Arts & Life : NPR

Cronenberg Spins a Disturbing Tale with 'Spider'

February 28, 2003 • Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg first made a name for himself with horror movies. His remake of The Fly is considered a classic of the genre. But his more recent films take him into more disturbing territory. NPR's Bob Mondello says that's especially true of Spider, starring Ralph Fiennes, which opens today in New York.

Cronenberg Spins a Disturbing Tale with 'Spider'

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Preserving Pacifica Radio's Archives

February 28, 2003 • Pacifica Radio's audio archives, a collection featuring recordings of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Lenny Bruce and other artists and political figures, are in danger of fading away. NPR's Bob Edwards discusses the network's effort to preserve 50 years of historic recordings with archive director Brian DeShazor.

Preserving Pacifica Radio's Archives

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America's Last Mass Lynching

February 28, 2003 • On a summer afternoon in 1946, in rural Georgia, a white mob killed four young black people in a hail of gunfire. The brutal killings -- the last mass lynching in America -- led to a national outcry. The FBI investigated, but no one was ever convicted of the murders. On Morning Edition, NPR's Renee Montagne interviews Laura Wexler, author of a book that examines the incident.

America's Last Mass Lynching

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Strike Threatens Broadway

February 27, 2003 • Contract negotiations between Broadway producers and the musicians' union are stuck over how many musicians must be employed by each show. Producers are threatening virtual pit bands. Musicians are threatening to strike. Jeff Lunden reports.

Musicians' Strike Threatens Broadway

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TV's Mister Rogers Dies

February 27, 2003 • Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, dies of cancer at the age of 74. Rogers hosted the popular children's program on public television for more than 30 years. NPR's Bob Edwards has a remembrance.

Remembering Mister Rogers

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Fred 'Mister' Rogers Dies

February 27, 2003 • Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, dies of cancer at the age of 74. Rogers hosted the popular children's program on public television for more than 30 years. NPR's Bob Edwards has a remembrance.

'Mr. Rogers' Dies

February 27, 2003 • Fred Rogers, the host of Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, dies of cancer at the age of 74. Rogers hosted the popular children's program on public television for more than 30 years. NPR News reports.

Bourke-White's 'Photography Of Design'

February 26, 2003 • Margaret Bourke-White was one of the most famous -- and fearless -- photojournalists of the 20th century. NPR's Susan Stamberg reports on an exhibition that focuses on Bourke-White's earliest works, which revealed the hidden beauty in industrial America.

Bourke-White's 'Photography Of Design'

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Music Interviews

Rocker Weller's UK Success Fails to Translate

February 24, 2003 • Paul Weller's latest CD, Illumination, is number one on the British album charts, but one of the great mysteries of Weller's career is why he's so little-known or appreciated in America. The man behind the punk sound of The Jam and the pop-soul of The Style Council isn't sure why, either. Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr reports.

Rocker Weller's UK Success Fails to Translate

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Music News

Vocalist Norah Jones Sweeps Grammy Awards

February 24, 2003 • Pop-jazz newcomer Norah Jones sweeps the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, taking home five individual awards including best female pop vocal and best new artist. The Dixie Chicks take best country album, and Bruce Springsteen's "The Rising" is honored for male rock vocal. NPR's Rick Karr reports.

Vocalist Norah Jones Sweeps Grammy Awards

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Deanna Witkowski, Live in Studio 4A

February 23, 2003 • Deanna Witkowski draws on a variety of influences — from Chopin to Cole Porter to a relatively unknown Brazilian rhythm called baião. It's no wonder the pianist finds her music going in different directions — sometimes within the same song — as in her "Wide Open Window." Hear Liane Hansen's performance chat with Witkowski in NPR's Studio 4A.

Deanna Witkowski, Live in Studio 4A

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'Lawless Hearts' Makes Grab for February Filmgoers

February 22, 2003 • February is far from Hollywood's biggest month of the year, since the film community is focused on Oscar nominees. New offerings tend to be fluffy. But there are exceptions, such as the British comedy Lawless Hearts, which gives the audiences several angles on each of its characters. NPR's Bob Mondello has a review.

'Lawless Hearts' Makes Grab for February Filmgoers

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Whitney's 'Listening Post' a Fly on Chat-Room Walls

February 22, 2003 • The Whitney Museum of American Art in New York features an exhibit called "Listening Post." Two artists turn ramblings from computer chat rooms into audio-visual art, using a collection of miniature display screens and computer-generated voices. Jad Abumrad reports.

Whitney's 'Listening Post' a Fly on Chat-Room Walls

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The Grammys: Sales Declines and Politics

February 21, 2003 • On the eve of the annual Grammy presentations, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences seeks to recover from the departure of a scandal-plagued president. And the music industry confronts a steep decline in CD sales. Hear NPR's Michele Norris and Eric Boehlert of Salon.com.

The Grammys: Sales Declines and Politics

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'Gettysburg,' the Prequel: 'Gods and Generals'

February 21, 2003 • Gods and Generals arrives in theaters. It's a film based on novelist Jeff Shaara's inner look at key Civil War figures in the early years of the conflict. Director Ron Maxwell also handled Gettysburg. That film was based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Killer Angels, written by Shaara's father Michael. NPR's Bob Mondello offers a review.

'Gettysburg,' the Prequel: 'Gods and Generals'

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