Wesley Morris
Full Name and Common Aliases
Wesley Morris is an American journalist, critic, and culture writer.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on October 15, 1979.
Nationality and Profession(s)
American - Journalist, Critic, Culture Writer
Early Life and Background
Wesley Morris was born in Washington, D.C. to parents who were both educators. He grew up in a family that valued education and encouraged his interests in writing and storytelling from an early age. Morris's love for literature and music was fostered by his parents, who exposed him to the works of writers like Toni Morrison and James Baldwin.
Morris began writing at a young age, contributing to his high school newspaper and producing short stories and poetry. He went on to attend the University of Washington, where he studied English and creative writing. During his time in college, Morris worked as a journalist for the university's student-run newspaper, developing his skills as a writer and researcher.
Major Accomplishments
In 2006, Morris began his professional career as a staff writer at The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, where he covered arts and culture. He later moved to The Boston Globe in 2010, serving as the paper's first critic-at-large. During this time, Morris wrote extensively on film, television, music, and theater.
In 2016, Morris joined The New York Times as a staff writer and critic, covering popular culture for the newspaper's Opinion section. He has also appeared on various podcasts and media outlets, including NPR's "Fresh Air" and HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher."
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Morris's notable works include his book "Nothing to Lose: My Mother's Long Battle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder," which was published in 2015. He has also written essays for various publications, including The New Yorker and The Paris Review.
In addition to his writing, Morris is known for his podcasting work. In 2020, he co-hosted the podcast "Binge Mode" with Joanna Robinson, where they analyzed popular television shows. This podcast was later rebranded as "The Binge" in 2022, and Morris has continued to host it alongside Alex Pappademas.
Impact and Legacy
Morris's writing often explores the intersection of culture, identity, and social justice. His work has been widely praised for its nuance and sensitivity, particularly when addressing issues related to racism and sexism.
As a critic, Morris has been credited with helping shape the conversation around popular culture. He is known for his thoughtful analysis of films and television shows, often using these platforms as a way to explore broader themes about identity, community, and social change.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Morris's impact on contemporary cultural discourse cannot be overstated. His writing has been widely read and shared across various platforms, and he is frequently called upon by media outlets to offer his expertise on issues related to popular culture.
As a public intellectual, Morris's work continues to inspire new generations of writers, critics, and thinkers. His commitment to exploring the complexities of human experience through his writing makes him a significant figure in contemporary American cultural criticism.
Quotes by Wesley Morris
Suddenly, stories of abuse and harassment are being believed; abusers and harassers are being toppled. Yet, at the same time, one of the top movies in the country right now is 'Daddy's Home 2,' which has a biggish, comedic part for Mel Gibson. He's the man whose anti-Semitism and racist rants became part of the cultural lore.
Ms. Sciorra is a member of a dwindling fleet of actors who actually sound like they come from somewhere. In her case, 'somewhere' is Brooklyn. In most movies, and perhaps especially in a handful of singeing 'Sopranos' episodes, 'somewhere' makes her vital. She's what you'd call an around-the-way girl.
The difference between me and, say, the opera critic is that I'm charged with thinking about the world beyond opera. I could go see 'Die Fledermaus', for instance. I've never done any of this, by the way. I've never written about one opera since I've had this job.
Every once in a while with Twitter, you find something that breaks through the bilge and recrimination. Or sometimes, something finds you. One night, 'The Mechanics of History' found me.
'Savage' is a trait that might get you into business school or retweeted 10,000 times. It's what a kid might say after somebody does something awesome or gnarly or fierce: 'Oh, that's savage!' It's the skate park. It's the high-school cafeteria. It's the YouTube comments section.
The reason to do any barking - well, the reason for me - is that 'Three Billboards' feels so off about so many things. It's one of those movies that really do think they're saying something profound about human nature and injustice.
This country is rich with awful things to say about everybody. There's a slur for you and a slur for me - more than one. And because we're terrified of dealing with them head on, we've made them just as easy to warp and defang.
There is a tragic kind of joke. You really can't keep a man down - good but often otherwise - because history's mechanics are built to keep him climbing toward the top. Somehow, Icarus gets to be reborn as Iron Man.
If Judge Steven T. O'Neill sent Mr. Cosby away for the rest of his life, that sentence couldn't undo what he's convicted of having done to Andrea Constand, his accuser in two trials. It also can't undo what he once did for me, which was to make me believe in myself.
I couldn't have known how vertiginous the entire Huxtable project was. I was, like, 10, 13, 15 years old when the show was a thing. But eventually, I could see that Cliff became a play for respectability. 'This is how you comport yourself among white people, young black child. Take a little bit of Howard with you on your way to Harvard.'