How Basquiat Went From Underrated to Record-Breaking
A 1982 Untitled work of Jean-Michel Basquiat broke records as the highest selling US-produced artwork. Learn how Basquiat and his work gained its fame.
What Father’s Day Jokes Really Mean
Comic strip dads give us some sociological clues into how views surrounding masculinity and fatherhood have changed.
The Making of the American Diner
Today's diners would surprise a 1940s patron. These restaurants were once vulgar boy’s clubs before becoming today's family-friendly establishments.
How Does the “Noah’s Ark” of Seeds Work?
The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest of a global network of seed vaults; many countries retain vaults for their own use.
The African Roots of Square Dancing
Square dancing’s lily-white reputation hides something unexpected: A deep African American history that’s rooted in a legacy of slavery.
How “This Land Is Your Land” Went From Protest Song to Singalong
Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land” has lost a bit of its protest oomph—in part because of a decades-long denial of its later verses.
The Mystical Side of Marshall McLuhan
Communication theorists don't usually merit international celebrity, with one giant exception: Canadian professor and author Marshall McLuhan.
When Tacos Become a Political Flashpoint
In 2008, the “Taco Truck War” broke out in Los Angeles. Taco trucks again became a hot-button issue in the 2016 presidential race. Why?
What Makes a Glass House the Ideal Home for a Communist Gynecologist?
Paris’s Maison de Verre is a marvel of modernist architecture whose rarely seen interior was constructed to foster sociality.
Marie Cosindas and the Painterly Photograph
A student of painting, then of black and white photography under Ansel Adams, Marie Cosindas became famous for turning color photography into an art form.