Damien Chazelle’s Babylon is a classic Hollywood reflection on itself at a pivotal point in its history, chronicling the rise and subsequent fall of a series of characters at different points in the journeys to stardom.
Tag: history
Posted inAgenda
Readings from Remaking the Exceptional, Interrobang Theatre Project, and more
This summer, DePaul Art Museum hosted “Remaking the Exceptional,” a group exhibition curated by artist and activists Aaron Hughes and Amber Ginsburg that explored the similarities between survivors of torture at the Guantánamo Bay detention camp and survivors of police torture in Chicago. This evening, Ginsburg and fellow activists celebrate the release of Remaking the […]
Posted inAgenda
Medieval healthcare, Black Hollywood, and Elevate Chicago Dance
Those of us of a certain age fondly remember Steve Martin’s appearance on Saturday Night Live as Theodoric of York, Medieval Barber. But women were also all up in the bloodletting and potion-making. Tonight at 6 PM the International Museum of Surgical Science (1524 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.) offers a presentation by historian Jennifer […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Drawing on the past
Most people are lucky to have one act that hits. William Horberg is well into his third. Horberg was born in Chicago and grew up around Belmont and Broadway in the Lakeview neighborhood in the 60s and 70s. He ran a repertory movie theater called the Sandburg at the corner of Division and Dearborn from […]
Posted inAgenda
Douglass Park forum, jazz, Chicago trivia, Studs and Spikes
From 5-7 PM, the Chicago Park District has organized a listening session seeking community dialogue about visions for Douglass Park. The park district’s Douglass Park Community Engagement Forum takes place this evening at the park’s field house (1401 S. Sacramento). This is an event for community input on imagining Douglass Park’s future. Maybe you have […]
Posted inFilm
Lost Illusions
Xavier Giannoli’s film is hilarious and always moving with vivid colors and rapid-fire narration that in another movie might feel heavy-handed but here is a guiding force that gives a fascinating quasi-history lesson.
Posted inBest of Chicago
Best commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire’s sesquicentennial
2021 marked 150 years since the Great Chicago Fire. While acknowledged by major institutions, the anniversary was muted, perhaps because it’s difficult to commemorate a massive tragedy in the midst of another overwhelming one. For me, the best marker of the anniversary is journalist, historian, and photographer (and past Reader contributor) Robert Loerzel’s @ChicagoTimeline Twitter […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Archiving the city’s past
Cities change. As Chicago is a city and most certainly not exempt from this immutable law, I can tell you that Chicago will change in some fashion by the time you finish reading this piece. By the time you finish this sentence a family might have packed up their belongings in Chatham to relocate to […]
Posted inCity Life
When Koreshan science invaded the south side
Dr. Cyrus Teed’s cult-like religion attracted death threats and broke up marriages in late 19th century Chicago.
Posted inNews & Politics
Losing count
For nearly 20 years, the United States was on the verge of adjusting the census and eliminating the Black undercount.
Posted inFilm
Harriet is the heroic biopic Harriet Tubman deserves
The fast-paced feature is a satisfying blend of history and action.
