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Culture Archive

Archives for December 2014

Criminal Justice
What to read, watch, and listen to now that Serial’s first season is overWhat to read, watch, and listen to now that Serial’s first season is over
Criminal Justice

From high school true crime to a hilarious parody, here are some things that can fill the void Serial left in your life.

By Libby Nelson
Sports
Washington DC wants to host the 2024 Olympics. That’s insane.Washington DC wants to host the 2024 Olympics. That’s insane.
Sports

“My basic takeaway for any city considering a bid for the Olympics is to run away like crazy,” says one economist.

By Brad Plumer
Culture
The Stephen Colbert monologue that you’ll never be able to forgetThe Stephen Colbert monologue that you’ll never be able to forget
Culture

Last year in June, Colbert broke our hearts.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Map: The most expensive home for sale in every stateMap: The most expensive home for sale in every state
Culture

California, New York, and Florida top the list.

By Brandon Ambrosino
Culture
2014 was the year Lana Del Rey became a great pop artist. Here’s why.2014 was the year Lana Del Rey became a great pop artist. Here’s why.
Culture

Ultimately the controversy that surrounds Lana Del Rey made her into a star, and it won’t stop people from buying her new album.

By Kelsey McKinney
The Simpsons turns 25 this week. Here are the 25 best cartoons it inspired
Technology

Our list includes everything from weird Adult Swim shows to major broadcast hits.

By Emily St. James, Dylan Matthews and 3 more
Culture
Why Sony was wrong to pull The InterviewWhy Sony was wrong to pull The Interview
Culture

This is an act of incredible cowardice, no matter the excuse or caveat used to explain it.

By Emily St. James
Technology
The Sony hack: how it happened, who is responsible, and what we’ve learnedThe Sony hack: how it happened, who is responsible, and what we’ve learned
Technology

Hackers have stolen millions of documents from Sony Pictures, a major Hollywood studio. Here’s what you need to know.

By Timothy B. Lee
Culture
Sony won’t release The Interview Christmas Day after allSony won’t release The Interview Christmas Day after all
Culture

The decision comes after AMC pulled the film, while Regal delayed its release.

By Emily St. James
Culture
Judd Apatow and Jimmy Kimmel blast “cowardice” of theater owners who pulled The InterviewJudd Apatow and Jimmy Kimmel blast “cowardice” of theater owners who pulled The Interview
Culture

The film was pulled from several major theater chains after terrorist threats.

By Timothy B. Lee
Culture
Actor Stephen Collins confesses to sexually abusing three girlsActor Stephen Collins confesses to sexually abusing three girls
Culture

“I deeply regret the mistakes I’ve made and any pain I have caused these three women,” Collins writes in a statement to People magazine.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
Characters are way more likely to die in a children’s movieCharacters are way more likely to die in a children’s movie
Culture

Mortality is real, we tell the children. It’s okay to cry.

By Kelsey McKinney
Culture
The definitive ranking of all six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit filmsThe definitive ranking of all six Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films
Culture

The last Hobbit film doesn’t dramatically change these rankings. But it’s still the best of that trilogy.

By Emily St. James
Technology
Is streaming bad for artists? Yes and no. The future of music, explained.Is streaming bad for artists? Yes and no. The future of music, explained.
Technology

Here’s everything you need to know to understand music streaming.

By Kelsey McKinney
Comic Books
How Marvel’s writers’ retreat became the secret meeting everyone wants to be invited toHow Marvel’s writers’ retreat became the secret meeting everyone wants to be invited to
Comic Books

It’s a convergence of the company’s biggest stars, a hotbed of ideas, and the birthplace of stories that have shaped (and will shape) the Marvel Universe.

By Alex Abad-Santos