Culture
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is attracting huge audiences worldwide – young Philadelphians told us K-pop culture inspires innocence, joy and belonging
‘KPop Demon Hunters’ is attracting huge audiences worldwide – young Philadelphians told us K-pop culture inspires innocence, joy and belonging K-pop culture has become a global phenomenon, attracting huge audiences worldwide, particularly among young people aged 18-30. The Korean Wave, or “hallyu,” offers a refuge from stress and negativity in mainstream Western media, providing emotional […]
🎭 Entertainment
What’s ‘cool’ is pretty consistent around the world
What’s ‘cool’ is pretty consistent around the world New research from the University of Arizona found that people across 12 countries consistently identify coolness with six traits: extroversion, hedonism, power, adventurousness, openness, and autonomy. The study surveyed over 5,000 participants and found that while there were some minor cultural differences, the overall definition of coolness […]
📰 News
The beach wasn’t always a vacation destination – for the ancient Greeks, it was a scary place
The beach wasn’t always a vacation destination – for the ancient Greeks, it was a scary place The ancient Greeks did not view the beach as a vacation destination, but rather as a scary place associated with hardship and death. The Greek literature of the time focused on the negative aspects of the sea and […]
✈️ Travel
How new words enter our language
How new words enter our language According to linguistics expert Christopher Green, most new words in American English are not entirely new creations, but rather repurposed pieces of existing terms or nuanced changes in meaning. New words often emerge and spread rapidly through digital platforms, such as social media, which accelerates language evolution and helps […]
📰 News
How bachata rose from Dominican Republic’s brothels and shantytowns to become a global sensation
How bachata rose from Dominican Republic’s brothels and shantytowns to become a global sensation Bachata, a genre born in the Dominican Republic’s brothels and shantytowns, has become a global sensation, rising from its humble beginnings to top the Latin music charts. The genre’s popularity can be attributed to its ability to tell stories of love, […]
🎭 Entertainment
Why do so many American workers feel guilty about taking the vacation they’ve earned?
Why do so many American workers feel guilty about taking the vacation they’ve earned? Many American workers feel guilty about taking their earned vacation days, despite over 88% receiving paid time off. The US is the only advanced economy without a legal mandate for minimum vacation days, and many employees face a “use-it-or-lose-it” situation, where […]
📰 News
What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US?
What is the ‘Seven Mountains Mandate’ and how is it linked to political extremism in the US? The “Seven Mountains Mandate” is a Christian movement that aims to gain influence over seven key areas of culture: religion, family, education, government, media, business, and the arts. The mandate was originally proposed in 1975 by evangelical leader […]
🏛️ Politics
Exploring questions of meaning, ethics and belief through Japanese anime
Exploring questions of meaning, ethics and belief through Japanese anime Anime can be used as a tool to explore complex questions of meaning, ethics, and belief through Japanese religious traditions. The course “Anime and Religious Identity: Cultural Aesthetics in Japanese Spiritual Worlds” uses anime series such as “Spirited Away”, “Your Name”, and “Attack on Titan” […]
📚 Education
Who’s the most American? Psychological studies show that many people are biased and think it’s a white English speaker
Who’s the most American? Psychological studies show that many people are biased and think it’s a white English speaker Many people’s perception of who is “American” is influenced by biases such as race, ethnicity, and language, despite egalitarian ideals that all Americans are deserving of citizenship rights regardless of background. A study found that American […]
📰 News
‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since
‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since The Scopes trial, held in Dayton, Tennessee in 1925, was a highly publicized “monkey trial” that pitted creationism against evolution, with Clarence Darrow representing the pro-evolution side and William Jennings Bryan leading the prosecution. The […]
🎭 Entertainment