Witnessing the outpouring of sentiment on Roger Ebert’s death has been revelatory — both a stunning testament to one man’s outsize influence on film criticism over five decades, and more broadly, a timely reminder of the enduring importance of film in our society. Ebert certainly was on to something when he first sat down with fellow hometown Chicago critic Gene … More Details

When I heard the news of Ray Bradbury’s death, I went online to revisit his life and work, and was struck once again by the enduring imprint he left on popular culture. Reading up on him, I was surprised to learn that he disliked being labeled a science fiction writer. He made an important distinction in explaining why, stating that … More Details