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

A Texas Department of Public Safety helicopter buzzes past the Mount Carmel Branch Davidian compound in this March 27, 1993, file photo taken near Waco, Texas. The sprawling compound appears to be made of stucco, with a long ranch-style area and a multi-story unit towering over the rest. Bare scrubby trees surround the property. A banner hanging from the tall building reads Rodney King We Understand.

‘A Legacy of Rage’ in Waco

Fort Worth author Jeff Guinn offers a compelling account of the 1993 tragedy that still casts shadows on our political landscape today.

by David R. Brockman

Strangest State: Petty Drama, Electric Trucks and Hungry Bears

Fighting with your ex- in city council chambers? Ursine invaders with a taste for tacos? Just another day in far-flung Texas.

by Texas Observer Staff

A broken granite obelisk balances, seemingly impossibly, on its point upon a pyramid of granite. This sculpture stands before Houston's Rothko Chapel, a rectangular grey brick building, seen under a clear sky at dusk.

Meditations on Life and Death at Houston’s Rothko Chapel

The 1971 temple to art and contemplation is still revealing its magic to visitors.

by Arman Badrei

An tiny old, white-painted rustic wooden chapel stands in a Texas field under a sky with storm clouds rolling in.

A Question with No Easy Answers

Brian McLaren's book "Do I Stay Christian?" challenges the faithful to examine the harm caused by modern religion.

by Wendi Gordon

RGV Punk Rocker Makes It Big on the Silver Screen

After growing up near the border in McAllen, Raul Castillo developed a lifelong love of acting and writing plays.

by Gregory Wakeman

David Hornsby, a white guy with a mustache, holds his hands out at his sides, palms up. He's wearing a long dark blue flannel shirt over dark pants, and sunglasses.

A Video Game Christmas with Mythic Quest

Though he grew up in Houston playing them, the Apple TV sitcom, now in season three, gave David Hornsby a deeper appreciation for the gaming industry.

by Gregory Wakeman

The facade of a shop in a row of shops, with a sign reading "bookshop" in clear block letters. Books and an Open sign are displayed in the window. Texas bookstores, and books about Texas, thrived in 2022.

Last Dance with Ann Richards: Best Texas Books of 2022

How Galvestonians used to dance until they dropped (for fun), a former figure skater turned journalist, and other Lone Star State stories.

by Lise Olsen

Kneeling, Brooke Tarrer, a white woman woman in white clothes with a red sash, holds a printout with a prayer on it, in front of a person seated cross-legged on a rug, about to smoke bufo. A smoldering fire pit is nearby, and another congregant crouches watching behind them.

A Bad Trip with the Toad Shaman

Psychedelic churches charge thousands to teach practitioners to administer bufo, a trendy “sacrament.” Experts warn these programs are ripe for abuse.

by Andrew Logan

Dressed in black, Jason David Frank does a martial arts-style punch towards the camera, with his other fist held near his face in a defensive position.

For Texans, Jason David Frank Leaves Behind ‘Mighty’ Strong Memories

The original Green Ranger is fondly remembered at fan conventions from Dallas to Victoria.

by Craig Lindsey

Culture

Sign up for The Lede