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The following podcast contains explicit language.

I'm Stephen Metcalf, and this is the Slate Culture Gap Fest, Log-Toting Salinger edition. It's Wednesday, September 11th, 2013. On today's show, the new documentary film, Salinger. And then, what has happened to the idea of popularity? You would think it would be totally straightforward and simple? It's not. We'll discuss with Adam Sternberg, the culture editor of the New York Times magazine. And finally, The Onion. Some say it's our greatest op-ed page. Some say, it's no longer funny. We'll sort through the variety of opinions in our third segment. Joining me today is Slate's deputy editor. Is that what you are? It's what I am. Why would that have changed? I don't know. I mean, don't you feel somehow shrunken now that John Swansberg is editorial director? It's not about titles. Do you report to John? John reports to me. Oh, there we go. No wonder. And still only Slate's film critic. Still and ever. Yeah. Loest on the pecking order. Dana Stevens. Someone's got to go see that movie. Hey, Dana. Hi, Steve. I really like the idea of calling her a Dana.

Someone's got to go see that movie, Steve.

That really is our approach to film criticism here.

Oh, man.

Well, we'll get to Salinger, which is one of those movies that someone had to go see.

Exactly.

But first, we have a little PSA.

Yeah, a thrilling announcement. Next week, we will be recording our show from the Slate Retreat and the exciting mountains of New Paltz, New York. And

that means we will be doing a call-in show. We're going to take advantage of our punchy cabin

fever to do it calling. And our rural isolation.

And our rural isolation and our inability to go see movies that weekend by taking questions from you.

So please call us, leave us a voicemail and ask us anything.

You can ask us embarrassing questions about pop culture.

You can ask us highfalutin questions about

literature, you can ask us about toenail polish. We will field any and all queries, but we are

most interested in questions about culture, high and low. And we will also entertain, we will be

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