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Culture Archive

Archives for September 2024

Culture
The egregious missteps of Ryan Murphy’s new Menendez brothers dramaThe egregious missteps of Ryan Murphy’s new Menendez brothers drama
Culture

Monsters could have been a nuanced look at abuse. Instead, it’s sleazy tabloid drama.

By Aja Romano
Sports
The NFL’s head trauma problem isn’t going awayThe NFL’s head trauma problem isn’t going away
Sports

Concussions — and Brett Favre’s Parkinson’s diagnosis — are putting a spotlight on head trauma.

By Li Zhou
Even Better
How bad is inflammation really?How bad is inflammation really?
Even Better

Doctors explain how to tell the truth from social media BS.

By Keren Landman, MD
Culture
MTV’s nostalgia problem, explained by The Challenge MTV’s nostalgia problem, explained by The Challenge 
Culture

The network has lost its way. So has its biggest franchise.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Life
The yellow school bus is in troubleThe yellow school bus is in trouble
Life

The disappearance of bus service is hurting kids around the country.

By Anna North
Culture
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is really about coworkers who hate each otherThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is really about coworkers who hate each other
Culture

Why is Utah the epicenter of reality TV?

By Alex Abad-Santos and Rebecca Jennings
Culture
The biggest joke in Ellen DeGeneres’s new Netflix special The biggest joke in Ellen DeGeneres’s new Netflix special 
Culture

The comedian and former talk show host wants to girlboss her way to sympathy.

By Alex Abad-Santos
America’s faultlines
The cultural power of the anti-woke tech broThe cultural power of the anti-woke tech bro
America’s faultlines

The aesthetic of Cybertrucks, energy drinks, and MMA, explained.

By Rebecca Jennings
Explain It to Me
Why do we say “like,” like, all the time? Why do we say “like,” like, all the time? 
Explain It to Me

In defense of the supremely useful and unfairly maligned word.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Culture
Chappell Roan and the problem with fandomChappell Roan and the problem with fandom
Culture

The toxic stans aren’t the problem, it’s fan culture itself.

By Aja Romano
Why America hates to love chicken nuggets
Food

Kids love to eat them. Parents love to fight about them.

By Anna North
Culture
Sally Rooney’s new book is an exquisite return to formSally Rooney’s new book is an exquisite return to form
Culture

In the deeply-felt Intermezzo, the celebrity novelist plays chess with God.

By Constance Grady
Culture
Agatha All Along is a Marvel show you don’t have to do homework for Agatha All Along is a Marvel show you don’t have to do homework for 
Culture

There’s enough fun in the WandaVision spinoff to make you forget about the MCU.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Sports
Shohei Ohtani just did something no pro baseball player has ever doneShohei Ohtani just did something no pro baseball player has ever done
Sports

His staggering new record cements his dominance in the sport.

By Li Zhou
Culture
How Kodak invented the “snapshot”How Kodak invented the “snapshot”
Play
Culture

The original Kodak camera changed photography forever.

By Coleman Lowndes