🌍 Culture Making

• 📊Mystery (shoppers) and manners

  An exploration of how churches are adopting consumer marketing strategies to improve engagement and feedback.

• 🛩️Noise pollution, 1930s-style

  A whimsical take on historical aerial advertising through an amusing quote about a police amphibian airplane's chase.

• 🪦The dead among us

  A reflection on how North America lacks the same cultural coexistence with the dead that can be found in European cities, particularly regarding London’s plague pits.

• 🎭Fine barn, good tragedy

  Ralph Waldo Emerson reflects on the value of a man who appreciates a broad range of knowledge, from the beauty of a barn to the depth of a tragedy.

• 🎨Frickin’ awesome!

  A reflective look at the balance between cultural giving and more pressing humanitarian needs from Allison Schrager.

• 👸Modelling Snow White

  A look at the evolution of Snow White, from her original design influenced by a live model to her modern, curvier representation.

• 📺The Station Nigeria

  This popular Nigerian soap opera, funded by Search for Common Ground, tackles significant societal issues facing Nigeria today. The captivating narrative unfolds in a fictional television news station, offering insights into the challenges of a diverse population.

• 💇Beauty aid

  Beauty salons become safe havens for women, creating a vital space for discussions on domestic violence.

• 🚇Bodies in motion and at rest

  A reflection on the creativity sparked by daily subway commutes in Brooklyn, as shared by artist Stephen Gardener.

• 🏬Boxes of worship

  The idea of transforming defunct big-box stores into churches offers a unique and creative reuse of space.

• 🖥️On the Death and 441-Year Life of the Pixel

  Exploring the evolution of pixels, from 16th-century designs to modern displays.

• ☕Bean Broker Coffee Shop, Chadron, Nebraska, by Jake Stangel

  Exploring local culture through Jake Stangel's photographic journey in Nebraska's Bean Broker Coffee Shop.

• 🕊️Hermit-sacristans of this information age

  An exploration of the multifaceted role of hermits in both historical and contemporary cultures.

• 🏃What are the Japanese up to right now?

  An intriguing glimpse into the daily routines of the Japanese population, as captured by the census data. "As part of the Japanese census, people were asked to keep a record of what they were doing in 15 minute intervals. The data was publicly released and Jonathan Soma took it and graphed the results so that you can see what many Japanese are up to during the course of a normal day."

• 💔Leaving Las Vegas

  Exploring the complex factors contributing to suicide risk in Las Vegas.

• 🌅More light!

  Reflecting on the interplay of light and darkness, and a discussion on Goethe's fascinating last words.

• 🏠Tear-down, Silicon Valley, by Thomas Locke Hobbs

  Congratulations to my friend Thomas on reaching his 1000th photo blog post, showcasing the changing landscape of his neighborhood.

• 🪑Cheaper than a bottle of wine

  Celebrating the enduring legacy of Thonet's Model No. 14, a chair that revolutionized design and accessibility.

• 🌄Viewing the City’s Places of Interest in Springtime, by Yao Lu

  Yao Lu's striking photography intertwines art and environmental commentary, highlighting the ecological shifts in China.

• 🏙️Architecture as anthill madness

  Exploring the enduring artistic fascination with the Tower of Babel, revealing its complex symbolism in architecture and culture.

• 🌍The Arabic Singing Diaspora, by Brian Eno

  Brian Eno's thoughtful exploration on the global journey of Arabic music and its influence on popular culture.

• 🎶Call + Response

  A powerful look into modern slavery and the fight for justice through music and activism, featuring insights from notable figures.

• 🌱From gardening to gaming

  This piece contrasts the violent gaming landscape with the nurturing, creative visions of renowned designer Shigeru Miyamoto.

• 🎨Image vs. presence

  A reflection on the complexities of art and perception from Lawrence Weschler's dialogues with David Hockney and Robert Irwin.

• 🎨Child, by Mattia Marchi

  A reflection on creativity and perception, as seen through a child's playful art on a fogged window.

• 🚶The mind is also a landscape

  An exploration of the harmonious relationship between walking, thought, and the world around us, inspired by Rebecca Solnit's reflections.

• 🦗Eating grasshoppers has gotten so commercial

  Here's an intriguing look at the changing dynamics of the Ugandan grasshopper harvest and its cultural significance.

• 🍶Golden Gai, Tokyo

  Exploring the vibrant and historical charm of Golden Gai in Tokyo, where yakuza once ran the bars, captured beautifully in this brush pen drawing.

• 🎹In tune with the times

  From Barry Gewen's review, a deep exploration of how equal temperament has shaped Western music and its cultural implications.

• 🪞Crazy in the same way?

  This analysis dives into how psychotic delusions are influenced by the cultural context of their times, reflecting societal anxieties and technologies.

• 🎤“It isn’t a noise, it’s my language”

  A tribute to Miriam Makeba, Mama Africa, who imparts a vital lesson in isiXhosa pronunciation through her music.

• 🎨Slides, by Kirsten Tradowsky

  I enjoy many of Kirsten Tradowsky's paintings that capture the essence of childhood activities, like band practice and swim lessons.

• 🌎The first assimilation

  An exploration of cultural adaptation among Central American immigrants in LA, highlighting the complexities of identity and belonging.

• 🌎They vote by night

  Exploring how voter patterns and population density visually intersect through creative mapping techniques.

• 💃Dance Dance Dance!, by Christopher Bautista

  A vibrant capture of movement and expression, this piece evokes the joy of dance. "Dance Dance Dance!", photo by Christopher Bautista, 2008. Based on the context, relevant geolocation coordinates are approximately 34.0522° N, 118.2437° W (Los Angeles, California).

• ⛪Worship first, then farm

  This excerpt explores the revolutionary idea that religious structures may have prompted the formation of early Neolithic societies before the advent of agriculture.

• 🌍Getting beyond “I don’t know”

  Megan White shares her passion for addressing social justice through the ZanaAfrica initiative, aimed at providing sustainable solutions for health and education challenges faced by girls in Kenya.

• 🚗Old man, look at my ride

  Meet the mechanic blending green innovation with American muscle.

• 🎶We don’t call it music at all

  A glimpse into Edward Bellamy's vision of musical culture in the year 2000, where professional music is readily accessible at all times.

• 🕌Inshallah

  Exploring how Islamic banking's principles help it thrive during financial crises.

• 🌷Tulip fields, Northern Holland

  A beautiful aerial view of Dutch tulip fields evokes the intricate designs of woven tapestries.

• 🗳️We the People, by the Staple Singers

  Reflecting on civic responsibility and the power of thought in decision-making, this post features the Staple Singers' poignant message in “We the People.”

• 🧟‍♂️Frankenstein’s editor

  An exploration of the collaboration between Mary Shelley and Percy Shelley in the creation of "Frankenstein," touching on the misconceptions surrounding the text.

• 💔Geography of longing

  Here's an alternative to the state-by-state maps we're being bombarded with in these latter electoral days

• 🤪You don’t have to be Russian, but it helps

  An exploration of the rich tradition of holy fools in both Western and Eastern Christianity, particularly highlighting the unique manifestations in Russia.

• ✍️Articles of good design

  A reflection on the artistry and craftsmanship of hand-lettering from the 1927 _Studio Handbook_ by Samuel Welo, contrasting it with modern design tools.

• ♻️Philosophy of leftovers

  Reflecting on the value of overlooked and discarded things, Andy Warhol shares his philosophy on working with leftovers.

• 🌍Tough luck, Mel

  A filmmaker's vision of a Hollywood studio in South Africa clashes with the local Khoi-San community's deep connection to their ancestral land.

• 🍃Virtue as vice

  A reflection on how our perceptions of virtue often intertwine with cultural tastes, highlighting the complexities of our choices and environmental impact.

• 🏡Love throws a line

  The impact of technology on our expectations of laundry, contrasting high-tech solutions with simpler alternatives.