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Cultural Identity
From politics to culture, we blame “tribalism” for humanity’s problems. This explanation is entirely wrong.
John Templeton Foundation
An interview with filmmaker Jason Sussberg about his new film about Stewart Brand and the importance of culture in achieving progress.
Mesopotamian beer was not flavored with hops, and it was probably on the thick, porridgey side.
When you wish upon a star, it probably makes a difference who you are.
"When you see me, weep." When rivers dry up in Central Europe, "hunger stones" with ominous inscribed warnings from centuries past reappear.
Can a shared language promote peace? Some people think so.
Moral panics about the content of children's cartoons and other forms of entertainment have a long history.
In a nod to its addictive qualities, it was first dubbed “Some More.”
Just as there are many types of believers, there's not only one type of atheist.
John Templeton Foundation
This world map shows how the rest of the world LOLs. In France, you MDR; in China, you 23333.
The sonnenrad is a Heathen symbol composed of 12 repeated runes.
For centuries, men prevented women from writing music. These classical composers broke with social norms and made their mark on history.
Will nature or nurture win out?
Shame is a powerful tool that must be used with care.
A recent advance in 3D imaging techniques helped spark the biggest ever discovery of North American cave art.
The so-called "court painter of Silicon Valley" was shaped by her youth in communist Poland but looks forward to a future ruled by celebrity robots.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not to mark Mexican independence.
Some question the ethics of sanctions aimed at cancelling Russian art and culture and punishing ordinary citizens.
Is there victory in defeat?
Moments of social anxiety around truth tend to be accompanied by similar “fool the eye” pop culture phenomena.
Satire and an inflated sense of self-importance collide in a series of maps that goes back more than 100 years in American history.
While there is more to North Korean cinema than meets the eye, the country’s film industry ultimately amounts to little more than a mouthpiece for the ruling Kim dynasty.
“How can we live without our lives? How will we know it’s us without our past?” Steinbeck writes.
Is there any good reason for assigning North and South the way we do, or could we have just as easily done the reverse?
Most people have a distorted view of what being a scientist is like. Scientists need to make a greater effort to challenge stereotypes.
Vladimir Putin adores Fyodor Dostoevsky. A close reading of the legendary author’s texts reveals the feeling might have been mutual.
We value human life in a way that assumes we possess a sacred something not found in beings like lambs, turkeys, or mosquitoes.
When Saint Ambrose of Milan was venerated, his life became public property, its meaning expanding with the unique interpretations of each new generation.
Since Ukraine originally meant “borderland,” the territory was already a target for several kingdoms.
Non-Western thought is vast and ancient, so why don't some consider it philosophy?