🌍 Culture Making

• 🏭Blast furnaces, photos by Bernd and Hilla Becher

  I've been captivated by the Bechers' industrial photography, particularly their portrayal of blast furnaces that appear both alien and contemplative.

• 🎨Making wonderful curves

  A testament to community resilience and transformation through art in North Philadelphia.

• 🌳A mental break from the urban roil

  Exploring the cognitive toll of urban life and the healing power of nature.

• 🎥Decisive moments

  An exploration of the critical role a broadcast director plays in conveying the narrative of televised sports.

• 🎤Hair Salon, Lhasa, Tibet, by Adam Dean

  A captivating look at the life of a KTV hostess preparing for a night shift in Lhasa, China, where entertainment often masks deeper societal issues.

• 🖼️Jacob’s Dream (detail), by José de Ribera

  Exploring the intricate details of José de Ribera's "Jacob's Dream" through gigapixel scans at the Museo del Prado reveals the beauty of this masterful work.

• 🍹Two worlds, one club

  An immersive installation art piece blends contemporary UK and Congolese cultures, featuring distinct environments where patrons can traverse freely between them.

• 🎨Good bad art

  Reflecting on Ogden Nash and Orwell's appreciation for "good bad" art.

• 📺Six continents’ worth of static

  An exploration of the chaotic and diverse world of satellite TV in Jordan.

• 🎨My Money, My Currency, by Hanna von Goeler

  A look at Hanna von Goeler's artistic exploration of currency through painting and humorous imagery.

• 🗺️The new old cartography

  A reflection on the evolution and interpretation of maps through history, contrasting medieval perspectives with modern cartography.

• 🎺Allegro non sequitur

  From Alex Ross, a commentary on Bernstein and Shostakovich intertwined with YouTube's vibrant discussion.

• 🪨Fighting time with marble

  A reflection on the timeless struggle against oblivion and the enduring power of art.

• 🎨Rich objects

  Exploring the profound connection between children and their interaction with cultural artifacts, as highlighted in Sherry Turkle's reflections on the power of objects in science education.

• 🕊️Idol Worship, by Laura Keeble

  An intriguing installation titled "Idol Worship" by Laura Keeble at the North Road Cemetery in Southend, UK.

• 🤷‍♂️Snark is what you make of it

  Alan Jacobs reflects on the divisive nature of snark in criticism and its impact on discourse.

• 📚When libraries shine

  The impact of the recession highlights the essential role of libraries as community hubs for learning and support.

• 🧩Crosstown crosswords

  A creative urban project in Lvov, Ukraine turns a blank building face into an interactive crossword puzzle for both locals and visitors.

• 🍚Eating and absorbing a technological tradition

  This excerpt from Francesca Bray highlights how cultural objects and practices can embody profound meanings through the technologies involved in their production, particularly in the context of Japan's agricultural traditions.

• 📸Growing up in Haiti, by Alice Smeets

  A poignant reflection on the powerful photography of children in Haiti by Alice Smeets.

• 🐬Culture-making, underwater edition!

  Exploring the fascinating behavior of dolphins who use sponges as tools reveals insights into their unique culture and social dynamics.

• 🎸In search of the Easy Fret

  Exploring the impact of Guitar Hero on real guitar manufacturers and the call for easier-to-play instruments.

• 🎬Suburban Splendor, photos by Graham Miller

  I love how this guy looks like he's stepped right out of the lead in an old-school cinematic Biblical epic.

• 🏡Try me

  An exploration of the Amish perspective on material culture and technological change, highlighting their unique approach to consumption.

• ✝️Africa and missionaries, pt. 1

  In reflecting on Matthew Parris's insights, I find myself both appreciative of his observations and critical of his reasoning regarding faith's impact in Africa.

• ✝️Africa and missionaries, pt. 2

  A heartwarming exchange between cultures, showcasing the impact of priests serving in U.S. parishes and their connection to home.

• 🌧️Lazy futures

  A critical look at the limitations of dystopian fiction's vision for the future, questioning its lack of hope and action.

• 🌳The problem is, where I should be horrified I think, hey, cool!

  A look into sustainable timber harvesting and innovative machinery in rainforest conservation.

• ✨The Rosa Parks of blogs

  I love this sort of list-making

• 🌉Electronic Superhighway - Continental U.S., by Nam June Paik

  The Mississippi River shines with a nostalgic glow, reminiscent of a historic superhighway. "[Electronic Superhighway

• 🥦Food stamps and farmers markets

  Exploring innovative ways to tackle hunger and obesity among food stamp recipients through incentives that promote fresh produce.

• 📸Adieu, Polaroids

  A reflection on the bittersweet end of an era for Polaroid and its iconic instant film, highlighted by the artistry of Charles and Ray Eames.

• 🚗Adieu, S.U.V.’s

  An analysis of the cultural dynamics surrounding the decline of S.U.V. sales amidst fluctuating gas prices.

• 🤔The price of irony

  A thought-provoking exploration of the nature of irony and its impact on moral reasoning.

• 🎨Visitors and collectors

  From a new study, insights into the parallels between viewing and purchasing art, revealing that both experiences can provide similar satisfactions.

• 🥽Glasses for the masses

  Addressing global vision disparities with innovative, user-adjustable glasses.

• 🧱Off H Siddiah Road, Bangalore, India

  A thought-provoking reflection on the juxtaposition of old and new, captured in this photo featuring old bricks and minimalist graffiti, offering a glimpse into urban evolution.

• 🎮Where difficulty thrives

  As a non-gamer, I find it interesting how the challenge of difficulty in video games parallels discussions in literature.

• 🌐The Web before the Web was the Web

  Exploring the parallels between urban life and online communities, this excerpt draws intriguing comparisons between the vibrancy of New York City and the Internet.

• 🗺️Tundra quilt, by Leah Evans

  A beautiful representation of our landscapes, this quilt captures the essence of estuaries and agricultural fields, reminiscent of Gerard Manley Hopkins' vivid imagery.

• 🎶Have yourself a Sufjan Stevens Christmas

  My favorite songs on Sufjan Steven's 5-disc album, "Songs for Christmas Singalong," beautifully blend hymns with a touch of Christmas spirit.

• 🎄Sinatra songs and the Salve Regina

  A sublime cultural moment captured in Walker Percy’s reflection on Christmas, blending the everyday with the transcendent.

• 🌭Ben’s Chili Bowl, by Christian Tribastone

  I was drawn to this charming painting of the iconic D.C. eatery, Ben's Chili Bowl, which holds a special place in the history of U Street's vibrant cultural scene.

• 🕰️A time for branding

  Inspired by Tanner Woodford's exploration of branding through time, how might a medieval peasant's clock of logos look?

• 🎨Mr. Rogers goes to Washington

  Reflecting on the timeless message of Fred Rogers and the role of art in cultural change.

• 🎬Non-stupid romantic comedies

  A reflection on the enduring charm of romantic comedies amid a sea of mediocrity.

• 🕴️Dude descending a staircase

  A fascinating glimpse into the life of artist Marcel Duchamp captured in a multiple exposure image, reminiscent of his iconic work, “Nude Descending a Staircase.”

• 🇺🇸Passport census

  A reflection on the representation of American diversity through its passport imagery.

• 🐱AsLOLn

  Combining LOLCat humor with Narnian whimsy in a delightful mashup.

• 🐱LOLCat-tharsis

  In a thought-provoking exploration of internet culture, a Psychology Today editor draws an intriguing parallel between LOLcats and the clever dogs in New Yorker cartoons.