The Film and TV industry reckons with its own shortcomings
Reports of staff abuse and toxic work environments, particularly amongst Runners, are forcing industry regulators to face uncomfortable truths. The film and TV industry is often sold as a world of glitz and glamour, a pipeline to the stars where creativity reigns and dreams come true. But for the runners...
Current in Culture
The rise of Instagrammable museums
In the age of social media and the pursuit of aesthetics it promotes, the way we engage with and appreciate art has undergone a radical transformation. Thanks to social media, the ‘instagrammability’ of museums and galleries now plays a significant role in drawing in crowds. More and more, visitors are...
Has being a ‘roadman’ finally gone out of fashion?
It’s 2024… ‘low them tings there People, especially kids, will adopt what’s deemed to be fashionable. Thankfully, the ‘chav’ to ‘roadman’ arc appears to be on its last legs in England. Growing up in south London in the noughties was incredibly fun. Your mates were always out after school on bikes...
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...
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 or Apple Music. Thanks to TikTok, I found something that might fulfil that need. It's called: Vinyl Post Record Club. Unlike...
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 feel less like harmless fun and more like a relentless invasion of spaces that were never designed to handle the...
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 address nicotine addiction take centre stage.
In the UK, Labour has banned disposable vapes and
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...
