Colonial Williamsburg, History and Unreality
by Matthew Phipps Recently I paid a visit to Colonial Williamsburg, the former seat of state and colonial government that sits, in its current form—partially preserved, partially reconstructed, peopled by re-enactors in bulky period dress—halfway down the Virginia Peninsula, between the tidal flows of the James and York Rivers. While I had never been to...
The Elusive Authenticity of the Artist
You’ve probably heard the Picasso quote: “We all know that art is not truth. Art is a lie that makes us realize truth, at least the truth that is given us to understand.” An article by Drew Calvert, published online by AGNI Magazine, explores the notion that art is a lie by looking at the role of the artist, and the potential...
Staging Theater on Broad Street in Richmond
Broad Street magazine’s namesake “has been the center of Richmond since its creation,” according to the blog Mapping American History, which also notes that “the structural diversity [of Richmond], especially found on Broad Street, was a result of the constant adaptation of the city and its need to acclimate to the changing times.” After Fire...
“David Foster Wallace and the Nature of Fact” by Josh Roiland
This week Broad Street recommends Josh Roiland‘s Fall 2013 article “David Foster Wallace and the Nature of Fact,” which originally appeared in Literary Journalism Studies and was recently made available by the good people at Longreads. In the article, Roiland investigates accusations about Wallace’s literary journalism, including allegations of “embellishments” and invented dialogue. Roiland reminds us...
The Tune of True Stories
True stories come in all forms. From Elizabethan murder ballads to rap songs, music has been a font of stories drawn from real life. But how much does truth really matter when it comes to songs? First, there’s the question of narrative itself. For example, Nick Cave, front man for Australian alternative-rock band the Bad Seeds, has moved...
