All Culture
The unexpected bounty of winter gardeningIn nature and in life, some seasons, like winter, are less celebrated. Under the surface, however, lies growth.聽
Preserving culture, one textile at a timeFocus is often put on preserving disappearing languages, but what of other traditions? For some, vitality rests with maintaining a culture鈥檚 visual representations, too.
An indie publisher finds its future 鈥� with a public libraryAngel City Press in Los Angeles has long published local authors. In a bold move, its founders are now giving the press to the city鈥檚 public library.聽
The actor and the ironing board: An unlikely lesson in improvisationIn our middle school musical, an eighth grade star averted disaster 鈥� and imparted valuable lessons in improvisation.聽
Robert Smalls lived an action-hero life. Why isn鈥檛 he a household name?The founder of the first free public schools in America was born enslaved and won freedom not only for himself, but also his family, by commandeering a Confederate gunship. How is Robert Smalls not a household name?
Hygge season: Learning to winter like the DanesIn exploring hygge, the Danish art of coziness,聽I learned to rest and savor the season. It鈥檚 a counterintuitive lesson in slowing down.聽
Lyrical, harrowing 鈥業o Capitano鈥� offers epic immigration taleHow far would someone go to have a better life? Italy鈥檚 Oscar nominee offers an immigration story that features searing realism 鈥� and resilience.聽聽
A small town, public art, and the First AmendmentWould no public art be better than art someone found objectionable? In New Hampshire, a town has been roiled聽for months over that question.聽
First LookConductor Seiji Ozawa remembered as a kind and thoughtful humanitarianSeiji Ozawa, who died Feb. 6 in his native Japan, was a world-renowned conductor with a 29-year career with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The BSO described Mr. Ozawa as 鈥渁 musical genius鈥� with 鈥渁 balletic grace at the podium.鈥澛�
Beauty and the feast: Savoring 鈥楾he Taste of Things鈥�What happens when you combine sumptuous food with a tender drama? French film 鈥淭he Taste of Things鈥� features one of the most romantic movie moments our critic has ever seen.
First LookTikTok and a major label are in a standoff. How does this song end?TikTok videos featuring major artists鈥� music are being muted after Universal Music Group terminated its licensing deal on the platform. It鈥檚 part of a larger conflict over fair compensation for creators鈥� work 鈥� as well as questions about the use of AI.
鈥楶erfect Days鈥� asks, what constitutes a happy life?What does it mean to live a life of meaning? Wim Wenders鈥� new film argues for the importance of moments.
First LookWomen win big at Grammy Awards: Swift, Cyrus, EilishThe Grammy Awards showcased wins for women, including Taylor Swift鈥檚 fourth album of the year, Miley Cyrus鈥檚 record of the year, and Victoria Mon茅t as best new artist. The stage was lit up with performances by Tracy Chapman and Billy Joel, among others.
Walking in the path of the Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance is the subject of a new exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Our cultural commentator relished his time walking the same streets that sheltered Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, and Alain Locke.
A friendly face in a foreign place: My encounter with a Soviet soldierOur visit to Soviet-era Moscow resulted in a chance encounter, and a lesson in humanity, that would stay with me for decades.聽
Perks and perils of being married to a photographerOn a recent trip to Kauai, our essayist found himself playing stuntman for his wife, The Photographer.
鈥楶ercy Jackson鈥� takes on the Greek gods 鈥� and HollywoodWith the Season One finale of 鈥淧ercy Jackson and the Olympians鈥� airing Tuesday, do fans think the Disney+ series has erased memories of two earlier movies?
First LookSingin鈥� in the rain? At 2023 concerts, extreme weather was no joke.Dozens of concerts were impacted by extreme weather in 2023, with at least two involving fatalities. As climate hazards intensify, the live music industry, and other outdoor venues, have struggled to adapt large-scale events to a new safety landscape.
Oscars go global: Most international best picture lineup in historyFor the first time, two international films have been nominated for best picture. And every nominee for best documentary feature is international, another first.
First LookFantasies and epics: Oscar nominations celebrate whimsy and scope鈥淥ppenheimer鈥� topped Oscar contenders with 13 nominations, followed by 鈥淧oor Things鈥� with 11 nominations. Martin Scorsese鈥檚 dark Western, 鈥淜illers of the Flower Moon,鈥� received 10 nominations, and Greta Gerwig鈥檚 near-musical 鈥淏arbie鈥� received 8.