Culture
- First LookFrom Oprah invites to a Grammy nod, Nikki Giovanni is remembered as a prolific poet
A champion of the Black Power movement, Nikki Giovanni, who passed away Dec. 9, was a writer, poet, and educator. “To love her is to love contradiction and conflict. To know her is to never understand but to be sure that all is life,” wrote author Barbara Crosby.
- First Look‘Polarization,’ ‘demure,’ and ‘fortnight’ among Merriam Webster’s top words for 2024
Merriam-Webster’s top 10 most-searched words in 2024 reflect the year’s key cultural moments and news events. In the face of the nation’s divisions, the dictionary remains “a kind of backstop for meaning,” says Peter Sokolowski, Merriam-Webster's editor at large.
- First Look‘Emilia Pérez’ leads in Golden Globe nominations, with ‘Wicked’ and ‘Dune: Part Two’
“Emilia Pérez” leads the way with 10 nominations, beating big names like “Wicked,” “The Apprentice,” “Conclave,” and “Dune: Part Two.” This year’s Golden Globes will be televised on Jan. 5.
- This Delhi cop wants to ‘spread goodness and happiness.’ So he set up a school.
Learning with Than Singh has become a favorite pastime for some children who typically roam Delhi’s streets begging, rifling through trash, or engaging in petty crimes.
- Five glorious art books bring the gallery to your couch
From Japanese printmaker Hokusai to women pioneers of the arts and crafts movement, the images in these volumes offer light and joy to art lovers.
- Looking for a new holiday classic? These 2 films glow with Christmas spirit.
Our reviewer sees potential for two new holiday films, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” and “That Christmas,” to become seasonal favorites. Both stories, he says, explore the same question: What makes Christmas meaningful?
- I dreaded cleaning out my freezer. What I found there was priceless.
In hard times, training ourselves to see the good can be a gift. Our writer found unimaginable bounty under his nose and invites us to share in it.
- Five-star ‘Flow’ and chatty ‘Moana 2’ offer eye-widening animated delights
Two new animated films – both centered on water – touch on the power of connection. One is our movie critic’s favorite of the year.
- How ‘History Alice’ is getting Gen Z to learn about the past
Alice Loxton doesn’t believe history should be boring or academic. As “History Alice,” she connects with millions of people on social media, and her second book, “Eighteen,” already reached No. 1 in the U.K.
- First LookTraveling for Thanksgiving this year? Prepare to join 80 million others on the move.
Holiday travel is back in a big way. Airports and highways are expected to have millions of Americans traveling for what could be the busiest Thanksgiving week ever. Amid staffing shortages and strikes airport officials are prepared for the influx.
- In Xochimilco, floating gardens offer a glimpse of Mexico City’s past
A network of human-made waterways represents the remains of a vast transit system used by the Aztecs to move people and products around their empire.
- This Thanksgiving, here’s a helping of turkey trivia to gobble up
Where are turkeys from? Did Ben Franklin really want the turkey as the U.S.’s national bird? Read on for some turkey trivia to share around the table.
- Beyond ‘Green Gables’: A new look at Anne’s creator
Who was L.M. Montgomery, beyond the writer of a beloved literary character? On the 150th anniversary of the author’s birth, Prince Edward Island is urging a broader understanding.
- Want a less commercial holiday? Gen Z tries ‘underconsumption core.’
Americans used to call it being thrifty. Then it was Voluntary Simplicity. Today, Generation Z is exploring “underconsumption core,” with an eye for more meaningful holidays and less stuff.
- As Syrian rebels advance, what can Iran and its tired allies do for Assad?
- French women flock to Gisèle Pelicot rape trial, ‘to show her that she’s not alone’
- Five years after fire, a shining Notre Dame is ready to reopen its doors
- Cover StoryReading, writing, and the Ten Commandments? Why some public schools teach the Bible.
- Supreme Court will hear largest transgender rights case in US history