How ancient cultures explained eclipses
The sun was worshiped as a deity in many cultures – and witnessing it get extinguished could be a particularly terrifying event.
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Arts + Culture – Articles, Analysis, Opinion
Displaying 1 - 25 of 541 articles
How subversive artists made thrift shopping cool
Over the past 100 years, discarded and secondhand goods have been used by artists to reject mainstream aesthetics.
Are men seen as ‘more American’ than women?
In the first study of the relationship between gender and national identity, the authors wonder if the answer might explain why the country still hasn't had a female vice president or president.
The slippery slope of the oligarchy media model
There are some benefits to the uptick in billionaire newspaper and magazine owners, who can weather short-term losses for the sake of long-term gains. But whose interests are really being served?
The untold stories of women in the 1967 Detroit rebellion and its aftermath
In the film 'Detroit,' the voices of women are largely absent.
Can transgender TV characters help bridge an ideological divide?
In the wake of Trump’s proposed transgender military ban, new research highlights the potential for entertainment –more than news coverage – to open minds on even the most polarizing issues.
Rural America: Where Sam Shepard’s roots ran deepest
To the recently deceased playwright, the nation's greatest tragedy was its move from an agricultural society to an urban, industrial one.
Why Detroit exploded in the summer of 1967
Fifty years ago, Jeffrey Horner watched news broadcasts of the riots that erupted just miles from his home. But he was worlds apart from the racial tensions that had been festering for decades.
Why the creators of ‘13 Reasons Why’ should pay attention to the spike in suicide-related Google searches
Researchers found that suicide-related searches soared in the weeks after the show's release. What are the broader public health implications?
Henry David Thoreau’s views of 19th-century media resonate today
Thoreau spent his life pursuing the 'hard bottom' of truth. But he confronted a sensationalist newspaper industry that, in many ways, mimicked today's media environment.
The backstory behind the unions that bought a Chicago Sun-Times stake
The newspaper's new owners harken back to a tradition of labor-led media in the early part of the 20th century, which represented a bulwark against corporate power.
How public feuds on social media and reality TV play out in court
Should reality stars be warned that everything they say can and will be used against them in a court of law? Turns out, it's complicated.
The Library of Congress opened its catalogs to the world. Here’s why it matters
Catalog data are a library's most important map to knowledge. What does it mean that
the Library of Congress just released 25 million records to the public?
Dunkirk survivors’ terror didn’t end when they were rescued
Moviegoers get a hint of why Dunkirk stayed with those who lived through it, but an online archive of survivors' stories offers more depth.
Combatting stereotypes about Appalachian dialects
The founder of the West Virginia Dialect Project hopes to debunk some of the myths about the way Appalachian people speak and instill pride in a rich, oft-maligned culture.
How ‘Game of Thrones’ became TV’s first global blockbuster
A unique set of circumstances allowed HBO to beat Netflix to the punch.
CNN-Reddit saga exposes tension between the internet, anonymity and power
The national story of an anonymous Reddit user's post – and the threat to unmask him – raises important questions about the role of online communication in our society.
Why some Arab countries want to shutter Al Jazeera
When the network launched in 1996, it radically changed the media landscape of the Arab world. Two decades later, some regimes are still seething.
Andrew Wyeth and the artist’s fragile reputation
His rise was just as swift as his fall. To mark the painter's 100th birthday, an art historian explores the forces – cultural, political and personal – that created a polarizing legacy.
Millennial bashing in medieval times
The anxiety that young people are messing things up goes back centuries.
How Spam became one of the most iconic American brands of all time
Eighty years ago, Hormel Foods introduced a simple, canned meat product called Spam. It would go on to become one of the greatest marketing success stories of all time.
Putin’s flacks: Russia’s stealth public relations war
Russia has seized upon loopholes in lobbying laws, hiring PR firms to influence American public opinion and policy in ways that advance Russia's strategic interests.
How the homeless create homes
Even though they don't consistently have a roof over their heads, the homeless do their best to create a routine, form communities and make a home – just like the rest of society.
The iPhone turns 10 – and it’s isolated us, not united us
How has the first generation of kids to grow up with the iPhone been affected?
Women in horror: Victims no more
According to a recent study, horror is the only film genre where women appear and speak as often as men.