An inside look at Dan Brown's new novel. Part of the Shadow Play article series.

Stories from Mount Pleasant. Originally published in the Fall 2006 issue of the Antioch Review, pages 662-679.

The films of Krzysztof Kieslowski. Part of the Shadow Play article series.

The subversive moment in modern art. Found on pages 35-39 of the original publication.

HBO gets "Rome" right. Part of the Shadow Play article series.

Exporting the wrong picture. Originally published online by the Washington Post.

The United States government once employed a great deal of time, effort, and money to promote its image abroad. That—and more—may be necessary in the world of today.

Folk music, as defined by folks. Originally published in the Spring 2005 issue of the Michigan Quarterly Review.

What makes for great American art? Originally published in the March/April 2004 issue of Society.

In Hollywood war movies of the 1940s, American soldiers fought for a sense of national purpose. In subsequent decades, they fought mainly for the sake of their buddies. Now, when the mayhem in war films is more realistic than ever, Hollywood… read more...

The immigrant story within the HBO hit. Originally published online by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Cantor attempts to link four TV programs to the themes of globalization and the end of the nation state. A review of  Gilligan Unbound: Pop Culture in the Age of Globalization (2001).

Resounding tragedy. Originally published online by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

The effect of 9/11 on our modern culture. Originally published online by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

When it comes to popular culture, we have only ourselves -- and our poor taste -- to blame.

"Is there such thing as an evil sound?"

A discussion and critique of Allan Bloom, and of his views expressed in The Closing of the American Mind (1987). Adapted from a lecture at the University of Chicago, and part of The Public Interest journal.

It still makes millions of dollars, but rock has lost its soul.

Pro-choice arguments, the author says, reflect the ambitions, hypocrisies, and contradictions of contemporary feminism.

A review of Richard Rodriguez's Hunger of Memory (1981). Part of The Public Interest journal.