Topic

Art, Culture & Design

A collection of 72 issues

Watching Paint Dry: The Story of a 10-Hour Protest Film That Trolled the Censors

To protest the UK's expensive film classification system, filmmaker Charlie Lyne crowdfunded a 10-hour movie of paint drying. He then forced the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) to watch the entire tedious spectacle to grant it a rating, highlighting censorship by cost.

Entertainment & Media Art, Culture & Design Media & Censorship

From a Breakup to a Breakthrough: The Wild Transformation of The Doors' 'The End'

The Doors' 12-minute epic 'The End' is famed for its dark, Oedipal themes. But it began as a simple, sad song Jim Morrison wrote about a breakup with his girlfriend, Mary Werbelow, before live improvisation on the Sunset Strip transformed it into a mythological masterpiece.

Music History Art, Culture & Design

Beyond Pulp Fiction: The Ancient, Multicultural Journey of 'Misirlou'

The iconic surf-rock anthem 'Misirlou' from *Pulp Fiction* wasn't born in 1960s California. It's an ancient folk song from the Ottoman Empire, shared by Greek, Arab, and Jewish cultures for centuries. Its name, 'Misirlou,' simply means 'Egyptian Woman.'

Music History Art, Culture & Design

Your Childhood Was a Lie: Grimm's Fairy Tales are French and King Arthur is Fan-Fiction

Your favorite 'German' fairy tales? Many were French stories collected from Huguenot descendants by the Grimms. And King Arthur? The legendary British king's most famous tales, including Lancelot and the Grail quest, were essentially popular French fanfiction from the 12th century.

Literature & Books History Art, Culture & Design

How a German 'Sound of Music' Replaced 'Do-Re-Mi' with a Stroke of Genius

A 2005 German production of 'The Sound of Music' cleverly replaced the iconic 'Do-Re-Mi' song. Instead of solfège, it used mnemonics to teach the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, H, making the musical lesson culturally relevant and understandable for a German-speaking audience.

Music Entertainment & Media Art, Culture & Design

Fendi's Roman HQ: The Fascist Secret Hidden in Its Architecture

Luxury fashion house Fendi's HQ, the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, is an icon of Fascist-era architecture. But its grand facade hides a chilling tribute: 6 rows of arches for 'Benito' and 9 for 'Mussolini,' a secret embedded in stone.

Art, Culture & Design History

Damn Good Coffee: How Twin Peaks Ignited a Cultural Firestorm in 1990s Japan

In the early 1990s, David Lynch's Twin Peaks wasn't just a hit in Japan—it was a cultural phenomenon. The mystery of Laura Palmer inspired TV specials, mock funerals, unique merchandise, and even influenced the creation of iconic video games like Silent Hill and Link's Awakening.

Entertainment & Media Art, Culture & Design Sports & Games

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