Have tattoos become too expensive?
For various reasons, getting inked increasingly involves breaking the bank. What does this mean for the industry and for the future of an art form that’s been around for generations? If you cast your mind back to the days of T-shirts and shorts earlier this year – now replaced by...
Current in Culture
Let’s talk about MEXCLA Spotify: Palenque, Feria y Cotorreo
The festival, organised by the music streaming platform Spotify, was a celebration of Mexican artists, culture, and tradition. Last weekend – November 2nd and 3rd – the MEXCLA festival organized by Spotify took place. It had a 100 percent Mexican lineup, becoming the first festival of its kind in the...
Opinion – AI disrupting Africa’s traditional artistry is a worry
Across Africa, a continent rich with diverse artistic heritage, traditional art has long been a vehicle for cultural expression, storytelling, and heritage preservation. From the intricate beadworks to bold masks, traditional African art has both spiritual and social value, transcending mere aesthetics. Artificial Intelligence’s accessibility and ability to create compelling...
This company is pressing indie music onto vinyl postcards
The first record subscription of its kind, Vinyl Post is bring back the nostalgia of listening to new music releases on vinyl flexi discs. I'm currently going through a “music lover” era, and I need to find more ways to enjoy music other than the conventional random playlist on Spotify...
Is film tourism now becoming a problem?
Movie fans are flocking to locations ill-equipped to handle them. Film and TV locations have drawn people from around the world for years. From the misty mountains of New Zealand’s ‘Middle Earth’ to Croatia’s mediaeval Old Towns featured in Game of Thrones. But the global pilgrimage of fans has started to...
Are cigarettes on trend again?
Amid the resurgence of smoking among celebrities and influencers, a recent study shows that 57 per cent of young people think it’s fashionable, despite the risks being so well-known. Of every trend to make a comeback, smoking was an unlikely contender. It’s 2024, after all, the year that saw efforts to...
Tiny urban forests are having a hugely positive impact
With one in three people in England lacking access to nature-rich spaces, this micro-foresting method is being deployed to change that. Have you heard of the Miyawaki foresting method? It’s a Japanese-style tree-planting technique that involves placing a strategically diverse group of native woodland trees within a small area of land. The goal is to choose species that will work together in harmony, growing over time into a bustling micro-forest. Growing...
Is ‘little treat’ culture sabotaging your financial future?
Coping with the stressors of everyday life isn't easy, but is rewarding ourselves with a little treat anytime we complete a task really necessary? In recent years, a tantalising trend has taken hold of the internet. It's been celebrated on TikTok, showcased in memes, and glorified in comfortingly relatable social media posts. I'm talking about ‘little treat’ culture, whose message is simple: go on, buy yourself a little something nice! Perhaps a...
What is the IKEA effect and how does it apply to relationships?
We value IKEA furniture more because we’ve invested time and energy into reading the instructions and then assembling it. This has taken on a whole new meaning online. For gamblers, the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ might sound familiar. Defined as ‘a reluctance to abandon a strategy or course of action because one’s invested heavily in it, even if it’s clear that abandonment would be more beneficial,’ it’s a phenomenon that sees...
Chappell Roan’s merch highlights the true cost of fashion
The singer has faced backlash for high prices, but sustainable clothing comes at a cost. Chappell Roan has established herself as a no-holds-barred, unapologetic breed of celebrity. Despite being only 26-years-old, the singer has made headlines for speaking out against harassment and candidly sharing her struggles with mental health and fame. This kind of boldness isn’t without consequences, of course. The media have jumped on Roan relentlessly since she entered...
