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Culture

The entertainment and cultural moments that define our society.

Your TV is watching you
Technology

Roku, Amazon, and practically every company in the streaming business are inventing new ways to make money off your data.

By Adam Clark Estes
Your TV is watching you
Technology

Roku, Amazon, and practically every company in the streaming business are inventing new ways to make money off your data.

By Adam Clark Estes
I tried to find my personal style and all I got was this existential crisisI tried to find my personal style and all I got was this existential crisis
Culture

How fashion advice swung from “what not to wear” to “wear what you want.”

By Constance Grady
What happens when a grievance comedian turns to empathy?What happens when a grievance comedian turns to empathy?
Culture

This Netflix comedy special has a surprising message for men

By Aja Romano
Two hunky doctors are resuscitating TVTwo hunky doctors are resuscitating TV
Culture

Doctor Odyssey and The Pitt have a lot to tell us about TV in 2025.

By Kyndall Cunningham

The latest in Culture

The only generation not in a sex recessionThe only generation not in a sex recession
Explain It to Me

It’s not just in the movies. Gen X women are having the best sex of their lives.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Natalia Grace, the orphan whose bizarre abandonment made her a reality star, explainedNatalia Grace, the orphan whose bizarre abandonment made her a reality star, explained
True crime

Hulu’s Good American Family makes docudrama out of her harrowing story, and fails her in the process.

By Aja Romano
The skeleton key that unlocked Disney’s empireThe skeleton key that unlocked Disney’s empire
Culture

Snow White built Disney. Why is the studio screwing up her story so badly now?

By Constance Grady
The surprising thing I learned from quitting SpotifyThe surprising thing I learned from quitting Spotify
Even Better

It took months of living without Spotify’s algorithm to realize I had trained it too well.

By Adam Clark Estes
A new book suggests a path forward for Democrats. The left hates it.A new book suggests a path forward for Democrats. The left hates it.
Politics

Cutting red tape is a social justice issue.

By Eric Levitz
It’s spring. Take a breath. Read a book.It’s spring. Take a breath. Read a book.
Culture

A deceptively comic novel of transitioning, a beautiful divorce memoir, and more recommendations.

By Constance Grady
How “Not Like Us” became an anti-Drake anthem — and the subject of a messy lawsuitHow “Not Like Us” became an anti-Drake anthem — and the subject of a messy lawsuit
Culture

The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar feud, explained.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The not-so-patriotic thing so much true crime has in commonThe not-so-patriotic thing so much true crime has in common
Culture

What bonds Gabby Petito, Osama bin Laden, and Waco — according to true crime marketers.

By Aja Romano
Think twice before you smear beef tallow and salmon sperm on your faceThink twice before you smear beef tallow and salmon sperm on your face
Future Perfect

The hidden cost of animal-based beauty trends.

By Sam Delgado
The Facebook tell-all Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t want you to read, briefly explainedThe Facebook tell-all Mark Zuckerberg doesn’t want you to read, briefly explained
Technology

The Meta CEO’s commitment to free expression doesn’t apply to embarrassing memoirs.

By Adam Clark Estes
Is the viral “let them” theory really that simple?Is the viral “let them” theory really that simple?
Culture

The paradox behind Mel Robbins’s self-help mantra.

By Kyndall Cunningham
White Lotus has finally revealed its secret main characterWhite Lotus has finally revealed its secret main character
Culture

The real dark heart of the HBO anthology series.

By Alex Abad-Santos
You didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout starYou didn’t have to watch Traitors to care about its breakout star
Culture

Gabby Windey, lethargic ciggy mommy, explained.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Trump’s petty revenge on the Kennedy CenterTrump’s petty revenge on the Kennedy Center
Culture

The theater world powerfully criticized the president’s first term. Now, he’s striking back.

By Constance Grady
The controversy over Disney’s new Christian character, briefly explainedThe controversy over Disney’s new Christian character, briefly explained
Culture

Pixar’s Win or Lose and Disney’s shifting stance on diversity.

By Aja Romano
Does America’s biggest true crime podcast share true crime’s biggest problems?Does America’s biggest true crime podcast share true crime’s biggest problems?
Culture

How Crime Junkie built its true crime empire atop an ethical minefield

By Aja Romano
The great American classic we’ve been misreading for 100 years
Culture

The Great Gatsby is more than cocktail parties and color symbolism.

By Constance Grady
With Love, Meghan is bland and inoffensiveWith Love, Meghan is bland and inoffensive
Culture

She’s not an expert like Martha Stewart. She’s not an icon like Princess Diana. Where does she go from here?

By Constance Grady
Why the Casey Anthony case will never really go awayWhy the Casey Anthony case will never really go away
Culture

Casey Anthony has started a Substack and TikTok touting her role as a “legal advocate.”

By Aja Romano
“Help me find a new author with the same vibe as my old favorite”“Help me find a new author with the same vibe as my old favorite”
CultureThe Highlight

Plus, novels for the chronically online, and other recommendations.

By Constance Grady
How beef colonized the Americas
Future Perfect

Beef is tied to my cultural identity through its complicated history. Could the daughter of a cattle rancher ever let it go?

By Izzie Ramirez
4 winners and 3 losers from a madcap Oscars4 winners and 3 losers from a madcap Oscars
Culture

After Emilia Pérez’s award chances blew up, the Oscars seemed to be an open race. Then came Anora.

By Alex Abad-Santos, Kyndall Cunningham and 3 more
Anora’s big Oscar win and sex worker backlash, explainedAnora’s big Oscar win and sex worker backlash, explained
Culture

The Best Picture winner might not be as progressive as it looks.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Emilia Pérez’s controversies didn’t stop it from winning OscarsEmilia Pérez’s controversies didn’t stop it from winning Oscars
Culture

Despite backlash from Mexico and dicey tweets from its lead actress, Karla Sofía Gascón, Emilia Pérez still took home some Oscars

By Kyndall Cunningham
A wild Oscars year, explained by Vox’s culture teamA wild Oscars year, explained by Vox’s culture team
Culture

Vox’s resident culture experts break down a contentious year at the movies.

By Sean Collins, Kyndall Cunningham and 1 more
The strange repulsion of Instagram ReelsThe strange repulsion of Instagram Reels
Culture

Did you just send me an Instagram Reel? Are you trying to kill me?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Gen Z doesn’t know how to act in barsGen Z doesn’t know how to act in bars
Culture

Why hasn’t anyone told America’s youngest adults about drinking etiquette?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Andrew Tate, the accused human trafficker with Trump’s support, returns to the USAndrew Tate, the accused human trafficker with Trump’s support, returns to the US
Culture

The self-proclaimed misogynist has been awaiting trial in Romania for a litany of charges.

By Aja Romano
What it’s like to be a trad kidWhat it’s like to be a trad kid
Culture

Growing up in a “traditional” home means your future can feel predetermined.

By Anna North
The man trying to capture the internet before it disappearsThe man trying to capture the internet before it disappears
Podcast
Culture

The Trump administration is purging some government websites. The director of the Wayback Machine explains what we can do about it.

By Amanda Lewellyn
Is Kim Kardashian actually going MAGA?Is Kim Kardashian actually going MAGA?
Culture

The influencer’s love for Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and the Trump family has some fans wondering.

By Kyndall Cunningham
What it means that Severance’s Mark S. is finally hungryWhat it means that Severance’s Mark S. is finally hungry
Culture

Reintegration, worker alienation, and the deeper meaning of that Chinese food feast.

By Caitlin PenzeyMoog
The weird, joyful book that’s getting me through this winterThe weird, joyful book that’s getting me through this winter
Books

Taking life lessons from an anthropomorphic owl.

By Anna North
White Lotus’s third season, explained by BuddhismWhite Lotus’s third season, explained by Buddhism
Culture

Buddhism warns of greed, hatred, and delusion. Resort-goers in the latest season of the HBO hit should be concerned.

By Alex Abad-Santos
How de-aging in movies got so goodHow de-aging in movies got so good
Play
Video

This tool might just change movies forever.

By Edward Vega
A hippie memoir that will send you on a trek through KathmanduA hippie memoir that will send you on a trek through Kathmandu
Culture

And other books that will broaden your horizons.

By Constance Grady
The surprising theory that explains modern American lifeThe surprising theory that explains modern American life
Housing

Why don’t you move?

By Rachel Cohen
The hypersuccessful, happily-in-love billionaire actress the internet loves to hateThe hypersuccessful, happily-in-love billionaire actress the internet loves to hate
Culture

The simple reason Selena Gomez makes people online so mad.

By Kyndall Cunningham
Is it time to worry about bird flu?Is it time to worry about bird flu?
Explainers

There’s more to bird flu than expensive eggs.

By Kim Mas and Sean Collins