All Culture
To each their own valentineWriting a poem to your partner is one thing. But what could be more romantic than smoke-detector maintenance?
Why few Nigerians have seen their country’s Oscar submission“The Milkmaid” is Nigeria’s submission for the Oscars. But at home, censorship means few Nigerians have seen the film in full.
First LookChristopher Plummer enchanted audiences across the decadesChristopher Plummer, who died Friday at the age of 91, captivated moviegoers in his varied roles across the decades, from Captain von Trapp in “The Sound of Music” to the 2019 hit “Knives Out.”
In a WordWhen politicians resort to ‘whataboutism’Whataboutism is an old rhetorical technique. If Mary accuses John of something, John responds by accusing Mary of something: “What about ... ?”
Bringing the outside in: How one songwriter finds creativityWith the arrival of a new album, “Ignorance,” Tamara Lindeman of The Weather Station talks about embracing the unencumbered times of her childhood.
‘The White Tiger’ offers a chilling look at breaking the chains of caste“The White Tiger,” based on a novel about the Indian caste system, is more “Goodfellas” than “Slumdog Millionaire,” says the Monitor’s critic.
First LookMore consumers say there's nothing fishy about lab-grown seafoodLab-grown seafood in Hong Kong is the latest in “clean meat,” a process that aims to produce animal protein that doesn’t deplete the environment. “If I wasn’t told it was cultivated fish, I would think it was gourmet-quality fish made into a burger,” said one tester.
In a WordCan Americans reclaim the term ‘patriot’?It’s easy to define patriot – one who loves his or her country, per Merriam-Webster – but harder to agree on what that love should entail.
Growing in the darkSometimes career plans crumble and prospects fade. But such “wilderness experiences” may be but vestibules to achievement.
Light from without – and from withinThe changing patterns of light illuminate our homes, and during the pandemic, noticing these small moments can lead to inspiration and discovery.
First LookLarry King: From presidents to faded stars, he welcomed them allDoing thousands of on-air interviews, Larry King made his mark as a classic conversationalist, whose show would feel foreign on cable news today.
Japanese comic creators grapple with racismBy portraying Black characters with more respect and dignity, some Japanese manga creators are beginning to move beyond damaging stereotypes.
In a WordAnimal traits ‘dog’ the English languageMany animal names have undergone verbification, or turned from nouns into verbs. To parrot is to “repeat by rote” without understanding, for example.
A warm transactionIf you know where you’ll be living in winter, the best time to acquire firewood is the previous fall. Using wood-fueled heat is all about preparing.
From Ella to Beyoncé: New museum celebrates African American musicThe new National Museum of African American Music chronicles the rise of Black musicians and their influence on American culture.
Dr. King was tracked by the FBI. In ‘MLK/FBI,’ filmmakers explore why.Why did the FBI follow Martin Luther King Jr.? The documentary “MLK/FBI” examines how King became a target, and considers his legacy.
In a WordBlursday, doomscrolling, and the words of 2020The year 2020 gave rise to so many new words that the editors at Oxford Languages couldn’t pick just one word of the year (WOTY).
Difference MakerIn a Brooklyn kitchen, a Statue of Liberty spirit offers a fresh startTraining for newcomers to the United States focuses on 10 weeks of culinary and job skills in the Brooklyn, N.Y., cafe of nonprofit Emma’s Torch.
The ExplainerHow will Warner Bros. streaming impact moviegoing? Three questions.Releasing each of 2021’s films in theaters and on HBO Max at the same time, Warner Bros. calls it a solution to benefit all. Except the competition?
Bucking predictions, some couples are bonding not breaking during pandemicFor some Americans, pandemic confinement has led to breakups. But for others, like those spotlighted here, it marks a deepening commitment.
