Listen to Culture Gabfest No. 336 with Stephen Metcalf, Dana Stevens, and Julia Turner with the audio player below.

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This week on Slate Plus, the critics weigh in on the question that Dana recently answered for the New York Times Book Review: Is writing a job or a calling?

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On this week’s Slate Culture Gabfest, the critics are joined by Slate music critic Carl Wilson. First up: the Academy Awards. From a sartorial snoozefest on the red carpet to Neil Patrick Harris’ flat hosting, this year’s ceremony was a racially uncomfortable slog. Then the critics discuss Björk’s album Vulnicura, which chronicles her separation from artist Matthew Barney. And finally: A debate rages between Seth Stevenson and Fred Kaplan on Slate. Does fancy sound equipment improve the experience of listening to music, or is it all just technological snake oil? The gabbers chime in.

Links to some of the things we discussed this week follow:

• Wesley Morris’ Oscar recap
• The Economy of Prestige
• Dan Kois’ piece on the Boyhood snub on Slate
• John Legend and Common’s acceptance speech
• Lady Gaga’s Julie Andrews tribute
• Graham Moore’s acceptance speech
• Patricia Arquette’s acceptance speech
• Andrew O’Hehir’s take on Birdman
• Vulnicura
• Carl Wilson’s review of Vulnicura on Slate
• “Birthday” by the Sugarcubes in English and in Icelandic
• Seth Stevenson’s takedown of audiophiles on Slate
• Fred Kaplan defends his audiophilia on Slate

Endorsements:

Dana: Björk’s videos for “Triumph of a Heart” and “It’s Oh So Quiet” directed by Spike Jonze

Julia: “Just Checking In” by Virginia Heffernan and Paul Ford

Carl: All Our Happy Days Are Stupid and the album Your Blues by Destroyer

Steve: Pamela, Or Virtue Rewarded on Project Gutenberg and tennis

Outro: “Triumph of a Heart” by Björk

You can email us at culturefest@slate.com.

This podcast was produced by Ann Heppermann. Our intern is Lindsey Albracht.

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