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Culture

‘Earth Has No Sorrow’: Visions of a Caldwell County Long Gone

The Observer resurfaces a 50-year-old collection of fine arts photography and unique oral history.

by Dee Azadian

Keep Reading

Houston’s ‘Living Archive’ of Migration

by Jesús Jank Curbelo

Houston’s Historic Black Theater at 50

by Brooke Lewis

Can We Survive Naomi Klein’s Depiction of ‘End Times Fascism’?

by Josephine Lee

In a black and white photo, Molly Ivins, wearing a skirt and sleeveless shirt over a white blouse, laughs as Carlton Carl, in a tuxedo and bow tie, gestures dramatically next to her. Jan 08, 2024

Texas Observer: Covering What Others Won’t

From reader to publisher, Carlton Carl has been part of our publication for most of its 70 years.

by Eva Ruth Moravec

The March/April issue of the Texas Observer, featuring some of our best work in 2023. The cover depicts a cartoon of young boy dressed as a militia member. Dec 26, 2023

Top 20 Stories From the Year We Nearly Went Under

After roaring back with an issue on women’s health, we exposed heat deaths at Tesla and USPS, went after Angela Paxton, and broke news on queer rights.

by Lise Olsen and Gabriel Arana

A fancy car is parked in front of a luxury apartment building, all glass windows, with Christmas lights in the trees. The effect is festive but sterile. Dec 15, 2023

Poem: From There to Here

A silhouette, stationed at his Dallas valet stand awaiting the healthy, the wealthy, the privileged, the favored.

by Ann Graham

A checkerboard of book covers from TXO's roundup of the best books of 2023 Dec 13, 2023

The Texas Observer’s 2023 Must-Read Lone Star Books

From poetic dreamworlds to the people’s hospital, Texas authors paint very different portraits of our diverse state.

by Lise Olsen

A shadowy photo of Ku Klux Klan members, silhouetted in their white robes by a burning bonfire. Dec 12, 2023

Unmasking the Klansman

A new book reveals the untold story of a Ku Klux Klan member’s literary double life.

by Paul Stekler

A lone figure in a white clothing, seen from behind, stands artfully framed in the glass doorway of an old-fashioned. but well cared for church in the rural countryside. Dec 08, 2023

Phạm Thiên Ân: From ‘Yellow Cocoon’ to Cannes

A Vietnamese filmmaker with Houston ties reveals more about his contemplative, award-winning film.

by Nguyên Lê

A random scattering of crescent shapes from the leaves reflecting on a gray painted brick wall, with the leaves acting like pinhole cameras during the eclipse. Dec 01, 2023

Strangest State: Eclipses and Flying Snakes

A young teen reporter covers the Ken Paxton impeachment on typewriter, serpents fall from the sky and more dispatches from far-flung Texas.

by Texas Observer Staff

Two visitors to Meow Wolf Grapevine stand among the neon signs at the Neon Kingdom, one pointing as she looks through paper refractive glasses and the other lifts his glasses to look at what she's pointing at. Nov 20, 2023

Beyond the Refrigerator Door

Multifaceted, multidimensional, Meow Wolf is "art for everybody."

by Kit O'Connell

A cartoon depicts Ken Paxton watching The Godfather on TV, wearing a mafia-style ostentatious purple suit and fedora hat. On TV, Michael Corleone is saying, "Today, I settled all family business..." As Ken Paxton reacts with utter glee, "Yes! Oh YES!" Caption: Ken Paxton's favorite! The line in "The Godfather" in which Michael Corleone announces he has just had all his enemies whacked ... Nov 17, 2023

Loon Star State: Whacked

"A man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man."—Vito Corleone

by Ben Sargent

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