#pop-culture

#pop-culture

tendency manifests in statements and gestures that are, at their best, a bumper sticker tagline about how Republicans are a bunch of Dementors from Harry Potter , or at worst, literal fascist propaganda dressed in 's imagery . Even just yesterday, as we headed into election night, the official social media accounts of the Democratic party were using my favorite song from KPop Demon Hunters to paint President Donald Trump as an agent of the evil, soul-eating demon Gwi-ma, and it gave me the ick.

Cougars. The term is finally taking on a whole new meaning. Traditionally, it's been used derogatorily to label older women who date younger men as predatory. But now, there's a reclamation happening, and you only need to look at TikTok to see it. There are currently over 113,000 videos under the hashtag #CougarTok , and more than twice that number under #cougar . The videos aren't just thirst traps or jokes; they're sparking conversations about age-gap relationships that feel fresh, confident and celebratory.

1 Which media giant began in 1997 as a DVD rental service? 2 Which Hindu god is often depicted holding a bowl of sweets? 3 #BalanceTonPorc was the French counterpart of which movement? 4 Which fruit frequently contains a dead wasp? 5 In what Asian language does one, two sound like itchy knee? 6 Slugworth, Prodnose and Fickelgruber were whose commercial rivals? 7 What competition does Alaska's Katmai national park hold each autumn? 8 Cornwall in 1337 was the first English creation of what?

He cites the example of "Communion: A True Story" (1987), the bestseller in which horror author Whitley Strieber describes his alleged alien encounters the book was later was later made into a film starring Christopher Walken. "The book's cover featured the now-iconic grey face the kind seen by people who've claimed to have had abduction experiences or first contact events [with aliens]," he tells DW.

Kevin Garnett hits the over on steals. Kevin Garnett hits the over on blocks. Kevin Garnett hits the over on points. Celtics win the opening tip. Adam Sandler's character bets big on KG having a really good night. I was just stretching my legs out! (Season 2 of Curb Your Enthusiasm) BA-BA-BA-BA-BA-BASKETBALL GIMME GIMME GIMME THE BALL BECAUSE I'M GONNA ________ IT. How will people know it's about basketball?

Yoga's introduction to the West began in the late 1800s, but it wasn't until the early 1990s that yoga began to gain in pop culture popularity. Suddenly, yoga was everywhere. Celebrities including Sting (featured on a YJ cover in December 1995), Madonna, and Oprah touted the benefits of the practice; magazines began to feature the practice, noting its benefits in health and fitness columns; and it started to show up in movies and sitcoms.

Only someone living under a rock or in House Speaker Mike Johnson's 1950s fantasy America, doesn't know that the Super Bowl halftime show is one of the most anticipated performances of the year. It's not just about football. It's a pop culture phenomenon and capitalism rolled into just 15 minutes. Even people who don't know the difference between an extra point and a field goal tune in for the music, the costumes, the surprise guests,

"Brand building is a bit like pointillism ... Every time you activate your brand, you're placing a dot in somebody's brain," said Kaplan, explaining that those individual dots cluster over time to form richer perceptions of a brand. Marketers who have a strong grasp of such perceptions can act with confidence on whether and how to deploy their brands in different cultural contexts while those who don't may simply create more noise.

I love The Simpsons. It's also the worst thing on television. Revealing yourself as a Simpsons fan comes with inevitable qualifiers: Not the new episodes! Most people want their favourite show to last as long as miserly TV executives will allow. Not me. I would gladly see The Simpsons sent to the knacker's yard, rather than given a second movie, as was announced earlier this week.

"One of my students asked if I knew a song that they had put in their recent 'oldies' playlist. I gave them permission to play it since we were near the end of the period, and everyone was just finishing up their last tasks. I was expecting them to play something by The Beatles or Queen, or whatever else, so I was absolutely stunned when they started playing 'Closer' by The Chainsmokers. Huh?!?" -Ryan, California

On the first day of this year's US Open, Alexandra Eala came back from 5-1 down in the third set to upset Clara Tauson in front of a rapturous crowd, Novak Djokovic rope-a-doped a fresher opponent barely half his age, Rebeka Masarova hit an overhead smash into the only racket-sized area inside the lines that would ensure she lost the point, and Daniil Medvedev all but incited a riot in the stands of Louis Armstrong Stadium while down match point.

Cyndi Lauper burst forth in the '80s and conquered everything, quickly becoming the queen of the nascent MTV and leaving a significant mark in pop culture.

SpongeBob SquarePants has achieved brand recognition similar to cultural icons like Mickey Mouse and Looney Tunes, becoming a powerful $16 billion global brand.

During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Butler shared that not only did he think he'd be given the opportunity to simply disappear into the audience with all the other attendees, but he was also given an edible just before the show.

"We don't normally get this kind of publicity from an artist that's at the peak of their popularity. This is like a gift from heaven."

Say what you want, go ahead, try to insult me. I'm sulking, I'm sulking. All press is good press. 'Hey JoJo, you're a mess' - OK?

Earlier this week I published a crossword about six hours late, and I promised to make it up with a bonus puzzle.

Beyoncé’s Levi’s 'Reiimagine' campaign effectively blends sensuality and self-awareness, revisiting nostalgia while making it relevant and empowering, resulting in a significant revenue increase for Levi's.

Ben Platt, delivering an unexpected cover of Addison Rae's 'Diet Pepsi', showcased a unique musical blend that surprised fans and elevated the Culture Awards with its fierceness.

"Pee-wee's Big Adventure" not only introduced audiences at large to Paul Reubens' wild comic creation, it also welcomed us into the heightened world of Tim Burton.