A mainstay in New York City’s art circles, Natasha Stagg released her first novel, Surveys, in 2016. The book reflected the realities and woes of the social-media age, and duly resonated with hip younger readers. She followed with 2019’s Sleeveless: Fashion, Image, Media, New York 2011–2019, a collection of essays, and in late October a new collection of criticism, titled Artless, is due. In light of this release, Metrograph has invited Stagg to introduce two films that have “occupied an outsized role in her personal and creative life.” She has chosen the 1995 black comedy Welcome to the Dollhouse and the 1977 Martin Scorsese drama New York, New York. Stagg acknowledges that the movies “might seem two selections that couldn’t have less in common.” Yet, in line with a theme Stagg often confronts in her writing, both works “represent outsiders looking in, or further out, as it may be.” —Jack Sullivan

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