#cultural-analysis

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#film-review

Review | 'Anora' is a tough, terrific working-girl saga

Ani from "Anora" serves as a modern sweetheart, reflecting the struggles of sex work amid the gig economy.

The Guide #165: How Paddington affected a quiet takeover of the cultural landscape

Paddington's third film, while enjoyable, is a step down from its predecessors and explores themes of migration and home.

Americans don't want to see a Trump movie but elsewhere it's a different story

The Apprentice offers an unexpectedly sincere portrayal of Donald Trump's early years, attempting to capture emotional truth despite polarized reactions.

The Trap of Making a Trump Biopic

The Apprentice lacks depth in exploring Donald Trump's early career.
Sebastian Stan's performance highlights Trump's complexity despite the film's shortcomings.

The Apprentice' Review: An Origin Story for Donald J. Trump

The Apprentice humanizes Donald Trump as an American striver, reflecting a complex narrative of ambition and success.

Review | 'Anora' is a tough, terrific working-girl saga

Ani from "Anora" serves as a modern sweetheart, reflecting the struggles of sex work amid the gig economy.

The Guide #165: How Paddington affected a quiet takeover of the cultural landscape

Paddington's third film, while enjoyable, is a step down from its predecessors and explores themes of migration and home.

Americans don't want to see a Trump movie but elsewhere it's a different story

The Apprentice offers an unexpectedly sincere portrayal of Donald Trump's early years, attempting to capture emotional truth despite polarized reactions.

The Trap of Making a Trump Biopic

The Apprentice lacks depth in exploring Donald Trump's early career.
Sebastian Stan's performance highlights Trump's complexity despite the film's shortcomings.

The Apprentice' Review: An Origin Story for Donald J. Trump

The Apprentice humanizes Donald Trump as an American striver, reflecting a complex narrative of ambition and success.
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Tang Contemporary Art's 'Uncanny Cuteness' Explores the Power of Playful Aesthetics | stupidDOPE

Cuteness shapes culture and politics, as evidenced by Tang Contemporary Art's 'Uncanny Cuteness' exhibition exploring deep social messages through whimsical artwork.

A Wonderful World Is Also a Familiar One

Biopics in musical theatre struggle with formulaic storytelling, yet innovative approaches can differentiate them.
A Wonderful World showcases the predictable elements of a bio-musical focused on Louis Armstrong.
#literature

A new book charts the history of horror from the Salem Witch Trials to Stephen King

Horror reflects American societal fears, revealing cultural anxieties and shaping national identity.

Eight Nonfiction Books That Will Frighten You

True crime has evolved into a genre that not only entertains but also prompts deeper questions about societal issues and victim narratives.

Halloween Sale on our Monsters!! Online Course - Medievalists.net

Monsters in literature reveal societal fears and norms, serving as tools for commentary and reflection through history.

Why Alice Munro's Work Felt so Empty

The moral integrity of artists like Alice Munro can complicate our appreciation of their work.

Is the Twentieth-Century Novel a Genre?

Literary genres are complex and elusive, challenging the definitions and categories traditionally used in literary criticism.

A new book charts the history of horror from the Salem Witch Trials to Stephen King

Horror reflects American societal fears, revealing cultural anxieties and shaping national identity.

Eight Nonfiction Books That Will Frighten You

True crime has evolved into a genre that not only entertains but also prompts deeper questions about societal issues and victim narratives.

Halloween Sale on our Monsters!! Online Course - Medievalists.net

Monsters in literature reveal societal fears and norms, serving as tools for commentary and reflection through history.

Why Alice Munro's Work Felt so Empty

The moral integrity of artists like Alice Munro can complicate our appreciation of their work.

Is the Twentieth-Century Novel a Genre?

Literary genres are complex and elusive, challenging the definitions and categories traditionally used in literary criticism.
moreliterature

Lioness Recap: You're in the Gray Now

Lioness critiques U.S. imperialism through a complex narrative, blending political commentary with themes of survival and moral ambiguity in warfare.

Trump Is the Most Dominant Figure of the 21st Century

Donald Trump's presence in media and politics remains inescapable, altering perceptions and demonstrating the power of spectacle over reality.

The hot mom rom-com phenomenon

The hot mom rom-com boom showcases evolving portrayals of motherhood yet often retains outdated genre tropes.

How Women Used Cookbooks to Fight for Their Right to Vote

Mrs. Banks illustrates long-standing arguments against women's suffrage, highlighting perceptions of motherhood and societal roles.

Hear Edgar Allan Poe's Horror Stories Read by Vincent Price, Christopher Lee, James Earl Jones, William S. Burroughs & Others

Poe's works explore the depths of horror and human obsession, presenting an unsettling glimpse into guilt and mortality.
from Conde Nast Traveler
3 weeks ago

Nora Ephron's Beautiful, Flawed Representation of New York City

Nora Ephron's films create a romanticized vision of New York City filled with optimism and possibility, despite its more complex realities.

The Science behind Why We Seek Out Fear

Humans have a complex fascination with fear, influenced by cultural and historical contexts that celebrate rather than condemn violent experiences.

10 most popular billionaire names revealed - is your baby destined to be super-rich?

Choosing traditional names may boost children's future financial prospects.
#politics

Opinion | Kamala Harris Isn't Bluffing

The River community prioritizes calculated risk-taking over the consensus decision-making of the Village, impacting both society and economy.

Red car, blue car: see where your ride ranks on the political spectrum

Consumer choices in vehicles reveal political leanings, with distinct patterns correlating certain cars to Republican or Democratic preferences.

Opinion | Kamala Harris Isn't Bluffing

The River community prioritizes calculated risk-taking over the consensus decision-making of the Village, impacting both society and economy.

Red car, blue car: see where your ride ranks on the political spectrum

Consumer choices in vehicles reveal political leanings, with distinct patterns correlating certain cars to Republican or Democratic preferences.
morepolitics
#music

Are There Limits to What Taylor Swift Can Do? We Might Have Found One.

Taylor Swift's lyrics serve as emotional expression similar to poetry, resonating deeply with her audience.

Contributors to Scientific American's November 2024 Issue

Miriam Quick and Duncan Geere turn data into emotionally resonant music, enhancing understanding of complex information beyond traditional graphs.

Are There Limits to What Taylor Swift Can Do? We Might Have Found One.

Taylor Swift's lyrics serve as emotional expression similar to poetry, resonating deeply with her audience.

Contributors to Scientific American's November 2024 Issue

Miriam Quick and Duncan Geere turn data into emotionally resonant music, enhancing understanding of complex information beyond traditional graphs.
moremusic

Secret Lives of Mormon Wives Keeps the Transgressions Coming

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives combines the drama of traditional reality shows with a unique cultural lens of Mormonism.

'Understanding our things in action': innovative book gives new life to objects owned by 18th-century artists

The book exposes overlooked personal belongings of 18th-century French artists, innovatively challenging traditional narratives of artists' lives.

Millennials Are Now Pining for Their Youth. Welcome.

Aging Millennials share more experiences with Gen X than previously thought, reflecting on societal challenges and cultural representation.
#television

Wait, 'Emily in Paris' and 'Industry' Are Kind of the Same Show

'Emily in Paris' and 'Industry' reflect contrasting responses to American ambition abroad during the pandemic.

Frasier season two review so old-fashioned at points it makes you dizzy

Veteran comedians successfully blend nostalgia with modern comedic themes in recent shows.

Wait, 'Emily in Paris' and 'Industry' Are Kind of the Same Show

'Emily in Paris' and 'Industry' reflect contrasting responses to American ambition abroad during the pandemic.

Frasier season two review so old-fashioned at points it makes you dizzy

Veteran comedians successfully blend nostalgia with modern comedic themes in recent shows.
moretelevision

Dad TV Is for Everyone Now

Dad TV's traditional depiction of fathers solving problems has evolved to reflect diverse viewer demographics, appealing equally to men and women.

Why is Warren Beatty Still Dressing Up as Dick Tracy?

Warren Beatty continues to play Dick Tracy, revitalizing a once-popular character during the later stages of his career.

Opinion | Donald Trump and the Meaning of a Raised Fist

Political gestures have become essential to political rhetoric, reflecting cultural shifts since the late 20th century.
Trump's response post-assassination attempt exemplifies the evolution and significance of political gestures.

Before Woodstock '99 Was a Nightmare, It Was One Town's Dream

Woodstock '99 became a chaotic social experiment, contrasting sharply with the peace and love ideals of the original festival.

A Disappointing Three Women Adaptation Spotlights One Woman Too Many

Lisa Taddeo's adaptation of her book 'Three Women' struggles to replicate the intimacy and connection present in the original work.

The urgent message of 'Rebels with a Cause'- Harvard Gazette

Cultural narratives must embrace deeper emotional truths to foster understanding and connection among boys and men.

Why Summer Is the Real Spooky Season for Girls

The relationship between girlhood and summer reveals both nostalgia and emotional discomfort, often amplified by societal expectations around joy and freedom.

25 Movies That Define the Goth-Cinema Canon

Goth cinema defines a subculture through its multifaceted themes and visuals, exploring romance and horror intertwined with broader artistic expressions.

Don't Think Too Hard About Little Orphan Annie. It Might Break Your Brain.

Annie represents self-determination and optimism, but her narrative misrepresents orphanhood and the realities of American child welfare.

Concerning the Future of Souls: 99 Stories of Azrael by Joy Williams review brilliantly deadpan

The contradictions in American spirituality shape its culture and literature, revealing an underlying strangeness.

Why Cowboy Carter is Beyonce's Most Divisive Album Yet

Beyoncé's latest album is a blend of country soul with multiple genres
Exploration of avant-garde film and documentary on Steve Martin

Meet 12 Asteroid Shots in AI

The Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI funds innovative projects that leverage AI to address scientific or societal challenges.
One of the funded projects uses AI to explore the social lives of concepts to better understand culture and identify effective interventions.

What's Behind a Microtrend?

Sydney Gore's trendspotting ability stems from her knack for weaving together various cultural elements like fashion, movies, memes, and more to reflect larger societal moments.
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