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When artwork funded by the National Endowment for the Arts caused a commotion in the late '90s, the agency developed a transparent strategy for doling out public funds. That strategy will be applied as the NEA doles out the $50 million it received as part of the stimulus package.

This is the time of year when TV executives decide which shows should continue into the fall season, and which should be canceled. While poor ratings can help doom a series, a host of other factors contributes to the decision.

Laleh Khadivi's The Age of Orphans tells the story of a young Kurdish boy forced to join the Iranian army. The Siege, by Man Booker Prize Winner Ismail Kadare, gives us the tale of a medieval siege by a Turkish army of a Christian citadel in Kadare's native Albania.

Can superhero movies teach audiences about science? Dave Gibbons, author and artist of the Watchmen comic series, discusses the science behind the superheroes in his story. Physics professor James Kakalios talks about teaching science to the Watchmen actors and stuntmen.

Set in a tough Texas border town in the 1970s, Octavio Solis' new play Lydia is fast becoming one of the buzziest dramas of 2009. NPR's Neda Ulaby talks to the playwright about his inspirations — and his past.

Rowan LeCompte's wit and wonder have been on display in the stained glass windows of the Washington National Cathedral for more than half a century. Now, he's working on a final design — one that will bring light to one of the darkest works of his career, the cathedral's so-called Black Window.

In a final salute to National Poetry Month, Elizabeth Alexander talks about moving poetry away from the ivory tower and into people's lives. Alexander read a poem at President Obama's inauguration and is a professor of African-American studies at Yale University.

The popular No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency novels by Alexander McCall Smith have been made into a series for HBO. Jill Scott plays heroine Precious Ramotswe. In an article for The Daily Beast, Stanley Crouch hails her nuanced performance, and the show's depiction of Africa.

After six seasons on Showtime, The L Word aired its final episode on Sunday. It was the first show on TV aimed at a general audience that featured a largely lesbian cast. Now that it's over, there are no lead lesbian characters on mainstream TV.

Poet and professor Craig Arnold is a volcano enthusiast. Three days ago, he went missing on a Japanese island where he had gone to see a local volcano. He has visited many volcanoes around the world and written poems and essays about them. His colleague Peter Parolin talks about Arnold's life and passions.