontally -- rather than vertically -- in order to see how different kinds of art and media interact with each other, and are consumed by different social groups.

Fresh Air broadcasts a portion of Dmae Roberts's upcoming radio documentary, Waiting for the Great Leap Forward, produced for the Soundprint program. The feature includes interviews with teenagers about their attitudes toward school, relationships, drugs, and sex.

Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand discusses the urban legend of a dead rabbit, which someone finds, cleans, and replaces in its cage.

Folklorist Jan Harold Brunvand recently came back from New Zealand, where he learned some of the local urban legends. Several of them echoed familiar tales in the United States.

Journalist Irvin Muchnick. His recent reporting has focused on recent developments in professional wrestling.

Writer Geoffrey O'Brien. His new book, Dream Time: Chapters from the Sixties, is an exploration of the phenomena of the 60s, from strobe lights and miniskirts to Be-Ins and Transcendental Meditation. O'Brien attempts to capture the cultural, social and political ferment of the era, as opposed to an objective, historical accounting. O'Brien is also the author of Hard Boiled America," a survey of paperback crime fiction.

Humorist Alice Kahn reflects on the difficulty of returning to your childhood home.

Humorist Alice Kahn looks at the 28-year relationship between Barbie and Ken, America's best-known dolls.

Humorist Al Gingold expounds on the purchase of a sofa, a key milepost in the coming of age in America.

Jan Harold Brunvand explores the urban legend about the skier who stops to relieve herself, slips and breaks her arm. As she's leaving the hospital meets other skiers with broken limbs who say when they saw a woman skiing with her pants down they laughed so hard they lost their balance.

Jan Harold Brunvand explores the urban legend about a dead cat package that gets stolen before it reaches its resting place.

Jan Harold Brunvand explores a popular misconception about the poinsettia plant ... that it is poisonous or toxic.

Writer James Wolcott, who's now a regular columnist on culture for Vanity Fair.

Jan Harold Brunvand traces the urban legends surrounding college exams.

Jan Harold Brunvand explores the urban legend about the solid cement car.

Jan Harold Brunvand will explore the urban legends that have sprung up around computer glitches, the so-called "mystery glitches."

Jan Harold Brunvand explores the urban legend about the shared bite of the Snickers bar.