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Critics at Large | The New Yorker

Critics at Large is a weekly culture podcast from The New Yorker. Every Thursday, the staff writers Vinson Cunningham, Naomi Fry, and Alexandra Schwartz discuss current obsessions, classic texts they’re revisiting with fresh eyes, and trends that are emerging across books, television, film, and more. The show runs the gamut of the arts and pop culture, with lively, surprising conversations about everything from Salman Rushdie to “The Real Housewives.” Through rigorous analysis and behind-the-scenes insights into The New Yorker’s reporting, the magazine’s critics help listeners make sense of our moment—and how we got here.

Episodes

This Critics at Large podcast episode from The New Yorker is a panel discussion reviewing the life and work of David Lynch following his death. The hosts discuss their individual rewatches of Lynch's films (Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Twin Peaks), analyzing recurring themes such as the blurring of dream and reality...

The Splendor of Nature, Now Streaming

30 Jan 2025

44m

The New Western Gold Rush

16 Jan 2025

45m

The Elusive Promise of the First Person

09 Jan 2025

45m

Hayao Miyazaki’s Magical Realms

26 Dec 2024

44m

Critics at Large Live: The Year of the Flop

19 Dec 2024

45m

After “Wicked,” What Do We Want from the Musical?

12 Dec 2024

47m

The Modern-Day Fight for Ancient Rome

05 Dec 2024

43m

Will Kids Online, In Fact, Be All Right?

21 Nov 2024

48m

The Value—and Limits—of Seeking Comfort in Art

14 Nov 2024

44m

AI processed

In this episode of Critics at Large, Alex Schwartz, Naomi Fry, and Vinson Cunningham discuss the role of art and entertainment as a source of comfort during times of political and social upheaval. They explore the impulse to seek escapism through art, questioning whether it's a helpful coping mechanism or a form of avo...

Critics at Large Live: Julio Torres’s Dreamy Surrealism

31 Oct 2024

43m

Help, I Need a Critic!

24 Oct 2024

53m

A Controversial Trump Bio-pic and the Villains We Make

10 Oct 2024

50m

“The Substance” and the New Horror of the Modified Body

03 Oct 2024

48m

The Fate of the Finance Bro

26 Sep 2024

49m

Sally Rooney’s Beautiful Deceptions

19 Sep 2024

46m

AI processed

In this podcast episode, the hosts explore the intricate themes of Sally Rooney's latest novel, Intermezzo, focusing on the emotional struggles of its main characters, Ivan and Peter, as they deal with grief, relationships, and self-discovery. The conversation kicks off with a fun game of "Rooney Bingo," setting the to...