938 posts tagged with culture.
Displaying 1 through 50 of 938. Subscribe:
Applied historical perspective re: surviving economic inequality?
I've had a thought in the back of my mind for a long time that we (the US at least) are moving back towards the Gilded Age, and possibly even Victorian England, in terms of levels of inequality and economic stratification coupled with legal oppression of certain groups (in the past, perhaps Catholics; today, perhaps.... a long list of other identities).
Has anyone written a kind of "here's what works" retrospective on surviving and thriving in those contexts, with an aim towards guiding people today based on what we know about the past? [more inside]
Custom lucha libre choreography - where? How?
My partner and I think it would be fun to surprise friends with a choreographed lucha libre fight. How can we make it happen? Willing to travel. [more inside]
Any Nebula recommendations?
So, a few people I watch on youtube are on Nebula and have mentioned the streaming service on their videos (Big Joel, FD Signifier, Sarah Z, Maggie Mae Fish). I bought a subscription, and while there are a handful of videos I can watch now from creators I know that aren't otherwise available, and no commercials and so on is nice.... It just seems like a slightly less annoying way to get YouTube content. What am I missing? Is there anyone I should check out?
What’s in your liberal arts starter pack for preteens?
Think back to when you were 10-13. Was there anything - a book, a song, a painting, a film - that made you realize these things are more than just entertainment? Playing fast and loose with the definitions but I’m talking about literature versus books, cinema versus film, etc.
Was there anything that just kind of opened your eyes and made you appreciate things in a more “grown up” way? What were those gateway pieces of media?
(Please don’t quibble with the premise as it’s been a long week… thank you!)
ISO Books/Podcasts About Bad Leadership in Companies
Can you point me towards books or podcast episodes about bad leadership or problematic corporate culture? Preferably things that are compelling stories/easily digestible, but really I just want to learn about businesses or companies that had bad culture or leadership and what happened to them. Thanks in advance! [more inside]
Work in wildlife conservation (the office kind) -- what is it like?
I'm considering taking a job at a wildlife/nature conservation nonprofit, but I have not worked in this sector/industry before. The job is a management role in the office, so not fieldwork/research/fieldwork. Does anyone have any experience working in this sector (in any role) and could share their experiences? [more inside]
Some historical context on the reception of The Village?
I recently watched Shyamalan's Trap and had some big thoughts about how weird it was, and the interesting way it was garbage and showcased his worst traits as a creator.
To make sure I wasn't crazy, I re-watched The Village, which had a mixed critical reception but in my mind was a well crafted and very interesting, engaging story told well.
The rewatch did not change my mind. [more inside]
Ontario to BC road trip optimization
Anyone have any recommendations for routes to take between Hamilton, Ontario and Squamish British Columbia, with an emphasis on the best camping opportunities and points of interest …and motorcycling opportunities?
Buenos Aires tips and questions
Wow. B.A. hasn't had a tourist-related question in a while, and same for Argentina as a whole. So here we go. I have questions about paying for things, and then general advice seeking for things that aren't the standard fair as I am going to get all of that anyway. [more inside]
What’s on in Scandinavia this autumn?
I'm visiting Denmark, Sweden, and Norway during the first half of October, with the possibility of adding days at the end of September too (the precise schedule hasn’t been set yet). Hoping I'll have a lot of free time during my stay, I'd like to hear about interesting events and opportunities for unique activities that time of year. I'd be down for anything anywhere, especially stuff related to local cultures, nature, history, and food. Speaking of food, is October too late in the season for something like a guided foraging course somewhere in the region? [more inside]
Women literary/intellectual figures
I was just reading an article about Susan Sontag, and was somewhat surprised to realize I've never read any of her writing. I also just recently read Joan Didion for the first time. What other significant women literary figures or public intellectuals have I missed out on? From any era. I'm not asking about women writers generally, but the kind of writers who create "culture" (in the old fashioned use of the term), about whom magazine profiles are written, and who are asked to comment on the zeitgeist. Anne Fadiman is probably another example.
Multiculturalism in Slovakia c. 1900: Melting Pot or Salad Bowl?
My wife's father's ancestry was always kind of vaguely handwaved as "Austria-Hungary," but I know Austria-Hungary was more of a political union than any kind of overriding cultural identity. Her paternal grandfather emigrated from Slovenia, and his cultural identity seems pretty clearly aligned with that from his immigration paperwork. OTOH … [more inside]
What do Americans mean when they say someone is "classy" or "pure class"
It seems to be a compliment, something about good manners or something ... but what do people (mainly Americans) really mean when they say this?
There are two types of people in this world.
Tell me some more about two types of people. [more inside]
What is this fabric print style?
In an article about Tidiane Thiam, I saw this picture of him with some other members of the Democratic Party of Ivory Coast (PDCI-RDA). The party members are wearing these shirts made with a distinctive print that has squares filled with geometric patterns, like a quilt with a stricter unity across squares. Does this style have a name or a historical background?
Best Advice for being an exchange student and host family
I Need ideas of how to be an awesome exchange student and an awesome host family. [more inside]
Has someone compiled a list of musical references from F.D Signifier?
F.D Signifier's most recent video is packed with many references to music that isn't part of my life.
I'm particularly curious about the more recent black musical artists influenced by punk and rock that he flashed a few images in the video to reference, but dropped no names. [more inside]
Interactive simulation for population growth and dynamics?
As a kid, I learned complex concepts by playing with simulations. John Conway's Game of Life is a perfect example, but I also spent a lot of time in 3D physics simulators playing with gravity, etc.
One of the most complex concepts I've thought about for years has to do with how ideologies and institutions affect population growth over time. For example, some life philosophies (eg fundamentalist religion) lend themselves to population growth and others (eg secular liberalism) seem to lead to decline.
Are there any interactive simulations I (and my family) can play with that show population change over time as a result of various variables? It could be as simple as showing a few different populations - each with a different average number of children - and fast forwarding a few generations to see the results. [more inside]
Finding weird, fun, cutting-edge internet culture in a post-SEO world
Most of us would probably agree that the internet now sucks. Is there a practical way to reframe my approach to how I use the internet so that I can still discover cool, new, interesting people and ideas, without wading through sixteen tons of angry garbage? (I'm seeking problem-solving strategies to make lemonade from lemons, not "just give up" cynicism, thanks!) What are the best punk rock, fuck-this approaches for discovering and enjoying the best and weirdest things that the internet still has to offer? [more inside]
Popping by
I have a friend who very occasionally pops by unannounced. This is entirely outside of my habits, and I’m deciding whether to mention it. Is this a common thing for other people? I have questions for poppers-by. [more inside]
Searching for international melodies!
I need some songs that people from different nationalities (at least from the USA, Germany, and the Ukraine) can sing together. To be clear, the idea is for the lyrics to be sung in the individuals' first language. So we're looking for songs that exist in different languages, preferably melodies that are reasonably well-known. [more inside]
100 Year Old Cartoon—Where's the funny?
This cartoon appeared in the Flint (Michigan) Journal 100 years ago today. My friend who found it is mystified about what is funny about it, and I am here to get help. [more inside]
How does one develop an attention to detail
I do not have a keen eye for detail and it’s been a recurring theme since I was a child. How do I develop it? [more inside]
Help me survive a work team that has a different communication style
I am on a team of women at work who have a very confrontational style and I am not the same. I've realized that unless I adopt a similar style, they will never give me the chance to speak. This is a big adjustment for me since I am an introvert and it is causing me a lot of stress that is bleeding outside into my life. [more inside]
How do people in cultures that remove shoes avoid athlete’s foot?
A lot of cultures require shoes to be removed when entering a home, and some provide shared guest slippers. How is athlete’s foot not rampant if everyone is sharing shoes and walking around barefoot?
What can you do if you enter someone’s home and their feet or another guest’s look sketchy and you don’t want to walk around barefoot in the same space? Do you just make an excuse and leave, or is it talked about more openly in these cultures?
The nature of 'genius' as a socio-cultural and political phenomenon
Lately, I've been thinking about how genius is recognized and celebrated. We often elevate a small group of artists every generation as geniuses and then ignore or downplay the art made by every other artist, but it seems that great art is made by all kinds of people, not just the canon of 'great artists'. I'd like to read more on this topic - can anyone recommend any particular thinkers, especially recent ones - like from critical theorists or later?
Is American culture less confrontational now?
I know I know, American culture is OBVIOUSLY more confrontational, in a public culture wars, mass shooting, armed insurrection kind of way.
But in an interpersonal, therapy, advice column kind of way....have things changed since the 70s and 80s? [more inside]
Pandemic hobbies & life changes around the world
What sort of hobbies and personal development changes were trending in different countries during the height of COVID and lockdown (2020-2022ish)? Was it much the same across the world, or are there peculiarities in different places? [more inside]
Tell me about the tattoo on your face
I saw a man yesterday with a tattoo on his face. It was a word, didn't get a close enough look to see what is said. It looked really good. Getting your face tattooed is a big commitment, and I'm very interested in hearing about people's choice to do so as it is very uncommon where I live. [more inside]
Japan's Appetite for Adaptation
What is it about Japan that makes adaptations of popular media into stage plays (or really any other media form) way more prevalent there than anything else? [more inside]
What are some smaller tournaments/competitions to watch in 2023?
I want to learn about how other people live by watching folks compete in games I've never heard of before. What smaller-scale tournaments or competitions are worth tuning into this year? [more inside]
Modern traditions for watered wine?
Characters in fiction drinking watered wine is a common trope. Are there modern cultural traditions of this, or is it relegated to anachronism/fantasy? [more inside]
80s gold
I'd like to give a few 80s themed classes to the kids I teach. They're in the 11 to 16 yo vicinity. I'd like to present them with cultural treasures, pearls of wisdom, cult scenes or dialogues excerpted from 80s material, be it music, movies, books, comics, you name it. [more inside]
Best forum/group/site for worldly, modern Django questions?
I have a bit of a crush on the web framework Django, and am learning and coding in it currently, although I have a ways to go. I'm coding on PythonAnywhere.com, and trying to figure out if the Django debugger (the one that loads stuff in the browser) can work with that system. Where is the best place to ask Django/hosting questions like this? [more inside]
WSU19
So that "Cougar Gold" cheese that comes in a can and lasts forever because of the WSU19 bacteria that means the can won't explode? WSU says they won't share the culture. I don't understand. Can't anyone just buy a can of the cheese and... use it to culture more canned cheese, and rinse/repeat indefinitely?
Recommend me a book: What it's like immigrating to the West as a teen
It can be biographical or non-fiction/talking about research, as long as it's about South or East Asian children or teens immigrating to a Western, individualist culture. [more inside]
Black Swan events disrupting or delaying (pop) cultural releases
I am looking for examples of (pop) cultural events/releases that were delayed or cancelled because an unforeseeable event eerily echoed their content in some way.
For instance, I just discovered that Kylie Minogue's 6th album 'Impossible Princess' was delayed by almost a year because Princess Diana died just before its planned release in 1997 (obviously because of the proposed title).
What other cultural creations suffered similar setbacks because of absolutely unpredictable circumstances (so-called 'Black Swan' events)? [more inside]
Like if Leslie Knope and Carrie Bradshaw had a baby, I guess?
I find that I really enjoy reading online content: articles, tweets, what-have-yous, by whip-smart witty women with their finger on the pulse of current events. Without any purposeful planning, I have naturally curated my podcast, social media and newsletter feeds to be dominated folks identifying as females such as Heather Cox Richardson, Emily Nussbaum, Anne Helen Peterson, Roxane Gay, and Sarah Marshall, among others. Oh, and Jessamyn, natch! I want to find more like this! Who else should I follow, subscribe to, or stan?
Tallinn for 4 days. What ELSE to do?
My friend and I will be in Tallinn from Saturday, July 9th to Thursday, July 14th. We've got an AirBnB, and we've got restaurant reservations for most evenings. And we are going to take the ferry to Helsinki for one afternoon. What are we missing? [more inside]
How to deal with a belligerent boss at a job you can't be fired from?
I have a boring job that asks little of me and pays amazing, but my boss is toxic. Is there a way to make this work? [more inside]
How to raise well adjusted third culture kids
I grew up in Asia and have been living in the US for several years with my spouse of the same ethnicity. We have a preschooler. While she’s still young, I want to start doing things right to raise her so she is as well adjusted and happy as possible. [more inside]
Show me the love in Providence
My husband and I are moving from Portland, OR to New England to be closer to my mom. We're looking at Providence, RI. What are some things we might love there? [more inside]
Deep dives on non-Western cultures?
Western popular media often filters out facets of cultures that don't reflect our own. Does anyone know good resources for being exposed to a wide variety of the differing facets other cultures have evolved/retained in their unique environments? Things like castes in India, ideograms in Chinese writing, arranged marriage in a variety of cultures. [more inside]
Cultural theory of 'The Edgelord'?
The figure of 'The Edgelord' has been gaining traction in recent years. But I haven't read anything directed specifically at (theorising) this phenomena. Do you have any recommendations? [more inside]
literary recs: east coast vs west coast (U.S.)
I moved from the west coast to the east coast and am now interested in how writers have conceptualized these regions and their cultural & intellectual differences! [more inside]
A year to make the most of Vancouver's culture and outdoors
This summer, I (mid-30s) plan to move from London, UK to Vancouver, BC, Canada, for a year (working and living). I'm looking for personal recs or tips for things to see and do, no matter how broad or small, but also "city life" recs (and for BC generally) as opposed to traditional tourism. [more inside]
Why do non western areas have similar interior aesthetics?
I grew up in India so I’m familiar with the the interior decor of the poor and lower middle classes. I’ve noticed from YouTube videos of places as varied as Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, that there is a similar aesthetic in those homes. I’m referring especially to brightly colored walls and bright, boldly patterned bedsheets and upholstery. Where did this aesthetic come from? [more inside]
Help me eat my backyard
I'd like to grow edible mushrooms (ideally morels but I'm open to others) in a wooded patch of my backyard. Can you recommend a good mushroom growing kit? What else do I need to know? [more inside]
What does Ashkenazi Jewish mean to you?
When someone mentions to you that their background is Ashkenazi Jewish, what associations does this activate in your mind? What would you understand or assume based on them or their ancestors being Ashkenazi Jews? What might someone expect the other person to understand by mentioning this?
Books on History/Culture of the Dine and Other American Indian Tribes
Hi all, I'm looking for book recommendations for my partner, who has taken a recent interest in American Indian history/culture, particularly the Dine (Navajo) and other peoples of the southwestern US. Please give me your favorite suggestions, thank you! [more inside]