Culture
How women are reinterpreting the menstrual taboos in Chinese Buddhism
How women are reinterpreting the menstrual taboos in Chinese Buddhism Women in Chinese Buddhism are reinterpreting traditional menstrual taboos by focusing on maternal self-sacrifice and reframing their understanding of female bodies. The “Blood Pond Hell” concept, which condemns menstruating women to suffering, has been challenged by modern Chinese Buddhist practices that emphasize the importance of […]
๐ฐ News
Opera is not dying โ but it needs a second act for the streaming era
Opera is not dying โ but it needs a second act for the streaming era Opera companies are facing financial stress due to declining attendance and revenue, but this doesn’t necessarily mean the art form is dying. The traditional business model of opera is faltering, relying on season ticket sales and big donors, whereas other […]
๐ญ Entertainment
AI-induced cultural stagnation is no longer speculation โ itโs already happening
AI-induced cultural stagnation is no longer speculation โ itโs already happening A new study has found that generative AI systems converge onto a narrow set of generic visual themes when allowed to run autonomously, resulting in “visual elevator music” that lacks meaning and originality. The researchers linked a text-to-image system with an image-to-text system and […]
๐ป Technology
How tourism, a booming wellness culture and social media are transforming the age-old Japanese tea ceremony
How tourism, a booming wellness culture and social media are transforming the age-old Japanese tea ceremony The traditional Japanese tea ceremony, known as chanoyu or chadล, is being transformed by tourism, wellness culture, and social media. Matcha, a key ingredient in the tea ceremony, has become a global commodity, with its popularity fueled by lifestyle […]
โ๏ธ Travel
Large trunks discovered in a basement offer a window into the lives and struggles of early Filipino migrants
Large trunks discovered in a basement offer a window into the lives and struggles of early Filipino migrants A collection of steamer trunks discovered in a California basement offers a glimpse into the lives and struggles of early Filipino migrants who worked in Hawaii’s sugar industry and later settled in California’s San Joaquin Valley. The […]
๐ฐ News
Merry Jewish Christmas: How Chinese food and the movies became a time-honored tradition for American Jews
Merry Jewish Christmas: How Chinese food and the movies became a time-honored tradition for American Jews Chinese food has become a staple of many Jewish American traditions on Christmas Day, with some restaurants even offering kosher-style dishes to cater to observant Jews. Jewish Christmas traditions are not necessarily a sign of Americanization, but rather a […]
๐ฐ News
Hanukkah celebrates both an ancient military victory and a miracle of light โ modern Jews can pick from either tradition
Hanukkah celebrates both an ancient military victory and a miracle of light โ modern Jews can pick from either tradition Hanukkah celebrates both an ancient military victory and a miracle of light, allowing modern Jews to choose which tradition they want to focus on. The main ritual of Hanukkah is the lighting of the menorah, […]
๐ฐ News
The indie web is here to make the internet weird again
The indie web is here to make the internet weird again The indie web movement has begun, aiming to make the internet “weird again” by promoting alternative platforms and websites. The indie web movement started as a response to the decline of GeoCities, a free web hosting service that Yahoo shut down in 2009 (US) […]
๐ป Technology
Why people trust influencers more than brands โ and what that means for the future of marketing
Why people trust influencers more than brands โ and what that means for the future of marketing Influencer marketing has become a powerful force in both commerce and culture, with the global market expected to surpass $32 billion by the end of 2025. People trust influencers more than brands due to the “parasocial relationship” they […]
๐ฐ News
What AI earbuds canโt replace: The value of learning another language
What AI earbuds canโt replace: The value of learning another language While AI earbuds can facilitate cross-cultural communication, they cannot replace the value of learning another language, particularly in situations that require nuanced understanding and social interaction. The process of learning a language is vital for building cognitive resilience, empathy, identity, and community, which are […]
๐ป Technology