Author Archives: Andrew Lee

Toward the tail end of Salman Rushdie’s appearance at Royce Hall last night, a patron asked the internationally renowned author if one of the night’s main topics ““ storytelling ““ could possibly work itself into the political debate and, in turn, enrich it. Rushdie’s response was more serious in tone than his generally whimsical responses […]

On Friday, performances by avant-garde poet Christian Bök and Los Angeles-based digital media artist Erik Loyer showcased some of the latest endeavors of UCLA’s Electronic Literature Organization at the Hammer Museum. Friday’s event, sponsored by the ELO and the Hammer Museum, was the first in a year-long series of events called “Beyond Hypertext: New Electronic […]

Filipino American novelist, playwright, poet and screenwriter Jessica Hagedorn has been a key figure in Asian American literature since the release of her 1990 debut “Dogeaters.” The piece garnered wide acclaim and a National Book Award nomination upon its release. Like “Dogeaters,” her latest work, “Dream Jungle,” takes advantage of a historical time period to […]

It’s a guilty pleasure for young bands to head to their local record stores on the day of their albums’ release dates for the sheer novelty of seeing their own music on the stands. Colin Meloy, singer and chief songwriter of the Portland-based group The Decemberists, has no such recollection when it comes to the […]

Even at 74 years old, renowned Senegalese percussionist Doudou N’Diaye Rose is on his second major U.S. tour. Outside of wowing American audiences with dazzling displays from his 35-member percussion orchestra, there’s one more thing he wants to do before he leaves: watch an American band perform live onstage. Chances are he’ll be disappointed. After […]

Yucca Mountain, a barren strip of land about 90 miles northwest of Las Vegas, is revered by its native Shoshone tribe as a place of deep spiritual and religious importance. But in 1978, Yucca Mountain began to draw intense studying from the Department of Energy, which has spent billions of dollars to date in determining […]

Matty Nash, bandleader of the multi-sensory performance troupe The Mutaytor, says his group’s trademark is its ability to turn civilians into rock stars. He’s a believer in the romantic idea that the two are in fact mutually exclusive. But based on the nature of his indefinable act, a rock star isn’t just a musician. A […]