Is the ‘aura points’ trend philosophical or misogynistic?
On social media, young people are using ‘aura points’ to calculate how cool they are. For philosophers, the trend falls in line with Gen Z’s love of astrology and other cosmic belief systems. For members of the manosphere, it’s a lifestyle, yet another opportunity to inject the world of...
Current in Culture
Opinion – we have a lot to learn about identity from Lady Gaga
The pop icon has demonstrated what it really means to be a trans ally. When Lady Gaga first rose to fame in the early 2000s, a persistent rumour began making the rounds: that the ‘Born This Way’ singer was secretly a man. Or a hermaphrodite, depending on who you asked...
Netflix is set to host new indie animation series ‘Digital Circus’
A small step for streaming services, a big step for indie animation. Digital Circus is an Australian-made animated web series produced by Glitch Productions. This series tells the story of a group of humans trapped in a digital world who are pursued by an evil Artificial Intelligence. Digital Circus gained its...
When did British festivals get so messy?
Every time festival season rolls around in the UK, attendees make headlines for destroying the sites (and their livers alongside them). In other parts of Europe, this recklessness is less common – or at least less renowned. Should we be looking beyond British borders for an example of how...
Diversity at the Emmys calls for bigger change in Hollywood
This year’s awards were marked by diversity, inclusion, and displays of queer joy. It’s a standard the industry would do well to uphold. At the 76th Emmy Awards on Sunday, actor John Leguizamo gave Hollywood a much-needed reminder: diversity doesn’t just happen by accident. The actor and long-time advocate for...
Opinion – bring back the fat chefs
The online convergence of food and fitness influencers on social media means that people are focusing on the protein and ‘fuel’ quotient of their quick-to-make meals, rather than delighting in the flavour of their culinary creations and the process of cooking them. I vividly remember the first time I...
Are ticket sales facing their biggest reckoning?
Poor organisation and dynamic pricing have placed global ticket retailers in the hot seat. News of an Oasis reunion sent the UK into a frenzy of nostalgia that’s defined much of the past few weeks. But when tickets finally went on sale last Saturday, fans were faced with a throwback they hadn’t anticipated. It wasn’t a surprise album or an on-stage brawl from the Gallagher brothers, but an old-fashioned struggle with...
Opinion – most TV shows do not represent teens’ real experiences
Nadie nos va a extrañar is one of the latest Mexican releases on Amazon Prime. It brings back the nostalgia of the 90s without incorporating inappropriate themes for the sake of views. On social media, producers of teen TV series are regularly criticized for casting adults in their mid 20s to their early 30s as high school characters. In these programs, viewers are regularly presented with scenes of drug abuse...
Will basketball ever make it rain in the UK?
Is British basketball slowly retreating, and will it ever have its time as an adequately funded sport? You pass the threshold into a large, echoey chamber. Four brick walls, sealing the aromas of effort, climb high into a ceiling of imperceptible detail. The hardwood courts lay steady under your foot. The nets, stripped of motion, rest soundly in the air. You fasten your trainers and grapple with your socks before...
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 life online lacks substance. These days, with the false promise of lasting connectedness through social media growing tired, many of...
