Journalism of Courage
EXPLAINED CULTURE NEWS - Page 2
How the Buddhist relics Piprahwa Gems returned to IndiaSubscriber Only
August 3, 2025 12:55 IST
This return was made possible by “an exemplary case of public-private partnership,” Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Wednesday. Here’s the story
How Trump’s lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch marks the latest chapter in their long friendshipSubscriber Only
July 31, 2025 19:01 IST
The US President's $10 billion defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal over an alleged Jeffrey Epstein letter signals a dramatic rift in a decades-old alliance between two 'good friends'. Here is what to know
The many meanings of S H Raza’s iconic bindu: From point of origin to place of refugeSubscriber Only
July 27, 2025 17:30 IST
For more than four decades, the bindu, which can be translated as “dot” or “point”, served as an anchor for most of Raza’s artistic compositions. Here are its many associations with meaning and memory.
India-UK FTA promises a cheaper peg: the story of Scotch whiskySubscriber Only
July 25, 2025 07:18 IST
Today, Scotch whisky sells more than American, Japanese and Irish whisky combined. How did it originate? Why did Scotch become so popular world over?
From pioneering heavy metal to biting a bat, the controversial legacy of Ozzy OsbourneSubscriber Only
July 24, 2025 19:11 IST
Osbourne, a member of the English rock band Black Sabbath, leaves behind major contributions to the music industry, as well as some divisive public incidents.
Paris Fashion Week 2025: What is haute couture, and why do runways show ‘unwearable’ clothes?Subscriber Only
July 21, 2025 11:49 IST
While the feathered headdresses, metallic body armour, or gravity-defying silhouettes gracing the Paris Haute Couture runways may never find their way to a customer's wardrobe, their purpose transcends wearability. We explain.
Why so many MF Husain paintings have horses: Flying across horizons, ‘from Karbala to Ashwamedh’Subscriber Only
July 20, 2025 16:01 IST
Rarely static, Husain’s horses are powerful creatures that exude immense grace, drawing inspiration from history and religion. His very last series, meant to be an ode to diversity and pluralism in India, also featured horses, but was left incomplete.
Is the new Superman movie ‘too woke’ or just true to its origins?Subscriber Only
July 17, 2025 12:32 IST
‘Superman’ has been criticised for supposedly drawing references to the ongoing war in Gaza, and its director, James Gunn, calling the character an “immigrant”. But this is not the first time the character has been overtly political.
Arc of the Kanwar Yatra: From Samudra Manthan to churning forces in society todaySubscriber Only
July 24, 2025 07:08 IST
Kanwar Yatra 2025 Explained: What are the religious beliefs behind the Kanwar Yatra, and what socio-economic-cultural forces shaped its present form? We explain.
Why is Russia afraid of crime fiction novelist Boris Akunin?Subscriber Only
July 16, 2025 17:21 IST
The creator of detective Erast Fandorin faces a 14-year sentence in absentia for his outspoken criticism of Russia's war and Putin’s leadership
Designer Rahul Mishra, artist Gustav Klimt, and a long tradition of art inspiring fashionSubscriber Only
July 15, 2025 12:18 IST
There are reasons why fashion and art have a close relationship, even as such collaborations generate debates about the nature of art itself.
Tech CEO pays $400,000 to conduct orchestra: What exactly does a music conductor do?Subscriber Only
July 14, 2025 11:42 IST
Recently, a tech entrepreneur paid 400,000 dollars to conduct the Toronto Orchestra for one evening, to criticism from some musicians. Why do conductors matter, and what do their baton waves and wrist flicks actually mean?
How Subodh Gupta uses kitchen utensils to make artSubscriber Only
July 13, 2025 12:54 IST
Gupta has explored utensils as conceptual tools, painting them on canvases and also centring performances around installations.
Ranveer Singh’s Dhurandhar: Why action films are Bollywood’s favourite comeback formulaSubscriber Only
July 13, 2025 13:32 IST
From Wanted to Pathaan to Gadar 2 to Mardaani, action has revived failing stars time and again. Now it’s Ranveer Singh’s turn. Why does Bollywood trust in action to deliver the much-needed punch?
Is the bestseller ‘The Salt Path’ a pack of lies? Here’s what a British newspaper has allegedSubscriber Only
September 2, 2025 01:36 IST
The celebrated memoir of Raynor Winn alias Sally Walker, which has been made into a film, is under scrutiny after an investigation by The Observer questioned the truthfulness of its central story and alleged it was ‘spun from lies, deceit, and desperation’.
The music and melancholy of Krishen Khanna’s signature ‘bandwallas’Subscriber Only
July 6, 2025 08:35 IST
Since the 1970s, bandwallas have prominently featured in paintings of modernist legend Krishen Khanna
Why the row over Zohran Mamdani eating with his hands is essentially about racismSubscriber Only
July 4, 2025 16:27 IST
What exactly is the problem with eating with one’s hands, as long as they have been washed to get rid of germs before beginning the meal? The answer lies in history, culture and politics.
Ramleela in Trinidad: An enduring representation of ‘Indianness’Subscriber Only
July 5, 2025 08:24 IST
During a community event in Trinidad, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Lord Ram “the divine link beyond oceans”
Who is Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering chargesSubscriber Only
July 3, 2025 19:11 IST
Combs once hosted parties that were attended by the likes of Beyonce, Justin Bieber, Donald Trump, and Leonardo DiCaprio. He faced charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transporting with the intention of prostitution.
Frankly, my dear, Gone With the Wind is problematic. Here’s why you should still give a damnSubscriber Only
July 1, 2025 13:36 IST
Gone With the Wind is racist and sexist. Why, then, should one read it? On its 89th anniversary, we explain, in 3 points and with a few spoilers.
How South Korea became a cultural powerhouse, and what’s nextSubscriber Only
June 29, 2025 19:59 IST
The third season of “Squid Game” has arrived on Netflix, the final installment of a show whose first season set viewership records. But the so-called Korean Wave shows no signs of subsiding.
Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath: Why millions throng Puri to witness the annual eventSubscriber Only
June 26, 2025 11:26 IST
According to Hindu mythology, the Lord and his siblings – Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra – embark on a nine-day annual sojourn to their birthplace.
Ambubachi Mela at Kamakhya temple: Significance of major Assam religious festivalSubscriber Only
June 23, 2025 16:39 IST
It is estimated that several lakh devotees visit the Kamakhya temple during the Ambubachi Mela, with last year’s footfall estimated at around 7 lakh. What is this festival and why does it draw devotees to Assam every year?
International Yoga Day: Why is it hard to pinpoint the origin of yoga?Subscriber Only
June 21, 2025 19:07 IST
Yoga is undoubtedly of ancient provenance. But being specific about its genesis is an impossible task
Ram darbar consecration at Ayodhya: What this means, which is the ‘only temple’ where Ram is worshipped as kingSubscriber Only
June 19, 2025 13:35 IST
While the Ram Darbar can be found in many Indian homes, there is only one temple in India where Ram is worshipped as the king. Which temple is that? In which other forms is Ram worshipped? We explain.
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