Do we ever have the right to comment on someone’s body?
Public fixation over Ariana Grande’s appearance has driven the star to retreat from the spotlight. Where do we draw the line between scrutiny and concern when it comes to women’s bodies? Ariana Grande has lived half of her life in the spotlight. She’s had a hugely successful music career during...
Current in Culture
Gen Z say they ‘perform’ even during self-pleasure
A new survey titled the ‘Pleasure Census’ has found that roughly 50% of Gen Z ‘perform’ even during self-pleasure, suggesting that poor body image might be affecting young people in the bedroom. Ever feel like you need to ‘perform’ in the bedroom and tell your partner that you’re definitely, absolutely,...
Study shows wastewater cocaine is messing up marine life
As crazy as it sounds, it does add another layer to how human consumption has been impacting our planet. For as long as humans have been on this planet, our environmental impact has become innumerable. What’s worse is that many outcomes of our actions remain unbeknownst to us, pushing us...
Why is Peppa Pig beefing with Clairo?
In a new interview with Pitchfork, the beloved children's cartoon Peppa Pig has said she ‘doesn’t know’ Clairo. The fallout on X has been huge, with major label artists chiming in. It’s a perfect example of new-age, Gen Z marketing. What happens when a cherished, cartoon pig takes shots at...
Toy Story 5 comes for big tech, but does the moral lesson land?
The latest instalment in the beloved franchise tackles a new villain: the iPad. But what does ‘Toy Story 5’ get wrong about kids and screentime? Since the first film dropped way back in 1995, Toy Story has warmed hearts and raised minds with its ragtag group of friends. Each iteration...
Olivia Wilde’s experience reflects the misogyny framing age gaps
The actor Olivia Wilde spoke out about the response to her relationship with singer Harry Styles, which involved years of public shaming and criticism. Olivia Wilde has enjoyed a highly successful career as both an actor and filmmaker. But, as is often the case for high-profile women, it is a...
Is Gen Z’s obsession with ‘mogging’ becoming toxic?
Gen Z streamers have brought ‘mogging’ into the everyday vernacular of young people. Is the trend dumb and fleeting, or does it have the potential to cause lasting harm? If your algorithm isn’t full of streamers in their early 20s telling people they’re ‘low-key chopped’, consider yourself lucky. I’ve clearly lingered on clips from Kick streamers like Clavicular, Marlon3lg, and Drago just long enough for their content to...
Levi’s subverts World Cup rules for social media campaign
Levi’s isn’t allowed to show its logo during World Cup games at the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium this year. After being forced to cover up with a white sheet, the company has embraced the meme and utilised it across its social media channels. What does Levi’s, a globally recognised brand, do when FIFA’s World Cup rules ban visible logos inside US stadiums? Throw a white sheet up, of course! This...
New study finds arts engagement to slow biological ageing
Research from UCL suggests engaging with arts and culture improves overall health outcomes. These days, the fountain of youth is marketed as some kind of AI-backed, biohacked offshoot of the billionaire class. Health and wellness has crept further into a digital landscape – one often shaped by far-right thinking – and traditional concepts of longevity have been replaced with elitist alternatives. So you’d be surprised to learn that arts and culture (yes,...
Opinion – The Odyssey casting meltdown misses the whole point
Actor Lupita Nyong’o has faced backlash over her role as Helen of Troy in the upcoming film. But fury surrounding her casting says more about our narrow understanding of identity than our interest in historical accuracy. When Christopher Nolan, purveyor of the epic thriller and sprawling cinematic project, announced he would be working on an adaptation of Homer’s famous poem The Odyssey, lovers of antiquity knew they were in for...
