Consider This from NPR

Why We Can't Resist 'Best Of' Lists

Jan 7, 2023

Aisha Harris and Stephen Thompson, hosts of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour, dive into the world of 'best of' lists that spark both joy and outrage. They discuss the recent backlash against Rolling Stone’s greatest singers list, tackling the exclusion of icons like Celine Dion. The conversation explores the complexities of rankings, the need for inclusivity, and how these lists influence audience choices. They also examine the evolving cultural canon and the role of these rankings in shaping our appreciation of art and cinema.

15:47

Creator website

Episode guests

Stephen Thompson

Aisha Harris

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Art of Ranking: Greatest Singers Explained

6min

The Complications of Ranking Art

3min

The Evolving Canon: Celebrating Art Across Time

2min

Curating Cinema: The Impact of Best-Of Lists

3min

'Tis the season for lists! Best films of the year, best albums, best podcasts. Lists can provoke strong emotions- from spirited debate to outrage - over who or what made the cut or ranked higher.

This week, Rolling Stone magazine faced backlash over their list of the 200 greatest singers of all time, which omitted some big names (Celine Dion, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole to name a few)

Lists! We love to hate them. and yet they are almost irresistible. Can they function as more than just clickbait?

NPR's Andrew Limbong talks to Aisha Harris and Stephen Thompson, hosts of Pop Culture Happy Hour.

Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoices

NPR Privacy Policy

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.