Sinners, Vampires, and the Fight for the Future of Culture

Ryan Coogler’s bold new film is a parable for creatives, capitalism, and the soul of American music.

Photograph: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures

There’s been a strangely synchronous sentiment on the cultural airwaves of late—a bit of ambient chatter about something difficult to name. Despite all the fresh forms of media and expression that define our era, many are identifying—rightly or wrongly—a creeping cultural stagnation in the arts.

Consider W. Da…