Arts + Culture - The Conversation - Movies, Music, Language and more, explained by experts

A young man in a top hat rests his chin on the shoulder of a young woman who looks uncomfortable.

A young man in a top hat rests his chin on the shoulder of a young woman who looks uncomfortable.

How Dracula became a red-hot lover

Stanley Stepanic, University of Virginia

A bearded man wrestles with a large, brown bear in the snow.

A bearded man wrestles with a large, brown bear in the snow.

Do animals have a future on Hollywood sets?

Cynthia Chris, City University of New York

As Jeff Bezos dismantles The Washington Post, 5 regional papers chart a course for survival

Dan Kennedy, Northeastern University

People work at their desks in The Washington Post's newsroom.

People work at their desks in The Washington Post's newsroom.

AI-induced cultural stagnation is no longer speculation − it’s already happening

Ahmed Elgammal, Rutgers University

A young Asian woman peers out of a glass elevator in a shopping mall.

A young Asian woman peers out of a glass elevator in a shopping mall.

Trump wants to shutter the Kennedy Center for 2 years – an arts management professor explains what that portends

E. Andrew Taylor, American University

President Trump is seen standing in a box seat at a fancy theater.

President Trump is seen standing in a box seat at a fancy theater.

‘Which Side Are You On?’: American protest songs have emboldened social movements for generations, from coal country to Minneapolis

Ted Olson, East Tennessee State University

two men sing into a microphone

two men sing into a microphone

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Housing: Visions

A row of newly built homes.

A row of newly built homes.

Believe it or not, there was a time when the US government built beautiful homes for working-class Americans to deal with a housing shortage

Eran Ben-Joseph, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

America’s teachers are being priced out of their communities − these cities are building subsidized housing to lure them back

Jeff Kruth, Miami University and Tammy Schwartz, Miami University

A rendering of small homes surrounded by trees.

A rendering of small homes surrounded by trees.

What if universal rental assistance were implemented to deal with the housing crisis?

Alex Schwartz, The New School and Kirk McClure, University of Kansas

Silhouettes of a young woman and her daughter on a bed piled with bags of personal belongings.

Silhouettes of a young woman and her daughter on a bed piled with bags of personal belongings.

To spur the construction of affordable, resilient homes, the future is concrete

Pablo Moyano Fernández, Washington University in St. Louis

Eight computer-generated, concrete home prototypes.

Eight computer-generated, concrete home prototypes.

From flammable neighborhoods to moral hazards, fire insurance maps capture early US cities and the landscape of discrimination

Jack Swab, University of Tennessee

Map of various colored quadrants

Map of various colored quadrants

Sports

Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show is part of long play drawn up by NFL to score with Latin America

Jared Bahir Browsh, University of Colorado Boulder

A giant screen shows a man's face while a crowd cheers.

A giant screen shows a man's face while a crowd cheers.

Will a ‘Trump slump’ continue to hit US tourism in 2026 − and even keep World Cup fans away?

Frédéric Dimanche, Toronto Metropolitan University and Kelley A. McClinchey, Wilfrid Laurier University

Two men in suits stand on a stage.

Two men in suits stand on a stage.

Has Little Caesars Arena boosted economic activity in Detroit? We looked at hotel and short-term rental industry data to find out

Gidon Jakar, University of Florida

People pass by a low-rise brick-and-glass building that has a sign reading "Little Caesars Arena"

People pass by a low-rise brick-and-glass building that has a sign reading "Little Caesars Arena"

Tennis is set for a ‘Battle of the Sexes’ sequel – with no movement behind it

Jaime Schultz, Penn State; Kyle R. King, Penn State; Molly McCreedy, Penn State, and Sydney Johnson-Aguirre, Penn State

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Movies

Black-and-white close-up of the face of a distraught young man.

Black-and-white close-up of the face of a distraught young man.

The dystopian Pottersville in ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is starting to feel less like fiction

Nora Gilbert, University of North Texas

Whether Netflix or Paramount buys Warner Bros., entertainment oligopolies are back – bigger and more anticompetitive than ever

Matthew Jordan, Penn State

Colorful drawing of an aerial view of a sprawling movie studio, with lush hills in the background.

Colorful drawing of an aerial view of a sprawling movie studio, with lush hills in the background.

The law meets its limits – what ‘Nuremberg’ reveals about guilt, evil and the quest for global justice

B.B. Blaber, Grinnell College

A courtroom with military police standing against a back wall behind two rows of seated defendants.

A courtroom with military police standing against a back wall behind two rows of seated defendants.

4 films that show how humans can fortify – or botch – their relationship with AI

Murugan Anandarajan, Drexel University and Claire A. Simmers, St. Joseph's University

Movie still of young girl colored with a red hue.

Movie still of young girl colored with a red hue.

40 years ago, the first AIDS movies forced Americans to confront a disease they didn’t want to see

Scott Malia, College of the Holy Cross

Sickly young man resting his head on a pillow looking forlorn.

Sickly young man resting his head on a pillow looking forlorn.

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Visual art

Why two tiny mountain peaks became one of the internet’s most famous images

Christopher Schaberg, Washington University in St. Louis

A grid featuring various iterations of a simple graphic of two mountain peaks and a sun.

A grid featuring various iterations of a simple graphic of two mountain peaks and a sun.

You’ve just stolen a priceless artifact – what happens next?

Leila Amineddoleh, New York University

Museum display featuring a silver tiara and a crown.

Museum display featuring a silver tiara and a crown.

Surrealism is better known for its strangeness than the radical politics and revolutionary ambitions of its creators

Tom McDonough, Binghamton University, State University of New York

Person shown from behind standing in front of large colorful painting on gallery wall

Person shown from behind standing in front of large colorful painting on gallery wall

How Dorothea Tanning’s ‘Birthday’ painting challenged male-dominated surrealism

Sally Jane Brown, West Virginia University

Vertical oil painting of woman with fantastical creature at her feet in the foreground and a series of open doors in the background

Vertical oil painting of woman with fantastical creature at her feet in the foreground and a series of open doors in the background

Read more about visual art

Music

Three people bundled up in jackets, two of them wearing stoles over their shoulders, kneel outside.

Three people bundled up in jackets, two of them wearing stoles over their shoulders, kneel outside.

Clergy protests against ICE turned to a classic – and powerful – American playlist

David W. Stowe, Michigan State University

Grammys’ AI rules aim to keep music human, but large gray area leaves questions about authenticity and authorship

Mark Benincosa, West Virginia University

cartoon illustration of a pair of robot hands, one playing piano and the other writing music

cartoon illustration of a pair of robot hands, one playing piano and the other writing music

Googoosh, the ‘Voice of Iran,’ has gone quiet – and that’s her point

Richard Nedjat-Haiem, University of California, Santa Barbara

An older woman with shoulder-length, blonde hair and wearing a turquoise and gold dress belts into a microphone on stage as she's bathed in the purple light.

An older woman with shoulder-length, blonde hair and wearing a turquoise and gold dress belts into a microphone on stage as she's bathed in the purple light.

The marketing genius of Spotify Wrapped

Ishani Banerji, Clemson University

A young woman performs on a stage with a purple backdrop behind her in front a large crowd.

A young woman performs on a stage with a purple backdrop behind her in front a large crowd.

Tired of the same old Christmas songs? So were these countercultural carolers

Florian Walch, West Virginia University

A young man dressed in a Santa suit smokes a cigarette and makes devil horn signs with his hands at a music festival.

A young man dressed in a Santa suit smokes a cigarette and makes devil horn signs with his hands at a music festival.

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Literature and writing

Colorful illustration of a finger pushing a button with a red heart symbol on it.

Colorful illustration of a finger pushing a button with a red heart symbol on it.

Whether it’s Valentine’s Day notes or emails to loved ones, using AI to write leaves people feeling crummy about themselves

Julian Givi, West Virginia University; Colleen P. Kirk, New York Institute of Technology, and Danielle Hass, West Virginia University

More than half of new articles on the internet are being written by AI – is human writing headed for extinction?

Francesco Agnellini, Binghamton University, State University of New York

A silhouette of a man standing before two large, bright letters: 'A' and 'I.'

A silhouette of a man standing before two large, bright letters: 'A' and 'I.'

Writing builds resilience by changing your brain, helping you face everyday challenges

Emily Ronay Johnston, University of California, Merced

Close-up of hand writing in notebook with pen

Close-up of hand writing in notebook with pen

Signatures meant more in Mesopotamia than they do now − what cylinder seals say about ancient and modern life

Serdar Yalçin, Macalester College

Cylinder seal of figures fighting with creatures, with a scan of the figures inscribed on its surface on the right

Cylinder seal of figures fighting with creatures, with a scan of the figures inscribed on its surface on the right

What’s the difference between ghosts and demons? Books, folklore and history reflect society’s supernatural beliefs

Penelope Geng, Macalester College

Etching of two creatures approaching two women from behind.

Etching of two creatures approaching two women from behind.

Read more about books

Media

The 6-7 craze offered a brief window into the hidden world of children

Rebekah Willett, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Amanda Levido, Southern Cross University, and Hyeon-Seon Jeong, Gyeongin National University of Education

A black-and-white photo from the 1940s of girls playing tag on a school playground.

A black-and-white photo from the 1940s of girls playing tag on a school playground.

CPR on TV is often inaccurate – but watching characters jump to the rescue can still save real lives

Beth Hoffman, University of Pittsburgh

Person in suit kneeling with hands on a CPR mannequin, other people looking on

Person in suit kneeling with hands on a CPR mannequin, other people looking on

Why are some Black conservatives drawn to Nick Fuentes?

George Michael, Westfield State University

Young man wearing sunglasses shouting into a microphone surrounded by other young men.

Young man wearing sunglasses shouting into a microphone surrounded by other young men.

Netflix-Warner deal would drive streaming market further down the road of ‘Big 3’ domination

David R. King, Florida State University

A square building with 'Netflix' written on the side.

A square building with 'Netflix' written on the side.

Read more about media

History

A cartoon depicts a snake in a top hat.

A cartoon depicts a snake in a top hat.

Valentine’s Day cards too sugary sweet for you? Return to the 19th-century custom of the spicy ‘vinegar valentine’

Melissa Chim, Excelsior University

Large trunks discovered in a basement offer a window into the lives and struggles of early Filipino migrants

Sam Vong, Smithsonian Institution

A young Filipino man poses next to his car in a vintage black and white photograph.

A young Filipino man poses next to his car in a vintage black and white photograph.

Medieval peasants probably enjoyed their holiday festivities more than you do

Bobbi Sutherland, University of Dayton

A colorful winter scene depicting three women working inside a snow-covered shelter.

A colorful winter scene depicting three women working inside a snow-covered shelter.

A white poet and a Sioux doctor fell in love after Wounded Knee – racism and sexism would drive them apart

Julie Dobrow, Tufts University

Rolling fields with flowers and grave markers. Three boys ride bikes in the distance.

Rolling fields with flowers and grave markers. Three boys ride bikes in the distance.

Pharaohs in Dixieland – how 19th-century America reimagined Egypt to justify racism and slavery

Charles Vanthournout, Université de Lorraine

A colorful engraving of African tribespeople bring their tributes before the Pharaoh.

A colorful engraving of African tribespeople bring their tributes before the Pharaoh.

Read more about language

Gender and sexuality

‘My gender is like an empty lot’ − the people who reject man, woman and any other gender label

Canton Winer, Northern Illinois University

Blurred silhouettes of people walking across a backdrop of overlapping blue and pink lights, one silhouette standing slightly apart in the foreground

Blurred silhouettes of people walking across a backdrop of overlapping blue and pink lights, one silhouette standing slightly apart in the foreground

Why are women’s shoes so pointy? A fashion expert on impractical but stylish footwear

Michael Watson, University of South Carolina

Close-up of feet wearing pointy black shoes

Close-up of feet wearing pointy black shoes

We’ve been tracking the number of Americans who identify as transgender – soon, there will be no reliable way to measure them

Jody L. Herman, University of California, Los Angeles and Andrew Ryan Flores, American University

A graphic of a large fingerprint, colored light blue and pink.

A graphic of a large fingerprint, colored light blue and pink.

As Mexico’s LGBTQ+ community battles for inclusion, two drag performers have become internet stars – with more than 2 million TikTok followers

Francisco Tijerina, Washington University in St. Louis

Two drag mascots -- one wearing a donkey costume -- appear on stage in front of a pink backdrop.

Two drag mascots -- one wearing a donkey costume -- appear on stage in front of a pink backdrop.

Read more about gender and sexuality

Cities

A couple speaks to a young man wearing a T-shirt that reads "MuSeUm" in bright green type. They are standing in front of a round table set for a meal. A plant sits in one of the chairs.

A couple speaks to a young man wearing a T-shirt that reads "MuSeUm" in bright green type. They are standing in front of a round table set for a meal. A plant sits in one of the chairs.

How museums can help rebuild trust in a divided America

Devon Akmon, Michigan State University

Federal agents in tactical gear and camouflage converse with local police officers wearing black vests.

Federal agents in tactical gear and camouflage converse with local police officers wearing black vests.

Are sanctuary policing policies no more than a public relations facade?

Nick Lehr, The Conversation

Read more about cities

Television

Eight happy people standing close to each other in front of a large American flag.

Eight happy people standing close to each other in front of a large American flag.

Why ‘The West Wing’ went from a bipartisan hit to a polarized streaming comfort watch over 2 decades, reflecting profound shifts in media and politics

Karrin Vasby Anderson, Colorado State University and Nick Marx, Colorado State University

Life isn’t all diamonds – money and fame don’t shield the many ‘Real Housewives’ facing criminal charges

C. Clare Strange, Drexel University

A woman with long dark hair and a beige coat holds the arm of a tall man wearing a black suit and blue tie and walks away from a building, with police nearby.

A woman with long dark hair and a beige coat holds the arm of a tall man wearing a black suit and blue tie and walks away from a building, with police nearby.

It’s easy making green: Muppets continue to make a profit 50 years into their run

Jared Bahir Browsh, University of Colorado Boulder

People and Muppets pose for a huge group photo.

People and Muppets pose for a huge group photo.

Opera is not dying – but it needs a second act for the streaming era

Christos Makridis, Arizona State University; Institute for Humane Studies

People dressed in dramatic costumes stand on stage, with a woman in a black dress singing.

People dressed in dramatic costumes stand on stage, with a woman in a black dress singing.

The rise of the autistic detective – why neurodivergent minds are at the heart of modern mysteries

Soohyun Cho, Michigan State University

A young blonde woman wearing headphones sits in a narrow hallway surrounded by stacks of shelved files.

A young blonde woman wearing headphones sits in a narrow hallway surrounded by stacks of shelved files.

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Lifestyle

A young Asian woman peers out of a glass elevator in a shopping mall.

A young Asian woman peers out of a glass elevator in a shopping mall.

AI-induced cultural stagnation is no longer speculation − it’s already happening

Ahmed Elgammal, Rutgers University

Feeling unprepared for the AI boom? You’re not alone

Patrick Barry, University of Michigan

Large group of silhouetted people walking toward a bright tunnel of binary code.

Large group of silhouetted people walking toward a bright tunnel of binary code.

Doing things alone is on the rise, and businesses should pay more attention to that – even on Valentine’s Day

Peter McGraw, University of Colorado Boulder

A young woman eats a taco at a bar's festive outdoor seating area.

A young woman eats a taco at a bar's festive outdoor seating area.

Food

Philadelphia was once a sweet spot for chocolatiers and other candymakers who made iconic treats for Valentine’s Day and other holidays

Jared Bahir Browsh, University of Colorado Boulder

Old black-and-white photographs of different boxes of chocolate

Old black-and-white photographs of different boxes of chocolate

A culinary educator and local dining expert breaks down Michelin’s debut Philly list − and gives zero stars to the inspectors

Jonathan Deutsch, Drexel University

Person wearing black suit holds a white chef's jacket draped over their left arm

Person wearing black suit holds a white chef's jacket draped over their left arm

How Hershey’s chocolate survived an attack from Mars − and adopted a business strategy alien to its founder

John Haddad, Penn State

Colorful statues of iconic candy brands on roof of building

Colorful statues of iconic candy brands on roof of building

Would you eat a grasshopper? In Oaxaca, it’s been a tasty tradition for thousands of years

Jeffrey H. Cohen, The Ohio State University

Arms of a woman wearing a blue blouse and holding a large batch of tiny brown bugs.

Arms of a woman wearing a blue blouse and holding a large batch of tiny brown bugs.

Read more about food

Most read this week

1.
As Jeff Bezos dismantles The Washington Post, 5 regional papers chart a course for survival
Dan Kennedy, Northeastern University