Frank Sinatra’s Radical Past
On the occaision of Frank Sinatra's centennial, we look into his radical past.
Devo’s Brilliant Use of Irony
The New Wave band Devo mocked the music industry from within.
Tasty! The Story of MSG
MSG, the Japanese flavor enhancer, has grown into an international sensation. But its history is also fraught with tension.
The Class Perceptions of Christmas Decorations in Great Britain
In the U.K., Christmas decorations are often associated with the lower-class, and such visibility has been scorned and criticized.
Cultural Capital
Sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's 1970s concept of cultural capital has been co-opted by economics, racial studies, and education.
It Turns Out Ordinary Life is Full of Poetry (Metaphorically Speaking)
The metaphor isn't just a literary device; it informs our conceptual understanding of language and the world.
The Immortal Life of Joice Heth: How P. T. Barnum Used an Elderly Slave To Launch His Career
P. T. Barnum's career as a Kentucky show man began with his ownership and exploitation of African American slave Joice Heth.
The Birth of Fashion Magazines
Fashion magazines, which first emerged in the 19th century, bridged notions of femininity with an increasingly consumerist society.