https://www.csmonitor.comCoverage of arts and culture from The Christian Science Monitor.https://images.csmonitor.com/csm/2024/04/1172291_2_csmlogo_feed_250x30_standard.pnghttps://www.csmonitor.comChristian Science Monitor. All rights reserved.300en-usSun, 20 Sep 2026 17:16:10 EDThttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0919/butterfly-season-lea-korsgaard?icid=rss9abfeda071ac4b0ce129c417ba197f3eLooking for a challenge, a woman sets out to chronicle 64 species of lepidoptera in her country over a single year. The search becomes a meditation.Sat, 19 Sep 2026 05:00:17 EDTHeller McAlpinhttps://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2026/0918/de-gaulle-resistance-france-le-pen-election-rn?icid=rssf194d828881e43ca7638d49d06d51d75The popularity in France of a two-part biopic about Charles de Gaulle is highlighting public frustration with the country’s present-day politicians.Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:41:38 EDTColette Davidsonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0911/harry-belafonte-daylight-come-joshua-jelly-schapiro?icid=rssceca9c565aad5dd3c6d88a0b4a6ffce7The new biography “Daylight Come” focuses on the performer’s determination to use his fame to confront discrimination in the U.S. and abroad.Fri, 11 Sep 2026 11:18:55 EDTBarbara Spindelhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0910/artificial-state-jill-lepore-democracy-america-250th?icid=rssfef7c131d00cabd97749339fdf5adec2A historian of the U.S. Constitution examines the future of democracy, as artificial intelligence tests the foundational values that have guided America.Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:14:23 EDTDanny Heitmanhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0910/small-stuff-ian-bogost-gratification?icid=rssb2cdebf9536289e487eaae2ef6a516ceA video game designer plugs the experience of beauty as a means to ground us in our humanity.Thu, 10 Sep 2026 11:19:55 EDTDanny Heitmanhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0902/renoir-girls-catherine-ostler-vichy-france-antisemitism?icid=rssac5260fbaf44fa2292419dff8394c34a“The Renoir Girls” contrasts the images of a sweet, privileged childhood with the barbarism of antisemitism, which flared in Nazi-occupied France.Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:52:42 EDTBarbara Spindelhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Food/2026/0829/pay-what-you-can-day-restaurants?icid=rss9ad722cb1f9aa754287205b7a97da73bA global initiative started by a restaurant in Mexico City has expanded to 14 countries, with diners at high-end restaurants invited to pay what they can afford.Sat, 29 Aug 2026 05:00:11 EDTKendra Nordin BeatoWhitney Eulichhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0827/sisters-of-the-midnight-sun-arctic-alaska?icid=rss68934fcb5978969e820320ad8abf6656A public defender’s memoir recounts a murder case of two Alaskan Indigenous women that set their community at odds with the concept of due process.Thu, 27 Aug 2026 11:31:31 EDTMackenzie Farkushttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Arts/2026/0826/dolly-parton-country-music?icid=rssad57ed25618026c0a4ad0808595bcdf2Performer and entrepreneur Dolly Parton turned personal struggles and hard work into universal anthems and messages of hope and resilience for anyone.Wed, 26 Aug 2026 09:30:12 EDTHarry BruiniusVictoria HoffmannPatrik Jonssonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0825/mary-oliver-documentary-american-masters-pbs?icid=rss856effdcad4f4a383a4fa669558841fdThe documentary “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” explores the impact of her poetry and of her keen observations of the natural world.Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:30:23 EDTElizabeth Lundhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0821/august-2026-best-books?icid=rss65c2a6230358a0cd164832a600a6f032The best books of August deliver thrills, time travel, and tongue-in-cheek commentary from the nine Greek Muses.Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:44:34 EDTMonitor reviewershttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0820/military-vets-rye-barcott-courage-can-save-us?icid=rss0134545e3b543ed113fdf448c6a3e817Military vets work more easily across party lines, says Rye Barcott, author of “Courage Can Save US: Ten Extraordinary Americans and the Fight for Our Future.”Thu, 20 Aug 2026 15:07:35 EDTEmily Stauntonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0818/nord-stream-conspiracy-bojan-pancevski?icid=rss4db151b988538b2268772042055d2d3fShadowy figures, deep-sea sabotage, and geopolitical skulduggery come together in a fascinating exposé by a Wall Street Journal reporter.Tue, 18 Aug 2026 11:23:25 EDTMalcolm Forbeshttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Movies/2026/0814/pomegranate?icid=rss904f76f40e1c1d826c25bb3583add52c“Pomegranate,” a film by Weam Namou, tells the story of a young Muslim woman who moves to a Chaldean Christian neighborhood in Detroit. The film reflects community tensions, but also showcases humor and grace.Fri, 14 Aug 2026 14:30:09 EDTDonald Keoughhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0813/delana-dameron-fairfield-county?icid=rssfaa7a50f352dfa46f8687ea291726821On a South Carolina farm, a withdrawn girl finds her place as an equestrian in DéLana R.A. Dameron’s last novel, “Fairfield County.”Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:05:08 EDTDeborah Johnsonhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0812/ai-publishing-commonwealth-prize-shy-girl?icid=rsse944f45db407053c635a18e377be3572Authors increasingly use AI tools to craft their work. Readers are concerned about transparency and quality. Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:18:06 EDTCameron Pughhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0810/ai-books-nonfiction-fiction-openai-altman-vara-harari?icid=rss9de62152d20a61497d142e08f82f75dbTrying to understand AI? Monitor reviewers plunge into AI-related books that offer a path through the complex issues.     Mon, 10 Aug 2026 11:40:10 EDTMonitor reviewershttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/2026/0809/elephants-boston-art-sculptures?icid=rssdfe08856e8bb76340dd567d3ce438e09A touring art exhibit of life-size elephants is in Boston for the next month, aiming to connect with people and inspire understanding of the natural world.Sun, 09 Aug 2026 05:00:10 EDTGoodluck Ajehhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/Books/2026/0807/hardest-longest-race-eric-moskowitz-guggenheim-ford?icid=rss0502fad296526ab5dec6bf9d0877faf3“The Hardest, Longest Race” takes readers on a wild jaunt across the country, on roads that could hardly live up to the name.Fri, 07 Aug 2026 11:42:31 EDTDanny Heitmanhttps://www.csmonitor.com/Arts-Culture/2026/0803/spider-man-peter-parker-growing-up?icid=rss01ba557937a49c580ead7e6a8d9ff1ebAmid the crime-fighting action, “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” also asks what it really means to grow up or to make fresh starts – for us as well as for Peter Parker.Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:32:08 EDTKen Makin