It was a sombre week in New York City as the coronavirus made an impact on the city’s cultural institutions, prompting the shutdown of the Metropolitan Museum, the suspension of Broadway productions, and the cancellation of numerous comedy shows, readings, and concerts. The only certainty, amid the dire push notifications, was that the virus has dealt a blow to the arts that will be felt for years to come. But the decision to darken the lights is the right one. It’s time to retreat as best we can, practice social distancing, and do our part to slow the spread of the pandemic.
1. “I keep thinking especially of students who are in love, and who may be in love in ways not permitted in their homes or communities.” Dan Chiasson wrote about the abrupt dismissal of students from college campuses.
2. Seeking solace in the Iran-Contra affair, and other unexpected ideas: Sarah Larson has some recommendations for what podcasts to listen to when quarantined.
3. “The timing is particularly bad. Springtime is one of the busiest parts of the Broadway season, as a barrage of new shows open before the Tony deadline, in late April.” Michael Schulman on the closure of Broadway shows.
4. “For decades, the best-known desi on TV was Apu, from ‘The Simpsons.’ ” Sanjena Sathian looks at the highs and lows of desi characters on American television.
5. “Face-touching haunts our history; it is immortalized in art and literature.” A very brief history of humans touching their face, by Jody Rosen.
6. Jordan Wolfson makes extremely disturbing virtual-reality art pieces. Dana Goodyear profiled the “edgelord” artist for The New Yorker’s Style Issue.
7. Have you heard George the Poet’s podcast? Rebecca Mead has.
8. “The question of how to approach historical fiction has clearly haunted the author.” Daniel Mendelsohn reviewed “The Mirror and the Light,” the long-anticipated third installment of Hilary Mantel’s Tudor trilogy.
9. Apparently, you can design a real-life “invisibility cloak.” John Seabrook on how to dress for the surveillance age.
10. “The animal, physical threat of men turns into the professional inconvenience of men, the careerist jealousy of men.” Katy Waldman finds much to admire in Rebecca Solnit’s feminist memoir.
11. “The ferry is known for its amazing views of the Statue of Liberty, but it’s also a great place to watch a raccoon eat a passenger’s leftover meth.” Colin Jost describes his high-school commute.
—Michael Agger, culture editor, newyorker.com