The generation of young people hooked on a pen
What was once used to rid us of a more sinister evil is now a casually prevalent vapour snack for the masses. A new wave of pen lovers has entered the room. I’m not referring to a Biro, unfortunately. I’m talking about the torrent of vape pens gripped to adolescents'...
Current in Culture
Why are performers ditching Latitude Festival 2024?
Barclays has cut all ties with Live Nations events for 2024 including Latitude Festival. The bank’s financial interests in Israel’s weapons trade prompted a host of sponsors and performers to ditch the event. As boycotts go in the cultural scene, this is a big one. A host of talent across...
Opinion – the Back to Black biopic deserves the backlash
Just over a decade since the tragic death of Amy Winehouse, a film promising to chart her ‘intense journey to fame’ was released. While some fans have delighted in seeing her legacy play out on screen, many have criticised director Sam Taylor-Johnson for exploiting female pain. I vividly remember...
Opinion – we need to prevent ‘third places’ from disappearing
The mounting cost of living, social media prevalence, and post-pandemic isolation mentality is driving socialisation outside of school, work, or home underground. With loneliness now a global public health concern, physical community locations where quality connections can flourish have never been more important – or needed. Before the pandemic,...
AI-scripted film debut cancelled after widespread backlash
London’s Prince Charles cinema was set to debut the world’s first film with a fully AI-generated script, but the project was scrapped after more than 200 people filed complaints. Artificial Intelligence software such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and DALL-E has sparked worry amongst creatives since they first burst on the scene. Artists...
England players call out media treatment of Black footballers
The continued scapegoating of Black players has drawn backlash from sporting giants, and set a worrying precedent for a summer of football. Hopeful Brits will be firing up BBQs and filling pubs over the next few weeks, as the Euros kicks off another summer of football. Despite the general camaraderie that...
What is the ‘Dead Internet Theory’ and is it real?
With the ceaseless growth of AI since 2022, conspiracies surrounding the so-called ‘Dead Internet Theory’ have grown stronger. First thing’s first, though, what the hell is it and does it have any credibility? Is this an online rabbit hole worth getting lost in? Is it pure storm in a teacup? Did a human even write this article? So many questions. If you spend any significant amount of time on Twitter (X)...
Is popular music really getting worse with every new decade?
While art is highly subjective, a new study suggests that popular music has gotten simpler and more repetitive over the past few decades. One sure-fire way to tell someone is getting ‘old’ is if they utter the all-too-familiar sentence: ‘Music these days is garbage.’ While this may seem like a matter of opinion (especially when you’re the person in possession of the aux), people indeed tend to say that the music...
New study says there are microplastics in your balls
A growing number of studies are finding microplastics inside the testicles of humans and dogs. Scientists anticipate this has repercussions for fertility and reproduction. Plastics are now permanently ingrained in modern life. They’re used in almost every industry, and now, tiny invisible plastic particles are making a home inside our bodies. Microplastics have been found in the human bloodstream, brain, and lungs. They’ve even been found in...
Diddy faces new sexual assault allegation by sixth accuser
Music mogul and personality Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has faced continual accusations of sexual assault over the last six months, including a recent leaked CCTV video. Now, a sixth accuser has come forward. TW: This article includes references and descriptions of sexual violence and assault. Reader discretion is advised. Rapper and record producer Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been hit with a wave of sexual assault accusations over the past six...
