Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Culture Archive

Archives for August 2015

Culture
Watch Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj open the showWatch Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj open the show
Culture

They don’t have bad blood.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
2015 VMA: Taylor Swift debuts new music video for “Wildest Dreams”2015 VMA: Taylor Swift debuts new music video for “Wildest Dreams”
Culture

The romantic new “Out of Africa”–inspired video invites Scott Eastwood to the stage.

By Caroline Framke
Culture
2015 MTV VMAs: the liveblog2015 MTV VMAs: the liveblog
Culture

The show starts at 9 p.m. — let the live-blogging begin.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Almanac
The Moscow-Washington red phone wasn’t red and wasn’t a phoneThe Moscow-Washington red phone wasn’t red and wasn’t a phone
Almanac

See what it really looked like — and why we remember it so differently.

By Phil Edwards
Technology
Netflix Is Losing More Hollywood Movies, and Says You’ll Be Okay With ThatNetflix Is Losing More Hollywood Movies, and Says You’ll Be Okay With That
Technology

A five-year deal with Epix is expiring, which means no more “Hunger Games” or “Transformers.”

By Peter Kafka
Hannibal creator Bryan Fuller looks back at that finale and his show’s last season
Culture

Everything you need to know about the last season, what might have come next, and Fuller’s next project, American Gods.

By Emily St. James
Technology
Re/code on the Air: Facebook’s Billion-User Day, Looking Ahead to Apple’s EventRe/code on the Air: Facebook’s Billion-User Day, Looking Ahead to Apple’s Event
Technology

Re/code writers stop typing for a few minutes to talk on TV and radio.

By Arik Hesseldahl
Science
Oliver Sacks, famed author and neurologist, has diedOliver Sacks, famed author and neurologist, has died
Science

He changed people’s understanding of the brain through lovingly told stories about his patients.

By Julia Belluz
Culture
Netflix’s Narcos is like a bland guy reading you the Wikipedia entry on Pablo EscobarNetflix’s Narcos is like a bland guy reading you the Wikipedia entry on Pablo Escobar
Culture

Despite numerous strong elements, the show horribly overrelies on bad voiceover to tell its story.

By Emily St. James
Science
Why Oliver Sacks was so ambivalent about becoming a best-selling authorWhy Oliver Sacks was so ambivalent about becoming a best-selling author
Science

Oliver Sacks’s new memoir contemplates the pitfalls of mass media engagement.

By Julia Belluz
Culture
DC Comics’ 1982 style guide is a perfect reminder of what’s great about superheroesDC Comics’ 1982 style guide is a perfect reminder of what’s great about superheroes
Culture

Superheroes don’t need to be all doom and gloom.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Explainers
Virginia shooting: 2 journalists were killed on live television. Here’s what we know.Virginia shooting: 2 journalists were killed on live television. Here’s what we know.
Explainers

The shooting was recorded on live video.

By German Lopez and Alex Abad-Santos
Culture
This massive Twitter response shows the awful discrimination in the music industryThis massive Twitter response shows the awful discrimination in the music industry
Culture

There are hundreds of stories — and counting.

By Caroline Framke
Culture
Think network executives ruin TV? These 5 examples prove you wrong.Think network executives ruin TV? These 5 examples prove you wrong.
Culture

From adding Elaine to Seinfeld to tweaking the storytelling on The Americans, network notes can make TV better.

By Emily St. James
TV
Why Marvel’s Jessica Jones is a perfect fit for NetflixWhy Marvel’s Jessica Jones is a perfect fit for Netflix
TV

Jessica Jones is Netflix and Marvel’s next superhero. Her comic book will haunt you.

By Alex Abad-Santos