Exploring Gen Zβs love of horoscopes
From Aristotle to A-listers, astrology has been popular for centuries. Gen Z is particularly obsessed, with star signs playing a major role in how they interact on social media. Whether you believe in the power of the Zodiac or not, star signs have been in magazines since 1930, when...
Current in Culture
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.Β 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...
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 βinstagrammabilityβ of museums and galleries now plays a significant role in drawing in crowds. More and more, visitors are...
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 thatβs been around for generations? If you cast your mind back to the days of T-shirts and shorts earlier this year β 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.Β Last weekend β November 2nd and 3rd β 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 Africaβs 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 Intelligenceβs 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.Β I'm currently going through a βmusic loverβ 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.Β Film and TV locations have drawn people from around the world for years. From the misty mountains of New Zealandβs βMiddle Earthβ to Croatiaβs 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 itβs fashionable, despite the risks being so well-known.
Of every trend to make a comeback, smoking was an unlikely contender.
Itβs 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. Β Have you heard of the Miyawaki foresting method? Itβs 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...
