The Best Articles in Culture
The most useful articles and videos in Culture from around the web—beginners to advanced—curated by thought leaders and our community. We focus on timeless pieces and update the list whenever we discover new, must-read articles or videos—make sure to bookmark and revisit this page.
Top 5 Culture Articles
At a glance: these are the articles that have been most read, shared, and saved in Culture by Refind users in 2023.
Videos
Watch a video to get a quick overview.
why Japan's internet is weirdly designed
Use code ANSWER to get 10% off your Hostinger plan today (on top of ongoing offers like their Black Friday/Cyber Monday $1.99 for Premium Shared web hosting ...
Why we all need subtitles now
It's not you — the dialogue in TV and movies has gotten harder to hear.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bs...
A fact-checked debate about legal weed
2 opposing perspectives and 6 true facts about cannabis legalization.Subscribe and turn on notifications 🔔 so you don't miss any videos: http://goo.gl/0bsA...
Megan Campisi and Pen-Pen Chen: The myth behind the Chinese zodiac
What's your sign? In Western astrology, it's a constellation determined by when your birthday falls in the calendar. But according to the Chinese zodiac (生肖), it's your shuxiang, meaning the animal…
What is ...?
New to Culture? These articles make an excellent introduction.
What is ‘Gothic’? It’s more complicated than you think.
Hidden in the architecture of some of the world’s most famous buildings is a cultural exchange between Europe and the Middle East.
How to ...?
How to deconstruct the world
Don’t believe everything you hear, read and watch. To puncture received ideas about culture, start thinking like Jacques Derrida
«Anything that has been constructed can be deconstructed. This is true for objects, but is also true for concepts, such as God, justice and truth.»
How to come up with a unique Halloween costume without spending a ton of money
Tap your creativity (and closet) for the best Halloween costume.
Trending
These links are currently making the rounds in Culture on Refind.
Three Skills for Staying Calm, Sane, and Open in a Chaotic World
The host of On Being shares lessons learned from 20 years of interviews, including: how to live with open questions, counterprogramming against your negativity bias, and getting over the God question.
The lie of “deinfluencing”
Influencers will never influence us to buy less stuff. It’s antithetical to the job.
38 Years Ago, Nintendo Changed Pop Culture Forever
Or, how a plumber and his powerful butt transformed the world
Shakespeare’s First Folio has been Stolen Many, Many Times
Late at night on July 13th, 1972, an unknown person entered the University of Manchester’s Library and violently smashed the plate glass top of an exhibition case, stealing the contents. Inside was…
‘The good guys don’t always win’: Salman Rushdie on peace, Barbie and what freedom cost him
What can the great myths (and the summer blockbusters) tell us about peace? The writer, who has turned to fables all his life, weighs their wisdom – and considers the price he himself has paid for…
«‘Peace only exists here in pink plastic’ … Barbie, one of this summer’s legends.»
Short Articles
Short on time? Check out these useful short articles in Culture—all under 10 minutes.
The case for resurrecting the lost world of collective bathing
In 2008, the Japanese comic book artist Mari Yamazaki began working on a manga called Thermae Romae. Published the following year, it’s set in ancient Rome and follows a Roman architect named Lucius.…
Actually, ‘Bed Rotting’ Can Be a Very Legit Form of Self-Care
It’s called rest, people.
I Was Wrong About Trigger Warnings
Has the national obsession with trauma done real damage to teen girls?
India’s pickle people: Decades-old culinary heirlooms, nostalgia
A self-proclaimed pickle enthusiast explores India’s familial pickle-making traditions, which stretch back generations.
The Price of Pop Fandom
In a series of infographics and interviews, we break down the out-of-control ticket prices that make concert-going an increasingly unaffordable experience.
Long Articles
These are some of the most-read long-form articles in Culture.
In Defense of the Rat
Rats are less pestilent and more lovable than we think. Can we learn to live with them?
The illusion of moral decline
The short version of the paper I just published
The Secret History And Strange Future Of Charisma
How our culture, politics and technology became infused with a mysterious social phenomenon that everyone can feel but nobody can explain.
The Elegant, Utterly Original Comedy of Alex Edelman
A conversation with the comedian on writing for laughs, the jokes he won’t tell, and the best advice he’s gotten from his comedic heroes
Thought Leaders
We monitor hundreds of thought leaders, influencers, and newsletters in Culture, including:
DesignObserver
Writings and podcasts on design and culture. Founded by @jessicahelfand and @michaelbierut.
Aeon+Psyche
Aeon is a magazine of ideas and culture. Psyche is our sister magazine focused on the human condition. Visit http://aeon.co and http://psyche.co for more.
The A.V. Club
Pop culture obsessives writing for the pop culture obsessed. Sign up for our newsletter http://avclub.com/newsletter
Open Culture
The enemy of my enemy is my friend. Find our daily culture posts on Threads, Mastodon, Bluesky and Post.
Anne Helen Petersen
I write Culture Study & also books — most recently, OUT OF OFFICE. Speaking: @prhspeakers IG: annehelenpetersen // email: annehelenpetersen @ gmail
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Every day Refind picks the most relevant links from around the web for you. Picking only a handful of links means focusing on what’s relevant and useful. We favor timeless pieces—links with long shelf-lives, articles that are still relevant one month, one year, or even ten years from now. These lists of the best resources on any topic are the result of years of careful curation.
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