Arts

Pop culture does not mean celebrity culture; I have perhaps said this more often than anyone you're going to meet. Who dates, who gets a divorce, who has a tantrum, who has surreptitious photos snapped of him by mangy, grim opportunists — these things are not culture of any kind, popular or otherwise, unless there is something else at stake. They are curiosities, and given that we are curious creatures, their pull is not surprising, nor is it new, nor was it invented by the internet, or television, or Americans.

The daily lowdown on books, publishing, and the occasional author behaving badly.

One need pick up on only a hint of the zeitgeist to know that monsters that once worried their careers had peaked in B-movies of the '50s are now enjoying a sustained resurgence. On screens and in the "Teen Paranormal Romance" section of Barnes and Noble, supernatural creatures of all stripes battle for the hearts (or throats) of our homecoming queens.

American literature has plenty of coming-of-age novels. What we need more of, judging by the strengths of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's new book, are novels about coming to America. In particular, books that address our biggest problems — in this case, race. Because things natives don't see about themselves often stand out like neon to foreign eyes. And if you think racism expired when President Obama was elected, this is perhaps not — or absolutely is — the book for you.

Pastor Ryon Price and Father David Cruz visit with Marsha Sharp, for head coach for TTU Women's Basketball. The discussion includes character, decision making and following your Faith. You can catch Faith Matters every Sunday at 5:00 pm on 89.1, Lubbock's Voice of the Arts.

Pastor Ryon Price and Father David Cruz have a dynamic conversation with Ann Krier about the role of women in the Church. The three also discuss sexuality and spirituality. You can hear Faith Matters every Sunday at 5:00 pm only on 89.1, Lubbock's Voice of the Arts.