Can a white American Jew write a persuasive novel about Peru?
“You have to make sure that you are not substituting your voice and perspective for those of the people who really live these histories.”
Wallace Shawn Knows Exactly Who His Audience Is: You
In Wallace Shawn’s “Evening At The Talk House,” only a thin line separates characters from their audience.
Mr. Robot
‘Mr. Robot’ evokes the economic and culturally diverse reality of present-day New York City better than any art out there, in any form.
This is The Way We Need To Live in Trump’s America
The world is a broken place — Joshua Furst explains how we need to live in it.
Finding Beauty in ‘Indecent’ — a 110-Year-Old Play Set in Jewish Brothel
“Indecent,” based on controversial Sholem Asch play “God of Vengeance” has opened at the Vineyard Theater, exploring the greatest achievement and greatest failure in the history of Jewish theater. Joshua Furst weighs in.
Geeking Out on Primo Levi — and Elena Ferrante — With a Master Translator
Primo Levi’s complete works have recently been republished in a massive three-volume set overseen by master translator Ann Goldstein. Joshua Furst and Goldstein talk Levi’s relationship with his Jewishness and the difficulties of the act of translation itself.
When Art Poses a Challenge to the Orthodox
The Jewish Museum’s “Unorthodox” exhibition comprises 55 artists from a variety of cultural backgrounds. According to Joshua Furst, it also offers a rebuke and a challenge to mainstream Jewish thought.
Jonathan Franzen's Moral Hazard
Jonathan Franzen’s ‘Purity’ contains some of his most powerful writing — and some of his clunkiest. Joshua Furst takes the pulse of our nation’s foremost purveyor of ‘morally serious fiction.’
In 'Alexandrian Summer,' Their Hearts Belong to Egypt
In ‘Alexandrian Summer,’ Egyptian-Jewish novelist and playwright, Yitzhak Gormezano Goren, explores whether faith or culture define who we are - and culture wins out.
Why I'm Protesting PEN's Award For Charlie Hebdo
PEN America will be awarding the Freedom of Expression Courage Award to Charlie Hebdo. Joshua Furst explains why he’s joining the protest against the honor.