Why has the proposed smoking area ban sparked outrage in the UK?
To reduce the number of preventable deaths linked to tobacco use, Labour wants to take the indoor smoking ban outdoors. Opponents of the plan – including those who don’t light up – are lamenting the loss of valuable spaces where ‘all the best socialising happens.’ It’s no secret that...
Current in Culture
A serial killer exhibition is coming to London this month
While documentaries and podcasts have been fulfilling society’s interest in true crime for a decade, a new exhibition in London will invite fans of the genre to explore genuine artefacts and recreated crime scenes from some of the world’s most notorious serial killer cases. As if people weren’t obsessed enough...
Decluttering trends are making a mess of our mental health
With ‘cleantok’ videos racking up billions of views, experts are concerned that people are losing their ability to distinguish between fads and methods that will actually help them. Last year, world-renowned decluttering expert Marie Kondo admitted that she’d ‘given up on tidying.’ The ‘queen of clean’ (as she’s so aptly referred...
NSQK’s new project challenges for album of the year in Mexico
A fun and fresh concept is positioning this project as the album of the year in the Mexican music industry. Rodrigo Torres, better known as NSQK, is a singer-songwriter and producer from Monterrey. He is currently breaking into the Mexican music scene with his experimental and multifaceted style. According to...
Cognify wants AI-simulated memories to help rehabilitate prisoners
Hashem Al-Ghaili, a Berlin-based scientist and filmmaker, envisions a future where prisoners are rehabilitated using implanted synthetic memories created by AI. His MO is to instil a sense of empathy and cut lengthy sentences from years to a matter of minutes. Having cut his teeth in the realm of independent...
Does cancel culture work in other parts of the world?
Under the right circumstances, it seems that cancel culture can give people a second chance. It's not a secret that Korean entertainment holds its celebrities to a higher standard than the rest of the world, almost expecting nothing but pure perfection from them. One scandal as silly as announcing their...
The rise of rage rooms in Africa
As economic opportunities dwindle, a new trend is sweeping across Africa, offering young people a unique way to cope with stress; rage rooms. These controlled environments have become increasingly popular, especially among Gen Z, who are grappling with the challenges of unemployment, poverty and limited access to mental health care. In cities across Africa, rage rooms are emerging as a novel form of stress relief. For a small fee, participants...
Opinion – society’s perception of wealth is shifting
The cost of living isn’t letting up, despite inflation tapering off. With everything more expensive than it’s ever been, young people are learning to value – and strive for – different things in life. To say that the global economy has shifted drastically over the last few years would be an understatement. Consumers are paying far more for essential items that are worse in quality than they’ve ever been,...
Chappell Roan is calling out the darker side of fame
The singer’s recent outburst against ‘entitled’ fans has reignited debates around the treatment of celebrities in the internet age. Chappell Roan shot to fame at a rate unprecedented even at 2024 standards. Her overnight success betrays a years-long journey to stardom, where she launched music, was dropped by her record label, and then re-released an album all before the age of 25. The singer, dubbed the Midwest Princess by her many...
Opinion – are reality shows becoming a reinvention of freak shows?
The one who doesn't know their history is condemned to repeat it. Echoes of the infamous freakshows can be seen in society’s clamour for reality TV fame. You walk into a completely dark room. In front of you, there is a necklace that when you put it on shows the count of your followers on social media. From that moment on this accessory defines your value. It seems to be...
