The Culture

Protest art is preserved in libraries, museums

Museums, universities, and libraries across the United States collected signs from the 2017 Women's March sites and put out a call on social media. Now these artifacts are being placed in archives and displayed in exhibitions.

More Culture

view all

First Look Around the globe, museums seek to solve climate change

Curators are planning a new wave of museums devoted to climate change. They are pushing city planners and experts to use museums to foster empathy in citizens on climate issues, which will also be used as platforms for scientists to have their voices heard.

In a Word When plump was a pleasing word

It was only at the turn of the 20th century that a high enough proportion of Westerners had so much food that thinness resulting from self-denial became the standard of beauty.
First Look Muslim fashion designer creates conservative, affordable clothes

Lisa Vogl sees her clothes as solutions. For Muslim women like herself in the United States, affordable, fashionable, and conservative apparel is hard to come by, says Ms. Vogl. So she launched a clothing line, now featured in Macy's stores, to meet that need.
Wanted: Volunteers who like history ... and can read cursive

'Citizen archivists' across the United States are transcribing historical documents to help make them more accessible to the public online. Though some amateurs struggle with reading 19th-century handwriting, organizations are still clamoring for their aid.
'Lean on Pete' is a tale of a boy and his horse

Director Andrew Haigh has a real feeling for people – not to mention horses. At his best, he can strike more emotional notes from silence than most directors can with a full chorus of sound.
Top Picks: 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi,' Snowpoet's 'Thought You Knew'

The NPR podcast 'Are We There Yet?,' hosted by Brendan Byrne, looks at what’s next for humans exploring space, indie rock group The Decemberists reaches past its roots toward modern synth-pop with its new album, 'I’ll Be Your Girl,' and more top picks.

Top Picks: The Shacks' 'Haze,' the podcast 'Brains On!,' and more

The film 'Phantom Thread' is available on DVD and Blu-ray, the PBS program 'The Jazz Ambassadors' chronicles how the American government sent jazz musicians around the world as cultural ambassadors, and more top picks.
In a Word Exactly how often is that?

Even if you decide to make a firm distinction between bi- and semi-, these words are used so interchangeably that it’s still confusing.
First Look Kendrick Lamar's Pulitzer is a historic moment for hip-hop and American music

For the first time in the history of the Pulitzer Prize, a rapper has won for music. The achievement has been hailed not only as a recognition of Mr. Lamar's talent, but also as a shift in cultural standards for awards that usually honor musicians of European classical background.
How Mom made fudge by feel

Sometimes it was rock-hard. Other times, it was fudge sauce. But other times ...
What are you watching? Readers recommend 'Loving Vincent,' '1776'

Monitor TV and movie fans share what they've been watching lately.
Top Picks: 'Melody Gardot Live in Europe,' 'The Post,' and more

Some of the works at the Uffizi Gallery can now be viewed from your couch, Dan Bransfield’s 'Pizzapedia' is a lovely celebration of pizza’s creation, ingredients, and variations, and more top picks.
‘A Quiet Place’ is about a good deal more than scaring us

At a brisk 90 minutes, it’s one of the most inventive and beautifully crafted and acted horror movies in a very long time, and the main reason for its power is the family crisis at its core.