Posts
- The Morning News’s “Secret Horror” movie listI’m not big on Halloween but dabble in Halloween-related media when October rolls by. I’m also partial to a good horror movie as long as it doesn’t mess my head up too much. Unfortunately, I don’t think any of the movies in The Morning News’s “Secret Horror” list would fall under the latter category, regardless …
Continue reading “The Morning News’s “Secret Horror” movie list”
- How many countries can you name in Europe? (QUIZ)Can you name 47 of the European countries listed in this Sporcle quiz? This will put your geography knowledge to the test, particularly some of the name changes of certain countries and how many of the tiny nations you can remember. Oh, and those pesky municipalities. I’ve said too much already… I got 43/47, although …
Continue reading “How many countries can you name in Europe? (QUIZ)”
- A UK Black History Month Post (2021)I’m going to quote myself from last year because it’s still relevant: It’s been a challenging year to navigate and, needless to say, Black people are tired. I’ve not really written anything specific about Black History Month this year but I have thrown in some Black British content here and there. So I’m going to emulate …
- Rhea Dillon on ‘Nonbody Nonthing No Thing’, her debut solo exhibitionFor AnOther, Sagal Mohammed spoke to Rhea Dillon about her first solo exhibition, entitled Nonbody Nonthing No Thing. The Black British-Jamaican artist, writer and poet uses a variety of media to interpret what she calls the “‘rules of representation’ as a device to undermine contemporary Western culture” and “‘humane afrofuturism’ as a practice of bringing …
Continue reading “Rhea Dillon on ‘Nonbody Nonthing No Thing’, her debut solo exhibition”
- Carvell Wallace on Candyman and the exploitation of Black pain in cinemaCarvell Wallace wrote a brilliant essay on Candyman and chronicled a history of Black pain in cinema for The Atlantic. Ultimately, DaCosta’s Candyman character becomes a cipher that the film’s characters, and by extension its audience, have no choice but to live with—the absence upon which anything can be projected, bequeathed by centuries of Black …
Continue reading “Carvell Wallace on Candyman and the exploitation of Black pain in cinema”
- Tina M. Campt’s ‘A Black Gaze’I follow MIT’s tech blog and stumbled upon a book from their press called ‘A Black Gaze’: In A Black Gaze, Tina Campt examines Black contemporary artists who are shifting the very nature of our interactions with the visual through their creation and curation of a distinctively Black gaze. Their work—from Deana Lawson’s disarmingly intimate portraits …
- A brief history of pumpkin spiceMoss and Fog looked at the history of pumpkin spice: The fall’s unofficial flavor wasn’t always pumpkin spice. But as people’s love of autumn and all things nostalgic reached fever pitch, the unmistakable seasonal taste cemented its place The history of that spice mix goes back much farther than you might think. Indeed, this American …
- Kyndall Cunningham’s interview with filmmaker Ashley O’ShayKyndall Cunningham spoke to filmmaker Ashley O’Shay about her latest documentary, ‘Unapologetic‘. The film examines the way Black organisers in Chicago—primarily focusing on two young Black women, Janaé Bonsu and Bella BAHHS—came together in the wake of Rekia Boyd and Laquan McDonald’s murders by the police. H: Given the history of infiltration in social movements, how …
Continue reading “Kyndall Cunningham’s interview with filmmaker Ashley O’Shay”
- How to brew coffee like it’s the 19th centuryYou’ve got your French press, your coffee cone, and your Moka Pot to name but a few ways to make coffee. But how about a 19th-century balancing siphon? Boing Boing showed off this throwback contraption in the video above and it certainly has some flair to it. The balancing siphon was notably used in Belgium …
Continue reading “How to brew coffee like it’s the 19th century”
- When Batman mercilessly killed that Red Triangle Gang memberI’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched Batman Returns and yet somehow, after 28 years of watching it, I missed a vital piece of this infamous scene. It’s the one where Batman comes face-to-face (lol) with a member of the Red Triangle Gang—a bald giant of a man who goads Batman into hitting …
Continue reading “When Batman mercilessly killed that Red Triangle Gang member”
- Gabriel Rosenberg on W. E. D. Stokes, Charles Davenport, and eugenicsI try to avoid critiques about eugenics as it boils my half-breed blood. But I gave this piece by Gabriel Rosenberg my time and it was really interesting. He discussed the partnership of “rich fool” W. E. D. Stokes and noted eugenicist Charles Davenport and described it as a “Great American Story of Money, Guns, …
Continue reading “Gabriel Rosenberg on W. E. D. Stokes, Charles Davenport, and eugenics”
- Wastebasket, Snowflakes, and SpraypaintConcrete poetry from Rob Giampietro with three poems called Wastebasket, Snowflakes, and Spraypaint. Here is Snowflakes (the poem above) in standard written form: “No owls as we wake now. As flakes fake snow, we fake OKs. So now we owe. Lakes soak. Oaks flake. No snow owls. No snow as we wake.” The work was …
- Black British people from the Windrush era are the focus of a new photo exhibition at Wrest ParkLondon-based artist Kemka Ajoku put together a photo exhibition highlighting the lives of Black British people living in the UK following the Windrush era as part of a wider exhibition. Called England’s New Lenses, it’s part of a major exhibition at four English Heritage sites across the country: Wrest Park in Silsoe, Tintagel Castle in …
- 9/21/21I’ve been waiting months for this and it’s finally here. So sad that it’s the last one but what a send-off. For those who don’t know, Demi Adejuyigbe has been making videos to commemorate 21st September, the date Earth, Wind & Fire sang about in ‘September‘, and to donate to various charities over the years. …
- Rachel Syme on Michelle Pfeiffer’s considered careerFor The New Yorker, Rachel Syme interviewed Michelle Pfeiffer about her life and career which hasn’t followed the same kinds of paths most Hollywood actresses have taken (on purpose): You’ve given different reasons over the years why you don’t love being interviewed, but the one that stuck with me is that you were always afraid …
Continue reading “Rachel Syme on Michelle Pfeiffer’s considered career”
- Language without emojisClo S. of This Too Shall Grow went two weeks without using emojis and chronicled her experiment: On the first day of my experiment, I was already worrying that I wasn’t warm enough, or wasn’t conveying my reactions well enough. On the second day, I missed using emojis. It hadn’t even been 48 hours, but …
- Ricardo Junqueira’s Lisbon lobby photographyThe Spaces interviewed Ricardo Junqueira, a man with a love for photography and Lisbon’s vibrant lobby areas: Brazilian photographer Ricardo Junqueira relocated to Lisbon in 2012 and got his start shooting for Airbnb. ‘As tourism bloomed, I had the chance to capture more residential spaces – I photographed around 2000 Lisbon houses’, says Junqueira. ‘The variety I …
Continue reading “Ricardo Junqueira’s Lisbon lobby photography”
- Zack Handlen’s review of ‘Marge Be Not Proud’ is superbI’ve never got into episode reviews for TV series, especially for shows like the Simpsons (mostly because I don’t watch new episodes and why would I want to read someone else’s opinion on a show I already love?) Except there’s good reason—you can learn something new. And I did when I read Zack Handlen’s review …
Continue reading “Zack Handlen’s review of ‘Marge Be Not Proud’ is superb”
- Zito Madu on learning FrenchThis is now the third time I’ve covered Zito Madu on one of my blogs (see his features on Playrface and Sampleface). Here, he discussed his year of learning French in 2020: Marseille is a beautiful city, as most cities by the sea and with ancient architecture, large churches and cathedrals tend to be (not …
- The gloomy digital illustrations of 6VCREugenia Goncharova, aka 6VCR is a concept artist, illustrator, and 2D animator from Kaliningrad in Russia. She specialises in digital art that takes inspiration from her home country. I recommend you check out her shop as well.
- Liam Wong – After DarkWe’ve featured Liam Wong previously and now he’s back with a new book called “After Dark”. After Dark is a one-of-a-kind publication documenting Wong’s nocturnal journeys through the world’s most captivating cities. Following his début monograph, TO:KY:OO, which captured Tokyo’s beauty at night, Wong widens his lens from the city that became his spiritual and …
- The natural photography of Théo de GueltzlThéo de Gueltzl is a Paris-born photographer who has found himself in a lot of different place since he left his native France. When we last spoke to Théo in 2017, he was living in Bogota following a road trip he had undertaken from Los Angeles, through Mexico, and into South America. There he established …
Continue reading “The natural photography of Théo de Gueltzl”
- A review of Emily Rapp Black’s book, ‘Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg’Sophia Stewart reviewed Emily Rapp Black’s new book, ‘Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg’ for Hyperallergic: The question that propels Emily Rapp Black’s Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg is simple and self-implicating: “Why do we (I) love Frida?” Throughout the book’s fourteen loosely-linked essays, Black lays claim to Kahlo for unique reason: like the …
Continue reading “A review of Emily Rapp Black’s book, ‘Frida Kahlo and My Left Leg’”
- The pioneering designs of Thomas MillerMotorola, Bauer & Black, and 7 Up—just some of the names that Thomas Miller worked on during his career at Goldsholl Associates. He’s also best known for his mosaics in the lobby of the DuSable Museum of African-American History in Chicago. The Black American designer worked on everything from logo design to animation, but, like …
- Rikki Byrd on the anti-Black history of American department storesI, like many other Black people, have been followed around stores for no reason other than my race. Add general anxiety to the mix and that makes me feel even more uncomfortable to just… browse. Rikki Byrd chronicled this anti-Black racism for Vox, via the depiction of Marshall Field’s in the hit series, Lovecraft Country: …
Continue reading “Rikki Byrd on the anti-Black history of American department stores”
- ‘Learning a new language is a lot like entering a new relationship.’I’ve been learning Portuguese for the past 4 years and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it. If it was a romantic relationship, it’d be my longest to date. Marianna Pogosyan used this love analogy in her piece for Aeon: Learning a new language is a lot like entering a new relationship. Some will become fast friends. Others …
Continue reading “‘Learning a new language is a lot like entering a new relationship.’”
- 3 levels of milkshakesEpicurious asked 3 chefs to make a milkshake (I think the title was a typo). Once they all made and tasted the milkshakes, a food scientist analysed their creations. More on milkshakes: Binging with Babish’s $5 milkshake from Pulp Fiction and the origin of the milkshake line in ‘There Will Be Blood’.
- Community through food from people of colourCatharine Hughes looked at the various UK community food projects headed by people of colour: “Community is the act of coming together, but for me, it’s the coming together to achieve something,” says Fahima Jilani, the owner of Mosa Mosa, a Bengali food platform based in the West Midlands. Fahima began Mosa Mosa back in 2017, …
Continue reading “Community through food from people of colour”
- Johnson Eziefula on his art and his relationship with identityJohnson Eziefula is a Nigerian artist who uses mixed-media to display the various elements of life and identity: “I find my major inspiration as an artist in a mix of my environment and its components,” he adds, citing people and their social, behavioural and cultural characteristics as key drivers to his creations. “Environment in this …
Continue reading “Johnson Eziefula on his art and his relationship with identity”
- Sampira on Britain’s Art(ifact) ProblemSammy Willbourne aka Sampira wrote about the various issues with British museums exhibiting stolen artifacts from countries around the world including the Kingdom of Benin (now modern-day Nigeria, not to be mistaken with Benin), Greece, Easter Island, and Egypt: When you look at a mummy encased in a glass prison, you must wonder, did they …
- Prince’s shoe collection exhibited at Paisley ParkThe Beautiful Collection opened on 9th July 2021 for fans to view over 300 pairs of Prince’s shoes and the stories behind them. The exhibition will be on for a limited time as part of the Paisley Park tour and will also include video interviews from Prince’s design partners and content about Prince’s influence on …
Continue reading “Prince’s shoe collection exhibited at Paisley Park”
- 25 of the worst branding fails from 1995-2020Fast Company looked at some of the worst commercial mistakes of the last quarter-century. Microsoft Vista made it in which, in retrospect, seems a bit harsh. But Calvin Klein’s controversial jeans commercial showing questionably-aged models rightly appears (I’m not gonna say outright what it appears to depict because I don’t want those words on the …
Continue reading “25 of the worst branding fails from 1995-2020”
- Scott Seiss’s retail TikToks (compilation)Get ready for 5 minutes of belly laughing (and flashbacks if you’ve ever worked in retail or customer service). Scott Seiss is a writer and comedian who took to TikTok to make these grouchy retail meme videos. He is tired of your mess and is ready to tell you about yourself.
- An oral history of the weird Folgers “incest” commercialLiving in the UK, I never got to see this controversial Folgers coffee commercial. But I found out about it through this oral history by GQ: “Coming Home” opens with a taxi dropping a young man off outside a snow-covered house bedecked in Christmas decorations early one morning. A young woman excitedly opens the door …
Continue reading “An oral history of the weird Folgers “incest” commercial”
- The Fast Saga, Ranked (by Dom Griffin)If you’ve not watched F9 yet—or any Fast & Furious film—you really should. And if you need a reason why, watch this video of Dom Griffin ranking them. In Dom We Trust.
- Famous people solving Rubik’s cubesToday, I watched an old video of Will Smith solving a Rubik’s cube in 55 seconds. And then I wondered how many other famous people had solved Rubik’s cubes on video. So here’s an inexhaustible list: Chris Pratt solving a Rubik’s cube Logic solving a Rubik’s cube Justin Bieber solving a Rubik’s cube Edward Snowden …
- Sonya Clark’s Black hair artFor Hyperallergic, Lowery Stokes Sims reviewed Sonya Clark’s exhibition “Sonya Clark: Tatter, Bristle and Mend“ which featured at the National Museum of Women in Arts between 3rd March to 27th June this year. Renowned for her explorations of the cultural and political aspects of hair — specifically Black hair — Clark does not disappoint in …
- What knives does Salt Bae use?Folks wanted to know what salt Salt Bae used and now they want to know what knives he uses. So here’s the what I found during my research (read: Google searches): Tools for The Discriminating Chef wrote a piece called Salt Bae and His Knife that claimed the Turkish restaurateur used breaking knives: The talented …
- Binging with Babish’s Ice Cream CakeI featured a Caked Alaska the other day and to continue the ice cream cake theme… here’s another one from Binging with Babish. It’s decadent and incredibly sweet but my goodness it looks tasty.
- Restoring a Tissot 1853 watch found on the groundI initially found this video on Twitter and it’s the most intricate restoration I’ve ever seen. Normally, I watch Game Boy restorations but watching this Tissot 1853 watch come back to life was beautiful. Professional watchmakers, or horologists, often have to obtain watchmaking degrees at technical schools to ply their trade with watch companies. So …
Continue reading “Restoring a Tissot 1853 watch found on the ground”
- Star Trek + Design: a site dedicated to collected Star Trek memorabiliaWe have quarantine to thank for this awesome Star Trek fan site from “long-time Trekkie and new-time collector” Eno. Star Trek + Design began as a personal quarantine project in March of 2020, a little over a year since buying my first Bodum Bistro (Picard Cup) set. I’d just been laid off from my job …
Continue reading “Star Trek + Design: a site dedicated to collected Star Trek memorabilia”
- Argentinian capybaras reclaim their land; are called ‘invaders’; memes ensueThere’s a gated community of rich people in Argentina called Nordelta. It was founded in 1999 and lies in the north of Buenos Aires, home to luxury homes, sports facilities, even a shopping mall. However, Nordelta also encroaches upon the Paraná wetlands, which is already under pressure from overfarming, and the extraction of natural resources. …
Continue reading “Argentinian capybaras reclaim their land; are called ‘invaders’; memes ensue”
- Kashmiri chaiWhile Kashmiri chai is a green tea, it’s actually pink in colour. Originally a Himalayan drink, pink tea goes by many names across South Asia, some which reference its unusual color and flavor, from nun chai (salt tea) to gulabi chai (rose-hued tea). Salt and baking soda are key ingredients. Salt acts as an electrolyte to prevent dehydration at …
- What was François Mitterrand’s final meal and why was it so controversial?The ortolan is a small bird from the bunting family that lives in Europe and western Asia. It is also the last meal that former French president François Mitterrand ever ate, 8 days before his death. But eating ortolans is illegal in France (even though some chefs will still make it) and it comes with …
Continue reading “What was François Mitterrand’s final meal and why was it so controversial?”
- Artsy on skate culture photographyFor Artsy, Alexxa Gotthardt picked 9 photographers that “captured the renegade youth of skate culture“: In the mid-1970s, teen skateboarder Jay J. Adams descended on an empty swimming pool in Southern California, with beers and board in hand. A drought had recently ripped across the state, forcing residents to drain their backyard swimming holes. For …
- Cory Etzkorn on that little green dot and being onlineThe term “always online” describes the idea that we’re online all the time and never log off. This could be literally (sleep is for chumps anyway!) or figuratively (i.e. never logging off). In my experience, I’m more figuratively “always online” but during periods last year, my sleep patterns were messed up thanks to the allure …
Continue reading “Cory Etzkorn on that little green dot and being online”
- 100 incredible 3D renders of a person walkingA few months ago, pwnisher challenged 3D artists to create an animation of a person (or humanoid at least) walking forward but that humanoid was demonstrating some difficulty in doing so. Sorry, I suck at describing it so you’ll have to watch the above video. 2,400 artists entered and the video shows the top 100 …
Continue reading “100 incredible 3D renders of a person walking”
- Nik Sennhauser’s airline mealsNik Sennhauser and I share a common sentiment. We both miss air travel. To combat his FOMO and general quarantine boredom, Nik decided to start making his own airline flight meals. This from a Thrillist article: “Having been grounded for nearly a year in January 2021, I was so bored during the weekends with absolutely …
- ‘Barbican Stories’ details racism experienced by current and former employees at the BarbicanThe Barbican holds a lot of sentimental value to me but after hearing of racial discrimination in the workplace, I don’t look quite as fondly at the Brutalist icon. Barbican Stories details accounts of racism by current and former employees and I first heard about it from their article for gal-dem: As in many workplaces, …
- The magic of a stenographerStenography is the process of writing in shorthand and a stenographer is someone who transcribes that shorthand on a steno machine into readable text. Above is a video of a stenographer transcribing what is said in court. The steno machine wouldn’t look out of place in a kid’s toy section (remember those VTech computers?) and …
- Did the Ancient Greeks not have a word for ‘blue’? Or is it a myth?Blue is a cool colour (badum-tish!). But apparently, the Ancient Greeks didn’t know about it—at least, they didn’t have a name for it, so claims AsapSCIENCE in its video entitled Why The Ancient Greeks Couldn’t See Blue. I found it via Open Culture who also blogged about it in June under the title Why Most …
Continue reading “Did the Ancient Greeks not have a word for ‘blue’? Or is it a myth?”
- A Mies van der Rohe Barcelona Couch Chocolate Cake by Leandro ErlichLeandro Erlich is a conceptual artist from Argentina. The Barcelona Couch is a couch designed by the late Mies van der Rohe in 1930. Chocolate cake is the best. What you see is a combination of all three. A sight for the eyes and the palate. (via twbe)
- Introducing the Sony SL-C7 Betamax recorderSony SL-C7 tech specs PAL colour 75-ohm, asymmetrical aerial socket UHF channel coverage 260 line resolution (300 in B/W) Frequency response of 50Hz–10,000Hz Phono jack input/output Mini jack mic Tape speed: 18.73 mm/sec. 2 hours 10 min, max recording time with Sony L-500 cassette. 3 hours 15 min with L-750 24-hour cycle For recording: 4 …
Continue reading “Introducing the Sony SL-C7 Betamax recorder”
- Caked AlaskaA cake with a US state in its name, created in Pakistan. Caked Alaska recipe on RecipeThing, h/t Atlas Obscura
- Massimo Vignelli and Matej Latin say you only need 5 fontsVignelli once said that our growing collection of fonts represented “a new level of visual pollution threatening our culture. Out of thousands of typefaces, all we need are a few basic ones and trash the rest”. Of those few, he selected 5: Futura Times New Roman Helvetica Bodoni Century As for Matej Latin, his 5 …
Continue reading “Massimo Vignelli and Matej Latin say you only need 5 fonts”
- Toy Galaxy on Samurai Pizza CatsThey’re cats who are also samurai and they like pizza. What’s not to love? Unfortunately, racism and a bunch of other issues stopped Samurai Pizza Cats from being greater than the premise was and Dan Larson tells the story of its history. If you want to see what all the fuss was about, you can …
- When Solomon Leyva took his titan arum to an abandoned gas stationThe titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum), is a flowering plant also known as ‘the corpse flower’ due to its stench similar to a rotting corpse. Solomon Leyva owned one of these plants and decided to take it to the site of an abandoned gas station in California for others to admire. Atlas Obscura interviewed him about …
Continue reading “When Solomon Leyva took his titan arum to an abandoned gas station”
- That time Bully Maguire went on Family FeudI’ve already shown my love for Steve Harvey memes but I’ve recently got into “Bully Maguire” memes, involving clips of Toby Maguire’s rendition of Peter Parker in Spider-Man 3. This one is expertly crafted, showing Parker trying to win a staff job with double the money. Look out for special guest star Harry Osborne.
- It’s time for the Wheel of Prizes!You’ll never guess what prize Sinbad lands on!!!
- Observer on The Rock’s Jungle Movie Cinematic UniverseThe Rock is in everything and has been for over a decade now. Observer examined his latest film, Jungle Cruises, and how he’s built up a cinematic universe around jungle movies: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s Jungle Cruise is a breezy swashbuckling adventure that delivers audiences an enjoyable dose of Indiana Jones Lite crossed with The Mummy 2.0. But we really shouldn’t be surprised …
Continue reading “Observer on The Rock’s Jungle Movie Cinematic Universe”
- A guide to Palestinian cinema for newbies (by Hyperallergic)Munir Atalla compiled a great list of Palestinian films for beginners: […] Interestingly, it has often been Palestine’s proximity to journalists, with their power and modern equipment, that has inspired us to take our narrative into our own hands. The result is that a fragmented mess of people — spanning those living under occupation in …
Continue reading “A guide to Palestinian cinema for newbies (by Hyperallergic)”
- What if there was a ’48 Laws of Power’ for cats?McSweeney’s, at their irreverent best, posted some excerpts from “The 48 Laws of Power for Cats”: Law 3: Conceal Your Intentions For humans, this simply means hiding your intentions from other humans, which they seem to do quite frequently. As a cat, you need to go further and conceal your intentions from all living things, …
Continue reading “What if there was a ’48 Laws of Power’ for cats?”
- Jeff Bridges on his experiences as Obadiah Stane in ‘Iron Man’While falling down a YouTube recommendation rabbit hole, I managed to rediscover one of my favourite Jeff Bridges scenes of all time: But the experience of playing Obadiah Stane in Iron Man wasn’t plain sailing for Jeff Bridges as he discussed in a Variety interview in 2016: “I like to be prepared,” Bridges said. “I …
Continue reading “Jeff Bridges on his experiences as Obadiah Stane in ‘Iron Man’”
- Easy Klein is an ‘Incredibly Kleinish Blue’ paint for everyone to useSimon Semple gave us the world’s pinkest pink that Anish Kapoor was banned from using in reaction to Kapoor’s exclusive Vantablack, the world’s blackest black. And now we have a new form of paint democracy from the artist called Easy Klein. But it has nothing to do with Kapoor this time. A paint called YInMn …
Continue reading “Easy Klein is an ‘Incredibly Kleinish Blue’ paint for everyone to use”
- The best of Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin“YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I’VE HAD TO SACRIFICE?!” hits different during a pandemic. So many great quotes and chaos from Willem Dafoe.
- The Mandalorian pinball machineThe Mandalorian has been a major hit for Star Wars fans and now there’s an officially licenced pinball machine for it. Stern Pinball, Inc. has made a new line of 3 Mandalorian pinball machines in Pro, Premium, and Limited Edition models. Prepare for battle on the gravity-changing, rotating Encounter upper mini playfield available on the …
- gal-dem on visual artists depicting life in JamaicaHappy Jamaican Independence Day! For gal-dem, Pacheanne Anderson compiled a list of filmmakers, artists, and photographers showcasing life in Jamaica from the Blue Mountains to the troubled streets: There are of course many artists belonging to the Caribbean diaspora working and living in the US and UK such as Karen Mc Lean, Terrell Villiers and …
Continue reading “gal-dem on visual artists depicting life in Jamaica”
- Duck (woo!)It’s the DuckTales theme song but key phrases are replaced with the word “duck“. It’s still but it’s ducking hilarious and I’ll duck any excuse to listen to the DuckTales theme song because it ducks hard.
- Defunctland on the history of Captain EODefunctland gave a detailed account of Captain EO from idea to execution to eventual shutdown. Like with many Disney things, it was over budget at a time when they couldn’t really afford it (it all cost $23.7m to produce, before inflation—$1.7m per minute of the film), too many people were involved, and it didn’t meet …
- A video of careful craftsmanshipWork can be long, hard, and boring (heh!) but when you put your mind to it and you’ve been doing it for a while, you can do it quickly and efficiently. The video above demonstrates amazing craftsmanship and attention to detail from builders, mechanics, gardeners, and a sheep shearer.
- The etymological identity crisis of Arctic bearsA fascinating read about bears and the Arctic and how their etymological histories are based on anonymity and opposites. The link to the Slovak Studies program at the University of Pittsburgh where the below quote is from is dead so here it is from the Boing Boing article: The Old Slavic people (the linguistic ancestors of today’s …
Continue reading “The etymological identity crisis of Arctic bears”
- Zinesters of colour discuss the forgotten origins of their workChristine Fernando spoke to a group of zine-makers of colour for USA Today. Zines have long been a way for marginalized communities to share stories, spread information, build community and organize movements, several archivists and zine-makers said. Often, they offer historical records of communities that have been ignored in other publications. But many zine-makers (“zinesters”) of …
Continue reading “Zinesters of colour discuss the forgotten origins of their work”
- A buffalo buffalo-esque sentence in webcomic formFrom SMBC Comics (14th May 2021): “This is a complete and cogent sentence: Shit, shit shit shit shit shit shit.” “I thought you went into linguistics to advance human knowledge.” “This is my thesis.” Alt text for the above panel (via Language Log)
- Jyni Ong on the Syrian Design ArchiveFor It’s Nice That, Jyni Ong spoke with Kinda Ghannoum, Sally Alassafen and Hala Al Afsaa, founders of the Syrian Design Archive. The archive documents the vibrant graphics from the Arab world and celebrates one of the most popular writing systems in the world: “Syria is a country of rich history and culture,” says Hala. …
- Jurassic Park (1993) in 4K Blu-ray vs 35mm filmCNXToonami did a side by side comparison of Jurassic Park in 4K Blu-ray vs 35mm film. It’s a bit cliché to prefer the old to the new by default (like vinyl vs digital) but the 35mm version looks really good here in comparison. In another referenced clip in 35mm, you also get to see the …
Continue reading “Jurassic Park (1993) in 4K Blu-ray vs 35mm film”
- Scribble Fix drawing on black paper with POSCA PensLast August, Scribble Fix took on a challenge to draw with POSCA Pens on black paper. As a fan of POSCA Pens and art on black paper, this piqued my interest. The finished product is amazing and showcases the quality of the pens. (This isn’t sponsored—I just love POSCA Pens. But if anyone from the …
Continue reading “Scribble Fix drawing on black paper with POSCA Pens”
- Loungefly’s Star Wars Boba Fett Cosplay Mini BackpackBe the coolest person in your galaxy with this official Boba Fett backpack. It comes with a stitched Boba Fett helmet design on the front, a Metal Mandalorian crest icon on the zip, and matching interior. What’s more, it’s vegan-friendly and measures around 9 inches wide and 11 inches tall. Pre-order it at Geekcore, TruffleShuffle, …
Continue reading “Loungefly’s Star Wars Boba Fett Cosplay Mini Backpack”
- What kind of salt does Salt Bae use?While not a burning question (it came up 3 times in the last 28 days), the phrase “what kind of salt does Salt Bae use?” came up in Google search data so I thought I’d answer it directly. My research lead me to an article called “In Defense of Salt Bae” by Daniela Galarza: Salt …
- Why did HD DVD fail?While many of us still own films on DVDs, the best physical format for consumers remains Blu-ray. But in the 00s, it had competition from HD DVD. This video by 91Tech investigates its demise and how and why Blu-ray won out in the end. Blu-ray has been around for a long time and still reigns …
- Out now: ‘Clarks in Jamaica’ (revised second edition)Jamaica loves Clarks shoes and Clarks in Jamaica by Al Fingers celebrates that with its second revised edition: Clarks in Jamaica is a colourful, in-depth study into Clarks’ celebrated status in Jamaica, where for decades they have ruled as the “champion shoes”. Starting with the origins of the Clarks brand in 1825, the book goes …
Continue reading “Out now: ‘Clarks in Jamaica’ (revised second edition)”
- Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Official Trailer)This trailer for Venom: Let There Be Carnage dropped in May and while I’ve already watched it, I’m just getting around to posting it here because I got busy I guess. That said, watching it a second time has improved my opinion. I didn’t enjoy the first Venom movie all that much but I love …
Continue reading “Venom: Let There Be Carnage (Official Trailer)”
- 10 recurring economic falsehoods from 1774–2004I found this on an old Kottke.org article. As the title suggests, it’s a list of economic fallacies that kept cropping up between 1774 and 2004 and, unfortunately, they’re still happening today. The fallacies include: Myth #1: The Broken Window One of the most persistent is that of the broken window—one breaks and this is …
Continue reading “10 recurring economic falsehoods from 1774–2004”
- A study into the fonts used by the top 1,000 websitesData scientist Michael Li studied the top 1,000 websites and the fonts they used to spot any trends in layouts, design choices, and colours and “to better quantitatively understand the world of web design”. I recommend you check to the whole study but I’ll pull out a few things I found: The most popular number …
Continue reading “A study into the fonts used by the top 1,000 websites”
- Photos of the Bookshelf Theater in the Kadokawa Culture Museum by Ryosuke KosugeJapanese photographer Ryosuke Kosuge captured the majesty of The Kadokawa Culture Museum’s Bookshelf Theater – a library with 8m tall bookshelves, containing over 50,000 titles. It’s like a film set or a modern, dizzying interpretation of the Library of Alexandria. Related: The Instagram account capturing Japanese facades, the captivating neon photography of Liam Wong and …
Continue reading “Photos of the Bookshelf Theater in the Kadokawa Culture Museum by Ryosuke Kosuge”
- Looper ranks every Venom from worst to bestVenom is my favourite super villain (as you may or may not know). But everyday is a new opportunity to realise that there are a lot of different versions of the symbiote in the Marvel universe. In April, Michileen Martin compiled a list of the 12 best and worst Venoms. In 1984, “Amazing Spider-Man” #252 …
Continue reading “Looper ranks every Venom from worst to best”
- Boston’s brutalismIn Boston, Brutalism is tied closely to City Hall, but the infamous building is far from the only “concrete monstrosity” in the city. Throughout the 1960s and 70s, top architects from around the world took advantage of a rebuilding Boston to design and build what they saw as futuristic, expressive works of art. Brutalism hasn’t …
- Adverts for defunct brands and discontinued productsAs a way to feed my nostalgia habit (and an act of self-care because the world is always on fire in some way), I watch old adverts from the 90s. It reminds me of my childhood and I can revisit adverts or products I’ve not heard of for decades. They also act as mini time …
Continue reading “Adverts for defunct brands and discontinued products”
- Setups: a collection of creator workspaces and toolsIf you’re still working from home, doing a hybrid thing, or looking to work from home in the future, you might need some inspiration for your workspace. Setups is a “repository of workspaces, items & tools from the creator community” and could be the answer. Product designer Siddharth Arun put it all together and takes …
Continue reading “Setups: a collection of creator workspaces and tools”
- The watercolour art of Rachel WalkerRachel Walker is an artist from New Zealand who specialises in watercolour, spray paint, pen and ink artwork. Rachel’s creative work has seen her involved in a range of projects, from commissioned pieces to painting for film and stage sets. Her career to date has included a number of solo gallery exhibitions, creating cover art …
- The internet’s thoughts on Space Jam 2I’ve not watched Space Jam 2 yet (tomorrow night) but the signs are not good. So I’ve collected a list of reviews that I’ve not read but the varying titles intrigued me. The new Space Jam is apocalyptic horror (Vox) Space Jam: A New Legacy’ review: LeBron James film is an abomination (New York Post) …
- Peter Sellers as Laurence Olivier as Richard III reciting lyrics from The Beatles’s ‘A Hard Day’s Night’Peter Sellers was a classic character actor but this took it a step further. In 1965, on an episode of a Beatles-tribute variety show called The Music of Lennon and McCartney, Sellers did a rendition of ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ in the style of Laurence Olivier’s Richard III. Watch Olivier’s original performance for a comparison …
- Classic FrasierIf the writing and acting are still as good as this, the return of Frasier is sure to be a hit (for me at least). Here, Frasier is trying to get some sleep but external forces (Eddie and Niles’s starter’s pistol) are getting in his way. My favourite line has to be this: Niles: And …
- Is it OK to cheat when solving crosswords?For The Guardian, author Alan Connor examined the idea of using tools to help you finish crossword puzzles and whether it’s okay to do so. Those tools usually include: Word-finders Asking friends, family, or colleagues Dictionaries Blogs and forums His general answer to all of them was “yes” and for varying reasons: Can I ask …
Continue reading “Is it OK to cheat when solving crosswords?”
- Brasilândia: a platform for Black and LGBTQIA+ communities in São PauloAyla Angelos wrote about Brasilândia, a new multidisciplinary platform that showcases the work and communities of Black and LGBTQIA+ people. Founded by Kelton Campos Fausto and Iama Martinho, Brasilândia was launched to provide content for the people in their neighbourhood. Kelton, a multidisciplinary artist, produces works in the video, painting and performance sphere. “They’re currently …
Continue reading “Brasilândia: a platform for Black and LGBTQIA+ communities in São Paulo”
- Los Angeles’ new tourism logo looks super coolApparently, locals are divided over the new logo but I like it and Rob Beschizza made a good point about its implied “specific synth baseline”. The logo was designed by House Industries and Studio Number One, which was founded by artist Shepard Fairey. “When you say ‘Los Angeles’ it doesn’t necessarily mean just a city,” …
Continue reading “Los Angeles’ new tourism logo looks super cool”
- Slate’s interview with the “MORTAL KOMBAT!” guyThe dude who shouts “MORTAL KOMBAT!” in the movie and video game advert, Kyle Wyatt, spoke to Slate about how it all came about and how it affected his life. But if you were thinking it catapulted him to stardom in some way, you’d be mistaken: So had you played Mortal Kombat at the point that you …
Continue reading “Slate’s interview with the “MORTAL KOMBAT!” guy”
- Spectrum Culture’s best films of 2021 so farI’ve not watched many new films (and I can’t remember which ones they are off the top of my head). But the folks at Spectrum Culture have and they compiled a list of their best so far. While I’ve not seen any on their list, I know a few of them because Dom Griffin reviewed …
Continue reading “Spectrum Culture’s best films of 2021 so far”
- Was Spock bad at logic?Julia Galef appeared in Episode 462 of Wired’s Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy podcast to call out Spock’s flawed logic. […] Not only does Spock have a terrible track record—events he describes as “impossible” happen 83 percent of the time—but his confidence level is actually anti-correlated with reality. “The more confident he says he is …
- Reagan Ray’s Marvel superhero letteringsI love these Marvel 3D-letter designs by Reagan Ray which he explained in a recent post: I just started getting into comic books for the first time a few years ago. My son was interested as well, so we started making regular trips to the comic book store (pre-covid, of course). We loved looking at …
- Cool word oddities and miscellanyI love interesting words and facts about them. Jeff Miller has 20 pages dedicated to them and they’re a joy to read if you’re an etymology fan. Here are a few of my favourites: The Hungarian words újjáépítéséről (“about its reconstruction”) and újjáválaszthatóságáról (“about his/her re-electability”) have seven accent marks. Also in Hungarian alelölülő means …
- Guess the Cartoon Network character from their catchphraseI posted about a Hey Arnold! quiz a few days ago and there’s another one, related to Cartoon Network characters and their catchphrases. I only got 6/10 this time. I blame a lack of Cartoon Network viewing between 1995-2014 as I didn’t see some of the shows that were referenced. Try it yourself and let …
Continue reading “Guess the Cartoon Network character from their catchphrase”
- The history of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?I LOVED ‘Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?‘ and I’m happy that Defunctland made an in depth video about it. The show had an a cappella vocal group, taught kids geography and problem solving, and a cool cartoon to boot. It also had interesting—and thematically relevant—ways of funding: The show was primarily funded by …
Continue reading “The history of Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego?”
- Another funny video about Daniel Day-Lewis’s actingThere is/was(?) something so intriguing about DDL’s acting, allowing for some very funny parodies. This one imagines Daniel Day-Lewis as a frustrating roommate, involving his portrayals of: Daniel Plainview in There Will Be Blood William “Bill the Butcher” Cutting in Gangs of New York President Lincoln in Lincoln Goddamn it, Daniel Day-Lewis.
- Hilarious video from The Onion picking holes in Daniel Day-Lewis’s acting in Phantom ThreadWe stayed wide for this entire scene so we could avoid drawing too much of the audience’s attention to Daniel’s lifeless embodiment of his character. And if you want to read a serious review of the movie, check out Cultrface fave Dom Griffin’s for Baltimore Beat.
- Flying fish doing what they do bestAlthough I’ve eaten flying fish before, I’d never actually seen them “fly” until recently (easily accessible to me but not something I’ve ever gone out of my way to find). The above video, filmed for BBC Earth, shows a glide of flying fish soaring through the air. Truly majestic. They’re also a significant part of …
- Distorted sculptures by Jeremiah Hulsebos-SpoffordJeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford is a visual artist and Assistant Professor of Sculpture at Indiana University Northwest. His series of glitched classical sculptures reimagine works of art as a representation of modernism vs. classicism. Throughout the underpinning of modernist design, aspirations of efficiency and comfort have galvanized visions of what might be possible in the future. Jeremiah …
Continue reading “Distorted sculptures by Jeremiah Hulsebos-Spofford”
- Which Hey Arnold! character are you?Thanks to the folks at Brain Fall for sending over this cool Hey Arnold! quiz. You get 10 questions to find out which Hey Arnold! character you are. I actually got Arnold which was surprising (I really wanted to get Gerald). Try the quiz yourself and let me know in the comments who you got! …
- Artsy explored the objects that defined 80s youth cultureI was born in November 1989 so I missed all but a month of the 80s and everything about its culture so this was cool to read from Artsy: At the moment, our pop culture finds itself at peak ’80s nostalgia, as news outlets rush to publish their own guides to the decade’s easter eggs hidden in …
Continue reading “Artsy explored the objects that defined 80s youth culture”
- Black Archives: a multimedia showcase of the Black experienceArchiving is so important in an information era that favours the new and quickly discards the old when it’s deemed surplus to requirements (read: it’s not making profit). This is especially true for Black cultures and Black Archives works to change that. […] Through an evolving visual exploration, Black Archives provides a dynamic accessibility to …
Continue reading “Black Archives: a multimedia showcase of the Black experience”
- When Matt Damon met Prince: a lesson in small talkThis is classic Prince and I love it. Julia Stiles: After The Bourne Ultimatum came out, there was a premiere in London. Prince actually came to it, then got tickets for the cast to come see him [perform]. We were summoned into a room to meet him [after the show]. Matt said, “So you live in Minnesota? I …
Continue reading “When Matt Damon met Prince: a lesson in small talk”
- The celebratory art of Aurélia DurandAurélia Durand is a French illustrator with a penchant for vibrant designs depicting Black people in joyful, proud, and empowered poses. Her client list is a who’s who of major brands, including: Adidas Adobe Apple Music BBC ESPN Nike With so much bleakness in the world at the moment and heightened Black trauma, vivid celebratory …
- ‘The Page 69 Test’ tests a Marshall McLuhan addage on choosing booksAccording to Marshall McLuhan, if you turn to page 69 of any book, read it and like the page, you should buy the book. The Page 69 Test has been testing that theory for the past 14 years with thousands of books analysed. I might have to try this out the next time I’m in …
Continue reading “‘The Page 69 Test’ tests a Marshall McLuhan addage on choosing books”
- How did Frasier afford his Seattle apartment on a radio show host’s wage?During my Frasier journey, I found myself asking certain questions time and time again. Will Frasier ever stop getting hoisted by his own petard? How did the dog who plays Eddie become such a good actor? Why is this fake National cover of the Frasier theme song better than every other National song? God, Niles …
Continue reading “How did Frasier afford his Seattle apartment on a radio show host’s wage?”
- Vintage pulp comics as lesbian love storiesJenifer has always been intrigued by portraying lesbian stories in this style, especially when she discovered the effects of storytelling in comic books. The form goes beyond simply having fun, and resonates with her in a more decisively profound way. “I always wished to see lesbian stories and art when I was growing up, and …
Continue reading “Vintage pulp comics as lesbian love stories”
- ICYMI: The Louvre put its entire collection onlineOver 482,000 works are now available for people to view as the pandemic continues to change how we engage with the arts. The database for the Louvre’s collections consists of entries for more than 480,000 works of art that are part of the national collections and registered in the inventories of the museum’s eight curatorial …
Continue reading “ICYMI: The Louvre put its entire collection online”
- Happy birthday, Octavia Butler! Here’s an exclusive excerpt from her forthcoming biographyOctavia Butler was a visionary science fiction writer who predicted the rise of an American politician who would rise to power with the slogan “Make America Great Again” in her 1998 novel Parable of the Talents. She would have turned 73 today, June 22, had she not died suddenly in 2006 of a stroke. But the Nebula …
- Every day is Kids Day!Yesterday was Father’s Day. Upon reminding my son (he made me a lovely card on the Friday), he asked “why isn’t there a kids day?” to which I replied, “every day is Kids Day!” I’ll let you debate the validity of that statement but it rings true for me. Then today, one of my Twitter …
- The masks we’ve wornFrancesca Magnani wrote about her ongoing photo project, documenting people wearing masks and the reasons behind them (besides the pandemic of course): With a background in classics and anthropology I have long been interested in issues of identity and self-representation and in how people live and manage everyday challenges. As a street photographer I have …
- Research shows that 5 working hours a day can boost productivity and wellbeingBut apparently, there’s a catch: Rheingans CEO Lasse Rheingans says when he first floated the idea of compressed working with staff they came up with the idea of banning distractions like smartphones from their desks and minimising the use of “productivity killers like Slack”. The aim for Rheingans was to keep productivity constant but to …
Continue reading “Research shows that 5 working hours a day can boost productivity and wellbeing”
- Nina Banks on Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander and her ideas on economic justiceFor The Washington Post, Nina Banks (associate professor of economics at Bucknell University) paid tribute to Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, the first African American to gain a doctoral degree in economics. She suggested that Alexander’s ideology could be the key to solving various problems in the US, particularly for African-Americans: As a proponent of economic justice, …
Continue reading “Nina Banks on Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander and her ideas on economic justice”
- Black titles from The Criterion Collection’s upcoming line-upI didn’t know if this was a conscious effort or a happy coincidence but there were more Black films (or films with Black people in major roles) than I expected in The Criterion Collection’s upcoming line-up. They include: Melvin Van Peebles: Four Films Love & Basketball Mona Lisa Beasts of No Nation Deep Cover Pariah …
Continue reading “Black titles from The Criterion Collection’s upcoming line-up”
- The theme of today’s Nancy Comic is failed communicationToday’s Nancy Comic reminds me of how we communicate with people, especially during this god-awful pandemic. Should we burden our friends and family with the truth about how things are going or how we really feel? Or will “I’m fine”, “It’s good”, and “Okay” be enough? Maybe one conversation or even one long-winded response wouldn’t …
Continue reading “The theme of today’s Nancy Comic is failed communication”
- 8 LGBTQ+ artists discuss self-portraits and ‘Expressions of Pride’For Pride Month this year, Rachel Weisman curated a collection of contemporary LGBTQ+ artwork for Artsy called “Expressions of Pride: Self-Portraits and Reflections by LGBTQIA+ Artists”. Artsy spoke with artists from the LGBTQ+ community about their own self-portraits how they displayed their queer identities. Within the LGBTQIA+ community, visibility is often a double-edged sword: It …
Continue reading “8 LGBTQ+ artists discuss self-portraits and ‘Expressions of Pride’”
- Black British LGBTQ+ community deserves better on-screen portrayals, says Nana DuncanThe UK film industry rarely commissions Black stories because they do not believe that our stories have an audience, and I find that astonishing. Black people are the drivers of culture, and we deserve to be represented. The only stories they seem to commission are the ones about gang violence to further perpetuate the falsehood that …
- Katori Hall wins Pulitzer Prize for DramaCongratulations to Katori Hall for winning the award for her comedy “The Hot Wing King”. Darnella Frazier also received Special Citation for her filming of George Floyd’s murder which feels weird to comprehend and Mikki Kendall hit the nail on the head in this piece for CNN: This year, the Pulitzer Board’s announcement that Darnella Frazier …
Continue reading “Katori Hall wins Pulitzer Prize for Drama”
- I’ve loved seeing Black people rollerskating everywhereSpiritually sponsored by De La Soul and A Roller Skating Jam Named Saturdays.
- Zakiya Dalila Harris on her debut novel, ‘The Other Black Girl’The novel has been described as ‘riveting, fearless, and vividly original’.
- Maro Itoje presented an exhibition on Black histories missing from the UK curriculumArtwork from the exhibition comes from countries including Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon.
- 20 minutes of Tim Curry’s voice actingTim Curry understands every assignment he’s ever given.
- 12 alternative versions of famous monumentsThe second place entry for the Sydney Opera House competition looked BAD.
- 12 objects unnecessarily covered in gold24 carat objects everywheeeeeeere!
- I hope I can visit this Lisbon rooftop bar this yearJava is located a few minutes from the Cais do Sodré Metro station.
- An Alternate Feminist Cinema list on Letterboxd‘For a decolonial, anticapitalist, emancipated-from-heteronormativity transfeminist future.’
- Waddles the Duck and his new prosthetic legWalk on by, mighty duck!
- Tom Karangelov skating on 16mm film🛹 🎥
- A book of Haring-isms‘Art lives through the imaginations of the people who are seeing it. Without that contact, there is no art.’
- Rooting For Everyone Black✊🏽
- Fumi Ishino’s ‘Index of Fillers’ chronicles Japanese culture in the 80s and 90sBreathing life into the ordinariness of Japanese culture.
- Create your own Simpsons title screen memes with this generatorIf it doesn’t work, you can be the old man yelling at clouds.
- The origin of the milkshake line in ‘There Will Be Blood’As Gregory Kirschling called it, ‘weird, vaguely hilarious, and unsettling.’
- Helsingin Sanomat’s ‘Climate Crisis’ font weights shrink with the Arctic sea iceThe free font was created to help visualize the urgency of climate change.
- Do We Really Want Another Black President After The Events Of Deep Impact?The Onion never misses.
- Black Art: In the Absence of Light on HBOSam Pollard directed the documentary on Black art and its influence on the 21st century.
- The Green ExperienceNo prizes for guessing what colour this is about.
- Monocle on how Transhelvetica and Spiritland create their media (VIDEO)Two European companies that have carved out their own cultural niches in spite of the pandemic.
- A supercut of typewriters124 seconds of film and TV clips featuring typewriters and the characters who’ve used them.
- Flim: an iconographic search engineIt’s search, in entertainment media screenshot form.
- An immaterial sculpture sells for €15,000Blink and you’ll miss it.
- Who wants a Darth Vader helmet house for $4.3m?Of course, this house would be in Texas.
- Simon Doonan’s ‘Keith Haring’ biographyKeith Haring’s iconic art has been documented in a new biography.
- J. Wellington Wimpy, the patron saint of hamburglarsThat crafty Wimpy!
- Arndt Schlaudraff, the LEGO® brutalistWho needs concrete when you have plastic blocks?
- How a clownfish earns their stripesThe secret is in the sea anemone.
- The Cube Rule of foodForget everything you know about food.
- Volcano pizza is hot, hot, hot!Don’t try this at home (if your home happens to be near an erupting volcano and you don’t have a pizza oven)!
- Solange turns Saint Heron into a multidisciplinary creative agencyAn intriguing step by the artist.
- Every Toy Story trailers from 1995–2041Super excited for Toy Story 9 tbqh.
- A compendium of interesting wordsWho knew “ree” and “beey” were actual words with legitimate meanings?
- 10 best Black superhero movies, according to Rotten Tomatoes, via Screen RantYou’ll be able to guess around 40% of them at least.
- How to make a Star Wars TIE Advanced grillI find your lack of seasoning disturbing.
- Aimé Césaire and his Discourse on ColonialismThe Black modernist poet took on colonialism and fought on the land of his oppressors while doing it.
- What is ‘Star Wars: The Lost Cut’?George Lucas’s original cut was bad. But then it got good thanks to some award-winning magic from Marcia Lou Lucas.
- Is DeepL the best Google Translate alternative?Maybe they should change their name to DeepW, amirite?!
- Spend a night in Monica and Rachel’s apartment from FriendsFor one night, you can live like a New Yorker with rent control between 1994-2004.
- 10 ‘The Man in the’ moviesThere are a lot of movies featuring men in a lot of things. Here are 10 of them.
- Bob Ross vs. The Evil Dead in ‘Creepshow’It’s ‘dead’ funny. Geddit?!
- Business Secrets Of The Pharoahs by Mark CroriganIs this fool’s gold? Probably. But that’s not gonna stop me from reading it!
- Stephanie Williams on Granny Goodness’s Blaxploitation villain traitsFrom alien orphanage to villainous kingpin, Granny Goodness shared a lot of similarities with Blaxploitation villains.
- The Gates of Hell in TurkmenistanI guess Belinda Carlisle was right after all.
- My brain made a monkey out of meI love you Dr Zaius and memory recall!
- A tour of BBC’s old virtual studio (1997)Before all the drums and red, there were horns and blue. And virtual reality!
- The story behind Mondrian’s iconic styleA breakdown of the real behind the abstract of Piet Mondrian’s work.
- This Hey Arnold! Gerald t-shirt is so coolGerald was the best, really and truly.
- How to make a Hey Arnold! skateboardMove it, skateboard… feet?
- Cultrface is 6 years old todayStill partying like it’s 2015!
- Danny Elfman didn’t like how his Batman score was used in the movieThose damn ‘professionals’!
- The two typefaces of US highway signsBeep, beep.
- How is supermarket pesto so cheap?Would you say your pesto is the besto?
- Phrases to help you protect your mental healthHelpful advice on how to request support and ask for space.
- Grizzly bear + polar bear = pizzly bearIs nature playing Pokémon?
- Room Rodeo: a Chicago student’s film about Black cowboysThe film also stars Chicago cowboy Murdock, The Man With No First Name.
- Werner Herzog on skateboardingFrom Nosferatu to nosegrind.
- An oral history of The Fast and the FuriousI still think getting a guy called Vin Diesel in a car movie franchise was a genius move.
- archives.design archives designs from the Internet ArchiveThe best graphic design from the best archives.
- Wislawa Szymborska had the best writing adviceSage advice for any budding poets out there.
- How to make concrete in a microwaveBrutalism but with microwaves!
- A Tribute to Karl Hubenthal, One of the All-Time Great Sports Cartoonists‘Karl Hubenthal was just that kind of guy.’
- Carry A Bag Man’s carrier bag designsBefore carrier bags were 5p and upwards, they were free and looked cool.
- The woman who’s lived in a Swedish forest cabin for 8 yearsIt’s cold, it’s grey, and it’s gonna last you at least 8 years.
- That time two white girls ate a Carolina ReaperTwo girls, one chili.
- 100 quotes from 100 movies, counting down from 100Who knew film was just a numbers game?
- The Klingon language and its influence on modern cultureYou can even learn it on Duolingo!
- Icon vs. Superman, as told by Evan NarcisseFear of a Black hero.
- The last 10 seconds of every episode from Star Trek: TNG (Season 1)Engage!
- Superman as Clark Kent as SupermanWho knew good posture and a deep voice could make for amazing acting?
- MORTAL KOMBAT!!!I know you can hear the voice too.
- Ekow Nimako’s Afrofuturistic LEGO® universesIt’s Blackness in LEGO form.
- Julie Adenuga on Catfish UK and the new rules of romanceI will try to be empathetic but I can’t promise I won’t laugh.
- Google celebrates the letter ‘ñ’How one letter became a symbol of culture and uniqueness for Spain.
- El Tiempo – No black, no history, no newsThe world would be a darker place.
- ‘Brutalist Paris’ to explore post-war Brutalist architecture in the French capitalThe home of ‘Béton brut’ gets a book by Blue Crow Media.
- Doug Bradley (aka Pinhead) on his idea of Hell and his biggest fearsOoh, baby, do you know what that’s worth? Ooh, Hell is a place on Earth.
- Sexy MFing pizzaRIP Prince.
- Akira’s bike made with Coca-Cola cansHarder, better, faster, taste the feeling-er.
- Dom Griffin on Them: CovenantFeaturing Black torture, Blackface, murder, and more Black torture.
- When São Paulo banned billboard advertisingNo adverts, just blank billboards and vibes.
- Islamic tartan of ScotlandWeaving together the histories of Scotland and Islam.
- A supercut of Murder, She Wrote jokes by PushingUpRosesOh, Jessica!
- What year was Batman Returns set in?It’s like Back to The Future with a man in black rubber, a woman in black PVC, a megalomaniac, and a dude who looks like a penguin.
- 10 alternatives to HelveticaSans serifs sans Helvetica.
- Where did Ruff & Mews go from Petco’s new logo?Justice for the red and blue pets!
- The lost golden city of Luxor, EgyptExperts have called this the most important archaeological find since Tutankhamun’s tomb.
- La Soufrière’s eruption: before and after photosMy thoughts are with the residents of Saint Vincent.
- I love eggdogYou can’t woof an omelette without hugging some eggdogs. Or something.
- The super realistic art of Jeff BartelsPhotorealism, Hyper-Surrealism, Post Truth Realism. Jean Baudrilliard and Jacques Derrida would have a field day.
- The Brady-Nixon ConnectionMakes you think, doesn’t it?
- Charles Pulliam-Moore on DC Comics’ Black SupermenFor too many, a superhuman alien as Earth’s saviour is fine and dandy as long as he’s not white.
- Bubble wrap portraits by Darian MederosHis work ‘focuses on the ubiquitous human face’.
- Weird and wild Wikipedia rabbit holesTry this: culture > knowledge > epistemology > pramana > nyaya > Francis Xavier Clooney
- A Japanese study classified fish-shaped soy sauce containers into speciesI do enjoy squeezing those little fish-shaped soy sauce bottles when I have sushi.
- How Michael Keaton perfected the role of BatmanWho’s your favourite Batman and why is it Michael Keaton?
- Is Disney making a retractable lightsaber?And no, the ones with the rolled up tubes don’t count.
- A Bloodborne comic but it stars Frasier and Niles CraneScrambled blood all over my axe. What is a Hunter to do?
- African Americans in Soviet RussiaMother Russia was home to more than native Caucasians.
- Roy Mehta’s ‘Revival’ explores Brent’s multiculturalism between 1989–93Mehta’s collection of images from the late 80s/early 90s shows a part of London not unfamiliar with today.
- Sophia Tassew’s Khula jewellery brand is dopeKhula blends East Africa, South Africa, and 70s graphic design to create vibrant styles.
- Nancy explains performative activism in 3 panelsFiled under: Look, look—I stay woke too!
- Would you binge-watch all 24 James Bond movies for $1,000?‘You expect me to watch?’ ‘No, I expect you di- sorry yes, I expect you to watch.’
- A Quick Ting On: a non-fiction series focused on Black British culture8 books are due to be released over the next couple of years.
- When did ‘damn’ become a naughty word?Well, dang.
- Burrito speedrunCould you make a burrito in under 14 seconds?
- Fine Art Simpsons combines The Simpsons with fine art‘Lifeless images rendered in colourful goop’
- A brief history of DisneyQuestIs it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s a failed Disney project! But this one was actually kinda cool.
- Bees’ brain cell density is higher than birdsAnts aren’t so high on the list, though.
- The history of Times New RomanThe font of the 90s not called Comic Sans.
- Panther milkGin and milk? Como se dice ‘say it ain’t so’ en español?
- Marc Wilson’s ‘The Last Stand’ photo seriesWar is futile.
- TIL: you can eat banana peelsBanana peels aren’t for slapstick gags and road hazards for Mario Kart—you can eat them too!
- The urban photography of Apo GençHamburg in the dark never looked so capitvating.
- Chiso is a 466-year old Japanese kimono houseChiso also has a gallery of around 20,000 historic fabrics, books, and paintings.
- Penn & Teller’s nail gun trickPenn & Teller truly NAILED IT with this trick, amirite?!
- Cartoon maps from MapologiesWhat do you call Huey, Dewey, and Louie in your country?
- ‘And if we can all be more like little Rudiger…’‘His name is Bart.’
- Etta Loves’s Keith Haring collectionYou’ve gotta love these gorgeous Keith Haring baby sensory products by Etta Loves.
- Whiteness and racism aren’t illnessesLet’s talk about white supremacy and what it really is.
- The history of US racism against Asian AmericansA great piece from Adrian De Leon on the systematic racism experienced by Asian Americans.
- What do you actually get when you buy an NFT token?Don’t buy NFTs or create them. That’s all.
- Yaphet Kotto on Alien and Black and female representation in sci-fiThe late actor discussed his gratitude to the movie for what it did for him and his peers.
- Loose Ends: a literary supercut of 137 last lines from sci-fi books by Tom ComittaA tapestry of final words from some of the greatest science fiction novels. That’s Loose Ends.
- The abstract digital paintings of Sam Chirnside‘A mixing of natural elements with cosmic & spiritual phenomena that aims to delve beyond the edges of consciousness, exploring areas of order & incomprehension.’
- 12 abandoned islandsMeg Neal looked at 12 unique and abandoned islands for Atlas Obscura.
- The Wobble Dog 9003iWacky waving pork-filled flailing sausages! Wacky waving pork-filled flailing sausages!
- Renowned’s John Dean on Zoom calls with Angela DavisImagine having a Zoom call with Angela Davis. The honour!
- Emerald marine chocolate mint tartHere’s how you make a chocolate tart with an emerald marine jelly topping.
- What happened to ‘Hey Arnold!’?Move it, Football Head!
- Fraunces is an ‘Old Style’ font similar to Cooper BlackGet variably wonky with this new ‘old style’ font from Undercase Type.
- Atom Brick Frank Lloyd Wright Darwin D. Martin HouseRegarded as “the opus” by Frank Lloyd Wright, the Darwin D. Martin House can now be made in miniature form.
- Robb Report on the iconic fashion designer Willi SmithSeeing as his birthday was on 29th February, it isn’t a leap year this year, and it’s the last day of Black History Month (US), let’s call this his birthday.
- Remembering Milton GlaserA group of graphic designers got together to discuss the life and work of Milton Glaser.
- 25 Black art documentaries you need to watchEnrich your Black History Month celebrations with these Black art documentaries.
- The enslaved man who taught Jack Daniel how to make whiskeyThe world-renowned whiskey has a history involving an enslaved Black man and the stealing of his work.
- 36,336 versions of the ‘I know a place’ memeBloggers be like ‘i know a place’ and take you to the life story you didn’t ask for.
- Audrey Hepburn speaking Dutch in an interview from 1959A treat for Dutch fans of Audrey Hepburn.
- Tam Tam: the cutest baby pygmy hippo in JapanHow are pygmy hippos so adorable? HOW?!
- UROULETTE takes you on a random journey through the WebTry your luck with UROULETTE and see which link you land on.
- Helena Hauss’s Hell Hath no Fury ceramic sculpture setHave you ever seen a grenade, Morning star, or spiked baseball bat made from ceramic?
- It’s vichyssoise, sir. It’s supposed to be cold.From a French soup for New Yorkers to cool down in the 1910s to blockbuster comic book movies, vichyssoise has had an illustrious career.
- Hug It Out: a series about starting over and snugglingCheck out this award-winning series about a divorcee who turns to professional cuddling to restart her life.
- Donate to the TLF Freelance Emergency FundHelp out freelance culture writers with a donation to this emergency fund.
- The internet art of Mazaccio & DrowilalFrom teenage mutant ninja turtles to sporting icons, Mazaccio & Drowilal create art that questions the number of images and media around us.
- Almost every typeface seen at Disney theme parksYou could say this site is the “font” of all knowledge. Ha ha!
- Steamed Hams but its an oral historyGood lord, what is happening in there?
- A Gold Experience: Part 2What would you do with all the gold in the world?
- Skateboarding in JordanFrom Red Bull Skateboarding in 2016 came this video about ‘the lost world of skateboarding in Jordan’.
- Equiano is the world’s first African-Caribbean rumTake the chill off winter and the pandemic in style with a historical glass of African-Caribbean rum.
- Happy Valentine’s Day from NancyAnother classic Nancy comic involving chocolates and Aunt Fritzi scowling.
- There are over a sextillion ways to spell ‘viagra’This is not a virus or an ad. I repeat, THIS IS NOT A VIRUS OR AN AD!
- The Unwritten Rules of Black lifeIf rules are meant to be broken, let’s start now.
- The Black Caribbeans of the Harlem RenaissanceThe Harlem Renaissance was influenced by much more than Black Americans as retold by this JSTOR Daily article.
- Calafia: the Black warrior queenBefore Wonder Woman, there was Calafia.
- 5 brilliant and possibly obscure Black authorsDiscover—or rediscover—literary brilliance with these 5 Black authors.
- Renovating the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial LibraryTwo architecture firms were given the task to renovate a public library built by one of the most famous architects of all time, named after one of the most influential men in modern history. No pressure.
- Did Danny DeVito eat a real fish in Batman Returns?It’s probably the 975th most asked Batman question but now we have an answer!
- Paul Ford on the inspiration in procrastinationI was gonna write a subheading but I got distracted so… enjoy I guess?
- Rewatching Groundhog Day in 2021Groundhog Day is one of my favourite movies and I watched it again through the lens that 2020-2021 gave me.
- What are you doing, Lenny?I already put this in a tweet but it feels more permanent and “mine” in a blog post so deal with it.
- A word on Cultrface in 2021 and beyondThat title might sound ominous but I can assure you nothing is changing.
- Steven Richter made Luke’s lightsaber in a dayNo, not MY lightsaber although I’ve always wanted one.
- The cool doodles of Lei MelendresIf you love a doodle, you’ll love Lei Melendres.
- How many countries can you name in 15 minutes?How good is your geography? Put it to the test with this online quiz.
- The ‘vantafish’ that absorbs nearly all light that hits itThis fish is black and it’s proud!
- The 10 worst movies of 2020 according to Dom GriffinDon’t try these at home. Or anywhere. But do watch this review of the 10 worst movies of one of the worst years in modern history.
- Places I want to go when it’s safeScrew you, COVID-19! Let me go to my favourites cities in the world!
- VHS Poster Collection by Xavier Esclusa TriasTDK, Philips, Fujifilm, Agfa. Just some of the names you can see in this cool VHS poster collection.
- James Baldwin on the American Negro imageSome more sage advice from James Baldwin on how the view of Africa affected the view of Black Americans.
- Souvenir d’un Futur and the forgotten brutalist estates of ParisLaurent Kronental photo series depicts the Grands Ensembles housing projects that many Parisiens dislike.
- This Is Your Life with Buster KeatonBuster Keaton, this is your life!
- The best Marvel gaming experiences onlineMarvel games never looked so good on mobile, online and more.
- This is some kind of Star Trek: The Next Generation supercutThis is some kind of… subheading.
- Aditya Singh lived inside O’Hare Airport for 3 months unnoticedCOVID-19 has made us do some strange things like stay in airports for 3 months. Wait, that hasn’t happened to you?
- Favourite typefaces of 2020Here are some of the most coveted fonts of 2020 including a Cultrface favourite.
- A samurai made out of a single piece of paperIf I came up against a samurai, I’d fold too.
- Shoji Morimoto: a Tokyo “rent-a-person”Aloneness isn’t the same as loneliness but if you need someone, maybe this Japanese man can help.
- Toni Morrison on Martin Luther KingIt’s MLK quotes galore today. But maybe you should stop and think about whether that’s a good idea.
- I’m obsessed with Michael Keaton’s Easter Candy SNL skitMichael Keaton was at his comedic best in 2015 in this SNL skit.
- Detroit’s real life Carl BrutananadilewskiIt don’t matter. None of this matters.
- The evolution of PinheadBig up Doug Bradley, the OG Pinhead!
- The history of the chili pepperHot stuff coming through!
- The news told in 6 languagesWatch in awe as AP reporter Philip Crowther tells the news in 6 different languages.
- Amen and awomanFiled under: when praying in Congress goes wrong. Is awoman even a word?
- Jean-Michel Basquiat – “Milk and Asbestos”Milk and Asbestos is a relatively small piece by Basquiat’s standards but nevertheless an artwork with a big impact.
- Burger King rebrand is simple, nostalgic, and effectiveBK enlisted the help of Colophon Foundry to create a new typeface, a rebrand, and a genius monogram.
- Doom Haikus, sponsored by 2020In response to top news stories, hundreds of people submitted “doom haikus” that addressed the mess that was 2020.
- Nancy Grace reading Shakespeare (by Ryan Ken)Imagine your favourite Shakespearean lines read by Nancy Grace. Well, imagine no more thanks to Ryan Ken.
- A Venom/Eddie Brock sculpture timelapse videoWatch this timelapse of a sculptor making a mini bust of Venom/Eddie Brock.
- Viggo Mortensen speaking 7 languagesWho has two thumbs and speaks 7 languages? This guy! No, not me, Viggo Mortensen.
- The hidden history of Fred HamptonIn the first of a series, Sammy Willbourne looks at the hidden history of Fred Hampton, his death, and the legacy he left behind.
- Hungarian cuisine: 5 delicious dishes & recipesGrab a taste of the Magyars with 5 dishes from Hungarian cuisine.
- Vini Naso’s “The Masks We Wear”Vini Naso’s mask-themed art series demonstrates the radicalism of the “new normal”.
- A Weird AF RoboCop Video CollageIt’s a RoboCop clip show… or sorts.
- The case for Brutalist architectureBrutalism has a love-hate relationship with the public but ARTiculations puts the concrete-driven philosophy in the plus column.
- The history of Walt Disney Home VideoFind out how Walt Disney Home Video came to be and its relationship with the Disney vault in this episode of Yesterworld.
- Copyrighted works from 1925 enter the public domain todayHappy new year! Today is Public Domain Day and this year, copyrighted works from 1925 are free for all (subject to exceptions).
- How to make a smashburger (by J. Kenji López-Alt)Beef, seasoning, lettuce, cheese, bun. Those are just some of the ingredients you’ll need to make your own late-night smashburger.
- How to brew Chinese tea correctlyTo make the best cup of Chinese tea, you need skill and consideration. Here’s how to do it.
- Batman Returns is the best Christmas movieBatman Returns is the best Christmas movie. That’s it—that’s the line. No more, no less.
- Bon Appetit but with more POCs and the racism isn’t addressedBon Appetit started uploading videos again a few months ago but how is it? Jack Saint investigated.
- Commercial Break: a YouTube channel for archiving commercialsNever miss a commercial with this awesome YouTube channel.
- TMK Creamery makes vodka from milkIn Canby, Oregon lives a creamery that turns milk into vodka.
- Polygon’s MCU Machete OrderOr, more specifically, how to watch the MCU movies in a more thrilling way.
- Binging with Babish makes Homer Simpson’s Patented Space Age Out-Of-This-World Moon WafflesHere’s how to make Homer’s moon waffles the right way and the better way. Warning – you’ll need two waffle irons.
- Bridget Minamore’s “When Will Theatre Come Black?”Theatre critic and poet Bridget Minamore looks at the influence of Black British theatre and how it can forge a new post-COVID future.
- “Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” a podcast about the miseducation of lifeThierry Ngutegure, Felix Prince, and Tinashe Nyamande discuss their experiences of school and how that miseducation got them to where they are.
- The oldest Santa Claus movie in the world from 1898Did you know the first film about Santa Claus was from 1898? Here it is in all its festive glory.
- ‘Lovers Rock’ named film of the year by Sight & SoundThe film, from Sir Steve McQueen’s Small Axe series, won the award ahead of Time, First Cow, and I’m Thinking of Ending Things.
- The Black American collages of Tay ButlerTay Butler challenges history with the very material it leaves behind, creating new worlds from old media.
- The $5 milkshake from Pulp FictionBabish explored the possibilities of a $5 milkshake. But he soon broke the bank to make a better shake.
- archtype: the culture-rich creative agencyWe profiled archtype, a creative agency offering a variety of merch-related services and moving at the pace of culture.
- (Un)productivity or death?The depressed dinos are back with a poignant comic.
- The world according to James BaldwinThis 4-minute video shows a brief glimpse into James Baldwin’s life and why the FBI kept tabs on him.
- Dave Chappelle, Netflix, and the hypocrisy of his hurtChappelle’s request to Netflix made him feel better but what of the trans people he offended with his jokes?
- The history of Toonami according to Toy GalaxyDig into the history of Toonami with Toy Galaxy and find out how it went from a daytime block of cartoons to a late-night staple for older viewers of anime.
- The best of Dick and Dom playing “Bogies”bogies. Bogies. BOgies. BOGIES. BOOOOGIES!
- Appreciating Joel Schumacher’s BatmanDirector Patrick Willems believes Joel Schumacher’s Batman films weren’t that bad and we should give them another watch. Here’s why.
- Stalker: the fatal movie of Andrei TarkovskyThe late Andrei Tarkovsky made Stalker despite a hard time during production. This video essay explains how it could have contributed to his death.
- The sustainability of Christmas giftsChristmas is approaching and everyone is shopping for gifts. But what are the environmental and social impacts of the top Christmas gifts?
- Daughters, milking cows, and etymological debatesIs the English word for daughter related to a Sanskrit word meaning “one who milks”? Yes, no, and maybe is the answer.
- Farside: the Toronto bar turning into a VHS rental storeThis Canadian bar is transforming into a VHS rental store. You’ll never believe what they’re doing. Oh wait, I just told you.
- Black Archivist: a project for Black artists to tell their storiesThrough his project, Paul Octavious is giving Black people the chance to shape and archive their own narratives.
- Angela Davis: Revolution todayAngela Davis talked about revolution, the need to fight for progress, and her thoughts on modern feminism in a lecture for CCCB.
- Proper Gnar: a skate brand for and by Black girlsProper Gnar is the home of girl power and gnarly stuff in skateboarding and streetwear.
- Christopher Reeve on the media and being SupermanThe late Christopher Reeve sat with Jimmy Carter to talk about playing news reporters, sleazy tabloids, and his role as Superman.
- FlyGirl: a community and safe space for womxnThe Nottingham-based initiative connects womxn of all shades while prioritising those of colour.
- What if Clark Kent was a cartoonist?A comic where Clark Kent visits Bruce Wayne and talks about his cartoons and receives sage advice from the billionaire.
- Salt Bae: the King of SteaksTurkish meat master Salt Bae has cooked for a host of celebs. Here’s a compilation of his greatest cuts.
- afrodrops: a Black-owned shop for Afro hair careafrodrops founder Luke Carthy set up the brand after a poignant message from his 5-year-old son.
- A UK Black History Month Post (2020)2020 has been a lot for Black people in Britain. Here’s a post celebrating Black History Month for October this year.
- La California: Italy’s home of unofficial US polling stationsLa California (not LA, California) is home to over 1,000 people and unauthorised polling stations for US elections every four years.
- Conflict in Literature (with Daffy Duck)Grant Snider’s ‘Conflicts in Literature’ comic strip turned into a meme back in the 2010s and one involved Daffy Duck.
- Jenn Nkiru on her work and Afro-surrealismBritish-Nigerian artist and filmmaker Jenn Nkiru talked about her 2019 film Black To Techno, her style of work, and the histories of Black music.
- Love from a Black perspectiveWhat is love? Here are some quotes from some of the most famous Black writers and thinkers of our time.
- Sir David Adjaye’s best projectsThe Spaces looked at some of Adjaye’s landmark projects including Elektra House & the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
- The Uganda Skateboard UnionCheck out this awesome music video featuring The Uganda Skateboard Union.
- The photography of Kennedi CarterExplore the expressions of Blackness and Black love with Kennedi Carter’s recent works.
- What if Batman was Black?It’s been 19 years since the release of Stan Lee’s “Just Imagine…” Batman comic, the first time the former Marvel editor-in-chief worked with DC.
- Albert Murray on race, jazz, and modernismThe late jazz critic’s life and career spanned a century and his book, The Omni-Americans, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
- The super realistic art of Arinze StanleyEnjoy the hyperrealism of Nigerian artist and photographer Arinze Stanley.
- Toni Morrison on “Jazz” (1993)Novelist Toni Morrison looked back on her youth, family and her newest book, “Jazz” in a 1993 interview with Charlie Rose.
- Architecture in Yugoslavia, 1948-1980From International Style to Brutalism, Yugoslavia went through a lot in its postwar architecture and MoMA held an exhibition depicting the changes.
- Leslie Nielsen’s Fart MachineIt was never a dull moment with Leslie Nielsen. Here are two videos featuring his signature fart machine.
- Los Angeles’s Hidden Japanese VillagePeter Lai’s giant treasure trove of Japanese collectibles can be found in a Los Angeles warehouse.
- Is milk a healthy drink or a poison?Don’t have a cow, man! No, seriously – their milk is bad for you. Or is it? Kurzgesagt gives the lowdown on the white beverage.
- Hellboy Right Hand of Doom Hot SauceGrab a bottle of Hellboy Right Hand of Doom Hot Sauce and experience 6.66 million Scoville Heat Units of culinary torture.
- Phil LaMarr on his most iconic voicesPhil LaMarr has voiced some of the the most famous characters on TV. Here, he broke down some of those voices for Vanity Fair.
- Over ItSometimes you’ve just had enough of absolutely everything. And sometimes you’re a pigeon on a roof when you feel it.
- 20th Century Flicks: the last video rental shopThe Last Video Store is a documentary about 20th Century Flicks, the world’s oldest VHS & DVD rental store, operating in Bristol.
- 5 retro videos from The VHS VaultNow you can watch over 25,000 VHS recordings thanks to The Internet Archive’s digitised video collection.
- STiCH and its Basquiat-inspired artAn AI start-up launched a machine called STiCH that made works of Basquiat-inspired art.
- Clarissa Explains It All, ExplainedClarissa Explains It All was influential back in the 90s and PushingUpRoses explored the quirky Nickelodeon sitcom on her YouTube channel.
- Batman’s Movie Lips RankedGizmodo pays 8 Batmen lip service with their unique ranking of the Caped Crusader, from Robert Pattinson to Adam West.
- Killing the planet is the new blackColour forecasting in fashion has a darker side and those varying shades are harming the planet.
- The controversial story of Comic SansHate it or hate it more, Comic Sans is a font that makes many people wince or poke fun. Here’s how it came to be and what its creator thought of the derision.
- Marvel Comic Characters on TableauHere’s a breakdown of over 16,000 Marvel comic characters, by gender, morals and more.
- The Inneract Project aims to change the design industryThe design non-profit strives to empower the next generation of Black and Brown designers and Maurice Woods leads the initiative.
- Dwindling animal populations as dot density imagesAs species numbers decline, a Redditor created some dot density images to highlight the regression.
- The painted paper art of Mark BradfordMark Bradford discussed his art and the impact of BLM and COVID-19 with Francesca Aton.
- Talking loud and spreadin’ COVIDInfectious disease transmission isn’t reserved for coughing and sneezing. A science paper from 2019 suggests loud speech is a major culprit too.
- The diasporan style of Grace Wales BonnerGrace Wales Bonner is a Black British fashion designer with an incredible sense of style. Here is some of her work, as profiled by The New Yorker.
- Fan-made Bond trailer starring Pierce BrosnanPierce Brosnan hasn’t played James Bond since 2002. But this fan-made Bond trailer gives the actor one last try and it kinda works.
- Mountain Dew CheesecakeTwo recipes, one main ingredient. Could a Mountain Dew cheesecake save 2020? Of course not. But it’s worth a try (unless you’re diabetic).
- How to make MooMoo Milk from PokémonIf you want a health-restoring beverage, look no further than a glass of MooMoo Milk from the Pokémon world.
- Nancy is not a fan of virtual schoolingNancy and her friends don’t look enthusiastic in the latest Nancy comic about virtual schooling during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Triqqa Pli’c: a Pizza Hut advert for KlingonsTo Klingons, Pizza Hut is out of this world. But to Earthlings, this Klingon advert was the first of its kind back in 1994.
- The emerald cockroach wasp: a true parasiteThe emerald cockroach might sound intriguing and it is… if you like parasitic reproduction.
- Shuri as the new Black Panther?Shuri has already been Black Panther in the comics but is she set to take on the mantle in the movies as well?
- Róisín Hanlon on Parasitic ArchitectureParasitic architecture involves attaching buildings on buildings to combat problems with modern urban living. But is that the best name for it?
- Pea milk is apparently a thingPea milk is high in fibre, low in saturated fat and takes 100x less water to farm than almond milk. But can it overtake other plant-based milk alternatives?
- The new trailer for No Time To DieNo Time To Die stars Daniel Craig in his last role as James Bond and it’s set to be the biggest and best yet.
- The gentrification of Black Lives MatterWhite co-option of Black struggle isn’t new but it’s more apparent now as it involves Black Lives Matter.
- Black superheroesI asked people on Twitter to name Black superheroes without Googling. This is what they came up with.
- Keith Haring’s personal art collection to be auctionedThe auction, called “Dear Keith” is set to fetch around $1m all of which is going to charity.
- The Free Black UniversityGet educated with The Free Black University and it’s recently opened e-library with a wide range of books by influential Black authors.
- Daniel Obaweya is Nigerian GothicAs Nigerian Gothic, Daniel Obaweya archives moments of Black pop culture history and its influence on the present day.
- Tutankhamun’s tomb is an industryHe only reigned for 9 years but Tutankhamun is the most well-known Ancient Egyptian pharaoh thanks to the discovery of his tomb in 1922. Now it’s a multi-million dollar industry.
- RELAXATION TAPE NO. 2: the opposite of ASMRIf you came here to relax, leave now. RELAXATION TAPE NO. 2 is for anything but relaxation. But if you like wild, random video memes, maybe you’ll find some solace.
- Manga Entertainment brings us Akira in 4KAkira is a cornerstone of cult film and cyberpunk culture and now you can watch it in 4K in select cinemas across the country.
- An ‘Honest Trailer’ for Batman ReturnsWatch an honest trailer about Batman Returns. No, really, it’s Screen Junkies’s Honest Trailers and they did one for Batman Returns.
- Chadwick Boseman (1976–2020)RIP Chadwick.
- Paul R. Williams’s archive finds a homeThe archive will become part of two major architectural collections at the University of Southern California and the Getty Research Institute.
- Why we keep seeing Cooper Black everywhereFrom The Beach Boys to Tootsie Rolls and easyJet, Cooper Black has turned up everywhere for decades. But why?
- Milton Glaser interview with designboomThe late artist sat with designboom to talk about his music tastes, his design work, and what has satisfied him the most in his career.
- That time BBC2 appeared in a Pizza Hut advertYou don’t expect to see the BBC on commercials but it happened once in the mid-90s and it was for Pizza Hut.
- Grab a pair of Venom socksFeel like a villainous monster in comfort and style with a pair of Venom socks.
- The origins of the “black sheep”Why does “black sheep” suggest negative connotations? And does it have anything to do with the sale of black wool? Grammarphobia gave a lengthy answer.
- How to make a Taiwanese CastellaFrom Portugal to Japan and then to Taiwan, the Castella is a rich sponge cake that goes well with coffee or green tea. Here’s a video recipe.
- The influential art of Aaron DouglasAaron Douglas was a powerful figure of the Harlem Renaissance with his stunning visual art. We observed the art that garnered him the accolade of ‘father of Black American art’.
- Black Adam and the Justice Society revealed at DC FanDomeDwayne Johnson announced the arrival of Black Adam with a teaser at DC FanDome and introduced 4 members of the Justice Society of America.
- D&D moral alignments of One Tree Hill charactersWhere would you place your favourite One Tree Hill characters on a D&D moral alignment matrix? I critiqued an attempt by Screen Rant.
- The Collapse of Bon AppétitBon Appétit’s collapse wasn’t an accident and Jack Saint’s analysis of the channel’s racism is something everyone should watch.
- A Love Letter to LisbonLisbon is a beautiful city and this short film shows why.
- The Instagram account capturing Japanese facades@ka_nai, an anonymous Instagram user, exhibits various facades in Japan in varying quality, shapes, and sizes.
- The paintings of Peter D. HarrisHarris’s oil paintings catch late night urban surroundings at their quietest and most peaceful.
- “The road not taken” by Arnaud MontagardArnaud Montagard’s The road not taken gives a view of America and its diners, from the Pacific Northwest to the Southwest.
- Hilarie Burton on leaving HollywoodThe actress found so much self-worth when she moved to Rhinebeck in upstate New York.
- The visual art of Uzoma Chidumaga OrjiExperience the visual art of Uzoma Chidumaga Orji, a Nigerian creative technologist.
- A to-do list of a Nancy comicOlivia Jaimes gets self-referential again with today’s Nancy comic.
- Panteha Abareshi on Ableism in the Art WorldAbareshi will showcase her work alongside those of disabled artists to address the subject of ableism in art.
- Kottke.org has launched a podcast called Kottke Ride HomeNeeds some Kottke.org on your ride home? Well, now there’s a podcast for that. Introducing “Kottke Ride Home”.
- Opinions on the Biden-Harris logoThe Biden-Harris logo is out now. What do you think? Do you even care? Fast Company asked 10 experts what they thought of it.
- Brand New moving to a subscription modelFrom 24th August, it’ll cost $2 per month or $20 per year to read Brand New and you can blame the pandemic for that.
- LeBron James in his new Space Jam jerseyHey, it’s LeBron James! And he’s wearing his new Space Jam jersey!
- The plantlife illustrations of Jim SpendloveThe Sheffield-based artist creates dusky landscapes and portraits with his fine line art.
- Indo apples, samurai, and Japanese farmersThe Indo apple is Japan’s first cultivated apple but how did it come to be? And how did the Fuji apple get so popular?
- America’s Oldest Woman is Black and 116Hester Ford has lived in 2 centuries and under 19 US presidents and is now 116 years old.
- A clever Nancy comic styled as a jigsaw puzzleRead it, then read it again. This Nancy comic is a simple yet effective jigsaw.
- Stingless bees make healthy honeyAccording to scientists from Malaysia and Australia, honey made by stingless bees contains sugar with “many health benefits”.
- The 10 best hidden in plain sight jokes in Teen Titans Go!Teen Titans Go! is a hilarious and super clever. Screen Rant compiled a list of the 10 best background jokes you might have missed the first time.
- Rick Deckard’s whiskey glassWanna look super cool at house parties or feel sophisticated when you drink alone? Why not get yourself Rick Deckard’s whiskey glass from Amazon?
- Race and Modern Architecture: A ReviewRace and Modern Architecture examines the impact people of colour have had on the field for the last few centuries.
- Hey, it’s Tyler The Creator skating!Here’s a video of Tyler The Creator skateboarding to take your mind of the world for 103 seconds.
- The FBI kept a file on Albert EinsteinAlbert Einstein was seen as an extremist threat by the first director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover. And all for speaking out against racism and the Nazis.
- OH-SO: a magazine celebrating women who skateCreative director Rob Hewitt created OH-SO magazine to highlight the influence of women on skateboarding after his daughter got into the sport. Here’s their story.
- The Guy Who Built A Video Store In His BasementNick Collins aka Nostalgia Video turned his basement into a fake video store.
- The night photography of Junya WatanabeThe Tokyo-based photographer captures a muted vibrancy of the Japanese city with their custom made presets.
- Are Pablo Escobar’s hippos good for Colombia’s ecosystem?Pablo Escobar’s hippos and their offspring are either natural saviours or invasive villains in Colombia. The debate continues.
- Herbie Hancock on Buddhism and CreativityJazz legend Herbie Hancock talks about how Buddhism has “absolutely and positively” affected how he looks at everything in a lecture for Harvard University in 2014.
- Shape Grammars by Jannis Maroscheck is a book of shapes and systemsMaroscheck—a German graphic design student—created a design volume of shapes in response to a world dominated by AI.
- Animals on the London UndergroundThe London Underground is one of 4 major secret zoos but not in the way you think…
- The stylish photography and creativity of RKZRKZ is a creative genius behind the camera and there’d be no Cultrface without his photography. Here’s a long overdue post explaining why.
- Paul R. Williams: the Black architect of public buildings and celebrity homesOne of Los Angeles greatest architects, Paul R. Williams designed iconic buildings for celebrities and the general public.
- Black polyglot speaks Japanese, Mandarin, and ArabicMoses “Mouse” McCormick is a Black polyglot and loves to speak to strangers in their native tongues. Here’s an example.
- The mint julep and the Black bartenders who popularised itThe mint julep went from a medicinal drink to the official drink of the Kentucky Derby. But who were the Black bartenders who popularised the cocktail?
- Kehinde Wiley – The World Stage: JamaicaCheck out some of Kehinde Wiley’s first UK solo exhibition, “The World Stage: Jamaica” and a video explaining his inspirations.
- My Top 5 Jean-Michel Basquiat PaintingsOur guest writer gave her top 5 Jean-Michel Basquiat paintings. Read what they are and why right here.
- The rise of the murder hornetsA murder hornet could ruin bee colonies in the US where there have been 4 sightings this year. But how dangerous are Asian great hornets actually?
- Marni apologises for racist “Jungle Mood” campaignMarni apologised for its inappropriate “Jungle Mood” campaign shoot but there’s more to it than racist imagery.
- A very brief history of Jamaican rumWe did a quick history lesson on Jamaican rum and looked at the various distilleries, brands, and cocktails made from the island’s beverage.
- Lil Buck dancing through Fondation Louis VuittonAndy Margetson captured Lil Buck at his best as he danced through Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris.
- Steve Harvey on getting fired“Black people handle getting fired different from White folk.” Steve Harvey’s sketch on getting fired is hilarious and worth watching.
- Augusta Savage and her influence on the Harlem RenaissanceHere’s a look at the life and legacy of Augusta Savage who was at the heart of the Harlem Renaissance.
- New Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibit launched by the Brant FoundationThe exhibit, entitled “Jean-Michel Basquiat”, contains nearly 70 pieces from his illustrious career.
- Steve Harvey doesn’t wanna host the show anymoreVic Berger’s fine editing work turned Steve Harvey into a nervous wreck. Find out how.
- Colin Jackson’s Welsh language journeyFormer Olympic hurdler and sporting legend Colin Jackson took a trip back to Wales to improve his Welsh language skills.
- Rememory: a creative directory for Black women and non-binary peopleFounded by Mia Coleman, a Black illustrator and designer, Rememory brings together the incredible work of Black women and non-binary people of the African Diaspora.
- Dom Griffin’s Guide To Quarantine Movie BingingWhat films have you been binging on during quarantine? Dom Griffin put together a guide to watching movies during the pandemic.
- Alternatives to ableist termsDon’t call something ‘stupid’ or ‘crazy’. Try some of these alternative words for ableist terms.
- James Baldwin on the meaning of libertyThe late scholar gave his thoughts on what he believed liberty to mean in this short video.
- Interview with Sareta FontaineWe interviewed Sareta Fontaine about her favourite city, the most unusual item she takes everywhere and the meaning of relaxation.
- ‘Jamaican English is unique’, says UWI Mona studyThe study by UWI focused on the acoustic properties of Jamaican English as part of a multidisciplinary project at the Department of Physics.
- Nnesaga’s top 5 DC animated moviesBatman, The Flash, Superman… who would make it into your top 5 DC animated movies? Steph of Nnesaga gave her top 5 picks.
- Milton Glaser on creativity and failureThe late designer died on his 91st birthday on Friday but in 2011, he gave his thoughts on how to be successful as a creative and how to learn from fear.
- 24 Anti-Racist Books You Should ReadThese 24 anti-racist books are essential reading, with 19 books chosen by Open Culture readers and 5 by us.
- The Nerd Council: an online platform for Black nerdsAs one of the UK’s most prominent Black podcasts and online platforms, The Nerd Council is bringing Black nerds together.
- Jenkem’s list of Black-owned skate businessesWant to support a Black-owned skate business? Check out Jenkem’s “Black List” with over 130 different brands and stores to support.
- Interview with Terrance PryorWe interviewed Terrance Pryor, a writer, award-winning radio personality, and “kinda” music producer.
- MJ vs. MJ and the fall of LA GearRemember LA Gear? The shoe company rose to incredible heights with endorsements from the likes of Paula Abdul and Michael Jackson. But what caused its demise?
- Fine: the Shanghai cafe that measures 20 square metresIn Shanghai, Fine 西洋果子店 (or Fine for short) fits a mixed minimalist Japanese-style cafe into 20 square metres.
- Pets wore masks during the 1918 flu pandemicCats and dogs donned masks during the flu pandemic of 1918. But how different was it for pets back then compared to the current COVID-19 pandemic?
- Do you dance when Law & Order SVU comes on?In the internet justice system, dance based videos are considered especially awesome. On Cultrface, the dedicated writers who investigate these amazing routines are members of an elite squad known as the Special Viewers Unit. These are their stories.
- Why Dan Larson sold his toy collectionToy Galaxy’s host Dan Larson sold his toy collection to save his toy collection. He explained how and why in this candid video.
- The African American Miniature MuseumArtist Karen Collins took extra care in creating the incredible African American Miniature Museum. This is her story.
- The rise and demise of BetamaxBefore DVDs, Blu-Ray discs and even VHS tapes, there was the Betamax.
- 28 facts about Jamaican cultureLearn more about Jamaican culture with these 28 facts and see the Caribbean island in a brighter light.
- Social Theory: fashion for black culture and identitySocial Theory creates apparel that promotes pride in Black identity and Black culture
- The adventurous art of Pat PerryPat Perry is known for his depictions of Midwestern life and street style.
- The Toilet Paper CalculatorHow much is too much when it comes to bog roll? Use the Toilet Paper Calculator to find out.
- Venom, the symbiotic supervillain – good or evil?Is Venom good or bad? What even is Venom? Find the answers and lots more in our guide to the alien Marvel character.
- Meet Gav – the huge TikTok babyGav is a big buff baby, but he dances like a man. And he’s taking TikTok by storm.
- LGR eats the World’s Hottest ChipLGR takes the One Chip Challenge and feels the burn.
- Is multilingualism a privilege or survival?Only 1 in 5 Europeans can speak two languages other than their mother tongue. But is an honour or a necessity?
- Watch 4,000 films from the National Film Board of Canada for freeThe National Film Board of Canada has opened up 4,000 to view online for free.
- Kazvare Made It blends Blackness, art and humourTheir work includes illustrations of Tupac, Beyoncé, Stormzy, and twerking pugs.
- Enjoy aerial footage of Moscow in 5KYou don’t need to leave the house to experience Moscow from above with these 5K drone shots.
- Support the gal-dem platform and become a membergal-dem has been showcasing the lives of women and non-binary people of colour for years. Now they’ve launched a membership scheme to transform the industry.
- How should you social distance during the COVID-19 pandemic?The guidelines on social distancing are vague depending on your government. But this video might help you interpret the concept.
- What does 15-year-old Dasani Water taste like?Just two guys having a bottle of water old enough to study for its GCSEs.
- Unwind LDN lets you unplug and unleash your potentialImprove your mental health and let your creativity flow with Unwind LDN.
- The Most Influential Living African American Artists (According To Artsy Editorial)Artsy Editorial’s selection isn’t the entirety of African American art but it shows a powerful list of 20.
- The clammy history of TigerSharksPart of an unofficial animation trilogy, TigerSharks was more of a school of goldfish than an animated tank of hammerheads.
- The breathtaking street art of OdeithThe Portuguese street artist is called the creator of “anamorphic graffiti”, a style that needs to be seen to be believed.
- Swiss gruyère wins World Championship Cheese Contest in WisconsinIt was a Swiss 1-2 at the 2020 World Championship Cheese Contest.
- Reniqua Allen on hope and black millennial burnoutReniqua Allen was interviewed for Longreads and discussed her latest book, It Was All A Dream, and black millennial burnout.
- Pink thingsIt’s an entire article about pink things. Please enjoy your pink experience.
- 100 deep burns by Dr Niles CraneThere’s no better person for a cutting remark than Niles Crane. So here are 100 of them to enjoy.
- 8 Keith Haring Documentaries to Watch on YouTubeBecause one half-hour documentary isn’t enough to learn about one of the greatest modern artists of the 20th century.
- The Boston cooler: a quick history of a tasty Detroit beverageDespite the name, the Boston Cooler originated in Detroit and requires a specific brand of ginger ale.
- And the award for Cutest Duck TikTok Goes To…Animator and duck owner Hart made possibly the best TikTok I’ve ever seen.
- Rashayla Marie Brown’s scathing review of Virgil Abloh’s “Figures of Speech”Brown’s critique tells an underlying story of Abloh’s lack of black representation in the name of art and postmodernism.
- The fitting room scene from Jackie Brown synced upJames Neumann edited the non-linear fitting room scene into a continuous sequence.
- I Love All The Pins From Super Team DeluxeSuper Team Deluxe is the best place for nerdy pins. Find out how a pair of computer geeks created the “collaborative funhouse”.
- Christopher Meloni reads thirst tweets about his assThe “thicc daddy” of SVU joined BuzzFeed to read some of the thirstiest tweets about him. People love Christopher Meloni’s butt.
- Pentagram refresh Fisher-Price’s logo and it’s lovelyA few minor tweaks and the Fisher-Price logo is ready for a new decade thanks to Pentagram.
- John Carpenter and Kurt Russell are the ultimate duo in film commentaryWhat could possibly make “The Thing” better? Stellar commentary from John Carpenter and Kurt Russell.
- Was Jim Carrey an asshole on the set of Man On The Moon?Jim Carrey’s portrayal of Andy Kauffman on the set of Man On The Moon caused controversy. But was the method acting justified?
- Atkinson Hyperlegible is a typeface that helps readers with low visionDesign agency Applied Design Works created a font that “improved character recognition” for the visually impaired and it’s really good.
- Watch “KENOBI”, A Star Wars Fan FilmKENOBI acts as a precursor to A New Hope, with Obi-Wan watching over a young Luke Skywalker.
- Catch some retro 80s and 90s vibes with RetrogeistFrom Sega Megadrives to Miami Vice, Retrogeist has you covered for nostalgia on Instagram.
- 8 Things My Mum Made Me Buy From West Indian ShopsWhat started out as a chore became a welcome break. Here are 8 things I bought for my mum from West Indian shops.
- Tony Hawk dissects skateboarding films for GQ SportsWhen Tony Hawk speaks, you listen. Especially when it’s about skateboarding.
- Parenthood Activate! tells comical short stories about life as a parentStephanie Williams’s Parenthood Activate! shows the lighter side of parenting in comic form.
- Tom Comitta pens tongue-in-cheek rework of Martin Scorsese’s Marvel essayWhat started out as a comical article on literature turned into a look at the pervasive world of publishing.
- Moose cheese is creamy, rare, and expensiveThe dairy delicacy is made exclusively in Sweden by two farmers called Christer and Ulla Johansson.
- Cultrface proudly declares November “Purple with Yellow Spots History Month”Cultrface wants to bring order and balance to the POC discourse with the first Purple with Yellow Spots History Month.
- The POSCA Pen wizardry of OskunkArt can take many forms and French artist Oskunk wields his Posca pens like magic wands across Paris and beyond.
- Codex Argenteus: the mysterious Gothic Silver BibleBehind a silver cover lies the purple pages of Codex Argenteus, an enigmatic bible from 6th century Germany.
- 5 ways skateboarding culture inspired modern artSkateboarding culture might seem like a pastime for delinquents but its influence on modern art cannot be understated.
- Rent this Mies van der Rohe documentary on VimeoMies van der Rohe documentaries featuring the man himself are rare so you should definitely check this out.
- What if Jim Carrey was in The Shining?Ctrl Shift Face swaps Jack Nicholson’s face with Jim Carrey’s in a deepfake scene from The Shining.
- The captivating neon photography of Liam WongArt director & photographer Liam Wong shows how alluring night time can be with his trademark “neon noir cyberpunk” photography.
- The surreal animations of Wong PingFrom his days as a TV image retoucher, Wong Ping has blossomed into an animator with a unique sense of style.
- Making Peace in Jamaica with former gang membersThe Violence Interrupters are working to end violence in their communities. Making Peace tells their stories.
- Lil’ Nitro is the world’s hottest gummy bearIf you fancy candy with a Scoville rating of 9,000,000, Lil’ Nitro is the gummy for you.
- Saul Steinberg on art and philosophy in 1967Saul Steinberg called himself a “writer who drew” and worked with some of the biggest brands of the 20th century.
- Alex’s “foodsafe” kintsugi hack only took a day to makeRome wasn’t built in a day but this kintsugi foodsafe was and Alex shows us how.
- The fantastic film posters of Matt NeedleYou’ll wish Matt Needle had designed the posters for your favourite films when you’ve seen his work.
- 10 hippos from cartoons, literature, and other mediaThey’re not as famous as elephants but hippos have a rich history in the arts.
- Jean-Michel Basquiat’s ideas of how to be an artistThe Black American painter was often cryptic in interviews, but his words said more than he could have ever imagined.
- Cleganebowl, but as an epic lightsaber deathmatchFinally, something decent from the last season of GoT!
- Marion Stokes: the Black woman who preserved over 30 years of TV historyMarion Stokes’s video collection will be digitized by The Internet Archive in California.
- An interview with “Sampira”The horror fan behind Slashartsco answered our quick-fire interview questions.
- Soviet modernism, brutalism, and post-modernismThis sub-5 minute film gives a brief overview of the cultural changes in architecture during the mid-to-late 20th century.
- Nike SB’s Gizmo opens the skateboarding community to allSkateboarding never looked so dope.
- The gorgeous art of Japanese illustrator Hiroshi NagaiEver heard of City Pop? Hiroshi Nagai painted the artwork for those soundtracks in the 80s.
- Grab a slice of typography with Pizza TypefacesTwo French type designers are behind Pizza Typefaces, offering some clean and minimal fonts at affordable prices.
- Porto’s Banco de Materiais brings the azulejos to the yardsOne tile, two tile, new tile, blue tile.
- 7 Game Boy Accessories You May Not Have Heard OfHere’s a list of some of the strangest Gameboy add-ons you’ll ever see.
- Let’s make like a tree and split?You’ll have heard this phrase before. Now take your pick from a selection of over 90 versions of “make like a…”.
- Buy This Radical TMNT Pizza Cutter and Spatula SetEat pizza like a ninja turtle with this TMNT pizza cutter and spatula set.
- An interview with Dan ClarkeDan Clarke, the graphic designer behind Arkotype, answered our quick-fire interview questions.
- What if Game of Thrones was aired in the 80s?This brilliant audiovisual mashup shows what could have been if GoT was an 80s series.
- From fishin’ to fashion: how fish skin is used for leatherIceland-based Atlantic Leather owns Europe’s only fish tannery.
- The UN reports a million species are close to extinctionHumans suck for many reasons but species extinction is one of the biggest.
- James Corden did a Reddit AMA and it turned into a roastA popcorn-worthy moment on Al Gore’s internet when James Corden got his ass handed to him on Reddit.
- 30+ Minutes of Vic Berger’s Daytime TV & AdvertisingSuper Deluxe is dead, long live Vic Berger.
- Yasuke – An African Samurai in JapanYasuke was an African retainer who served under an influential Japanese warlord in the 16th century.
- Facts and figures about the London UndergroundNeed to know which stations don’t have exit barriers or escalators? This webpage about the London Underground will help.
- Haarkon’s Japan Travel Tips For First-TimersIf you’re travelling to Japan, consider these words of wisdom from Haarkon.
- The amazing photography of Roger “Sharpy” SharpSurf’s up, big photographer!
- An interview with Corbet RutzerCanadian music director and brand expert Corbet Rutzer answers some questions for Cultrface.
- Chris Morris pranked a McDonald’s employee during a pilot for The Day TodayThe classic 90s satirical comedy had a couple of pilots and this one shows Chris Morris asking someone from McDonald’s about warfare.
- Nicky Chulo creates Off-Black brand in response to Off-White’s lack of diversityThe graphic designer criticised the Off-White brand creator for his lack of diversity at Louis Vuitton.
- Khalik Allah’s “Black Mother” is a spiritual trip through JamaicaThe 77-minute movie has been described as a “part film, part baptism”.
- Lorraine O’Grady: the inspiration behind Tracee Ellis Ross’ Met Gala lookThe actress paid homage to Lorraine O’Grady, campness, and black art as a whole.
- Cultrface is 4 years old todayCultrface celebrates its 4th birthday with thanks and a message.
- The Awesome Art of Karis PierreThe London graphic designer is one to watch for the future.
- Concrete Montreal Map is an atlas of the city’s brutalist architectureBlue Crow Media creates a brutalist map for Canada’s second biggest city.
- Game of Thrones books versus the TV seriesAs the series inches towards its finale, here’s an infographic showing how the Game of Thrones books fed into the shows.
- The Machete Order for X-MenA fan made a guide to watching the X-Men movies the “optimal” way, using the classic Machete Order.
- Yoroshiku 4649The London indie brand makes “classic StreetWear with a hint of Japanese playfulness”.
- Is tea the new wine?Before you get angry at the headline, it’s not our creation. But the tea industry is looking for ways to improve its reputation.
- Lebron James’s Blaze Pizza makes pizza with cauliflower crustsThe pizza chain, part-owned by basketball legend Lebron James, will make their cauliflower gluten-free crusts available from 7th May.
- The insular world of hikikomoriFRANCE 24 reported on the hikikomori, people who live isolated in their bedrooms in Japan.
- Was Paul Charles Dozsa the Democracy Manifest Guy?I’ve watched the Democracy Manifest video for ages and I cannot stop laughing. But was Paul Charles Dosza the real man or was it someone else?
- 400 Gradi Makes World’s Cheesiest Pizza400 Gradi in Australia has created a pizza with 154 different cheeses because why the hell not?
- Pizza Pi – the Caribbean’s only “food truck boat”Pizza on a boat in the Caribbean? Take my money and put double cheese on it.
- The Curiosity ShowThis Australian programme from the 70s and 80s proved science could be fun. Here’s an optical illusion made from nothing but card and string.
- 22 random scenes from Batman Returns I loved as a kidOf all the Batman films in the DC universe, Returns is still my all-time favourite.
- The best of Edgar the Bug from Men In BlackSugar in water. More. More.
- An interview with “Theo Huxtable”Not *that* Theo Huxtable but close enough.
- Joe Pickett and Nick Prueher are The VHS GuysA couple of regular dudes have made a career from collecting eccentric VHS tapes. They’re known as the VHS Guys.
- Cocoa Tea – The Caribbean drink that’s neither hot chocolate nor teaAlso known as “chocolate tea”, cocoa tea is also the subject of a Bajan folk song and the name of a Jamaican reggae singer.
- Copyrighted works from 1923 enter the public domain todayThe likes of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton are open to public domain reinterpretation.
- The Best of Razz PrincePhoneShop is one of the best comedy series of the last 10 years. Characters like Razz Prince are the reason why.
- İşkembe Çorbası – A Turkish hangover cureWarning: İşkembe Çorbası is a hangover cure that contains tripe.
- Tumblr Thinks Everything Is PornYou might have heard Tumblr’s new algorithm is clamping down on explicit content.
- Marcus Daniel, the new EiC of Media DiversifiedThe non-profit media organisation welcomes a new era with their new editor.
- Go Dutch with tulip vodkaWine needn’t be the only alcoholic beverage to reference a “bouquet”. Grab a bottle of tulip vodka and find out more about it.
- The Most Evil Carnage Moments In Comic Book HistoryCletus Kasady aka Carnage is one of the most evil comic book characters of all time and here’s why.
- Oh Mindy: In defence of a Simpsons “Home Wrecker”One of my favourite Simpsons in-jokes is a bowling team called The Home Wreckers.
- The Time When Uncle Phil Brought Out “Lucille”We miss Uncle Phil and moments like these demonstrate why.
- An interview with Simon from Power In DiscussionWe interviewed Simon from Power In Discussion as part of Black History Month.
- An interview with Shanarà PhillipsShanarà Phillips is a black filmmaker, writer and editor from London.
- Jim Cummings tells stories behind 4 fan-favorite characters he’s voicedJim Cummings is one of the greatest voice actors of our times. Here he talks about four fan-favourites.
- Cook In The Breaking Bad RV with Aaron Paul and Bryan CranstonAfter watching this video, I felt compelled to share it not least because it’s hilarious.
- RIP Jean-Michel BasquiatYes, the anniversary of his death was yesterday but everyday should be a celebration of Jean-Michel Basquiat.
- My All-Time Favourite Chili Pepper Challenge by AyyOnlineWhenever people talk about chili peppers, there are two videos I think of. The first one is AyyOnline’s Chili Pepper Challenge.
- Remember when a bee sting turned Bear Grylls into Benedict Cumberbatch?A bee sting cheaper than plastic surgery but Bear Grylls probably wouldn’t recommend it.
- Homer’s BrainWho knew sticking a crayon up his nose could create such hilarious Homer moments? Homer’s brain is quite something.
- Pule cheese: the world’s most expensive cheese made from donkey milkIf I asked you to name the most expensive cheese and what animal it came from, I doubt you’d guess pule cheese and donkeys. But this rare Serbian export is the real deal.
- Hot meat cleaver seeking 10 lighters for fiery funHot stuff coming through.
- Peter Sellers and the complete guide to accents of the British IslesAccent-switching is a wondrous talent, for entertainment or as an element of code-switching. Peter Sellers was a skilled intellect.
- Standards Manual’s new book dedicated to late 90s Japanese emojisStandards Manual have published graphic manuals for Nasa and the New York City Transit Authority and now a new book will look at an integral part of modern Japanese culture.
- Gefilte fish!Who knew Jewish cuisine could be so hilarious?
- Steamed Hams but there’s a different animator every 13 seconds14/4/1996. The date we were blessed with Steamed Hams. This is what happened when different artists made their own unique versions of the classic meme.
- The wonderful art of UpendoUpendo Taylor is a Californian artist “who made New York his canvas”.
- Corey Johnson’s Top 5 SkateboardersIn a new series, we ask people of the internet for their top fives. We kickflip things off with Corey Johnson and his top five skateboarders.
- An empty water park In Dubai made a dope skate parkThree skateboarders got the chance to skate at Aquaventure Waterpark in Dubai during a maintenance day.
- One Chip Challenge (special guest star: the Carolina Reaper)Voice actor and cool dude SungWon Cho did the One Chip Challenge with his wife and you can guess how it went. Not well.
- Steamed Hams but it’s edited like Dragon Ball ZThe ever-creative Steamed Hams memes have now infiltrated Dragon Ball Z.
- Blue Crow Media Loves BrutalismIf you’re looking for a different kind of map for your journey, check out these architectural guides from Blue Crow Media.
- Airport Novella – A Comedic Book by Tom ComittaAirports are fascinating places.
- Steamed Hams but in the style of SeinfeldTwo of the biggest American shows of the 90s brought together by one meme: Steamed Hams.
- 18 Minutes of Batman Forever Mistakes on YouTubeSome Batman Forever clips crept into my YouTube recommendation feed today so I watched them.
- Picasso was a misogynistic douchebagUnpopular opinion: Picasso was overrated and a creep.
- 999: What’s Your Pizza Emergency?There’s nothing worse than ordering a pizza and not getting what you wanted.
- Journalist Charts Every Quantum Leap On A MapWhile we wait for that Quantum Leap movie Donald Bellisario is working on, we can now travel with actor Scott Bakula on a map. Sort of.
- Gabrielle Union eats hot wings, discusses Twitter fools & DMXThe only thing hotter than Gabrielle Union is a row of wings from Hot Ones. Here’s how she did.
- Black MinimalistsThe world of minimalism is literally whitewashed. These are the stories of black minimalists.
- The World’s Largest MondrianThe Hague is hosting the “world’s largest Mondrian painting” on the façade of its City Hall.
- What’s The “Jamaica Coalition”?Is Germany teaming up with Jamaica in the name of politics? Not quite. But the Jamaica coalition is important to the European nation.
- The classic one-liners of Mitch HedbergMitch Hedberg was a modern-day king of deadpan.
- Awesome Queer Halloween Parties in CastroThey know how to party for Halloween in San Francisco.
- Kintsugi: The Japanese Art of Repairing Pottery with GoldOne of my favourite forms of art, kintsugi is the idea that anything broken can be repaired with added beauty.
- The Philosophy of Cowboy BebopI’ll be honest with you – I’ve never seen Cowboy Bebop.
- Semiotics: myths, #BlackLivesMatter & #AllLivesMatterThere’s something to be said about the link between semiotics and activism. But what links Black Lives Matter with this branch of linguistics?
- Vulture’s Oral History of “Batman: The Animated Series”Here’s how Batman: The Animated Series was made, as told by the people behind it.
- A Quick Lesson in SemioticsA drop in the semiotics ocean but a great introduction to a phenomenal subject.
- Seitō – a 1911 Japanese magazine exclusively for womenAtlas Obscura has written a brilliant article about a Japanese women’s magazine called Seitō.
- Codex Seraphinianus is one weird-ass bookWith a name like Codex Seraphinianus, it’s no surprise it features peculiar drawings.
- The Photography of Sook MoonThe beauty of photography is its ability to capture so many words in a single flash of light and form. And Sook Moon nails it.
- Modern Art – It’s More Than Just White PaintingsWhite paintings are super popular. But why?
- Picturing Prince: An Intimate PortraitAn amazing photobook of Prince is out now.
- The Simpsons – The One At the Bottom (Remix)Hee-hoo!
- Jumanji Fan Steven Richter Builds Replica From ScratchComplete with magnets. Well played, Mr Richter.
- The Star Wars Glass Stormtrooper DecanterDrink in style with this awesome Star Wars Glass Stormtrooper Decanter.
- Postwar modernist Gunnar Birkerts dies at 92Gunnar Birkerts was one of many European modernists with an eye for details and the God who lived in them.
- Pussy and Her Language – A Pamphlet For CatsA book about cats and how they talk. What’s not to like?
- Who Old Are YouFind out who achieved their greatest feats at your age with “Who Old Are You”.
- The Best of Bad Acting with Tommy Wiseau“The Best of Bad Acting” stars Tommy Wiseau, as well as scenes from some random ninja movies, Troll 2, Birdemic and Tough Guys Don’t Dance.
- Interview: CoolFilmArtWe interviewed Robyn, one of the curators behind CoolFilmArt.
- Hibaq Osman – The Heart Is A Smashed BulbHibaq Osman releases a bittersweet anthology you must read.
- 10 Classic German Expressionist FilmsGerman expressionist films helped shaped cinema during the Modernist period.
- 13 year old boy meets Bart Simpson IRLImagine meeting the voice of Bart Simpson… but not knowing who it was.
- The History of Japan By Bill WurtzBill managed to condense the history of Japan into 9 minutes which is some achievement.
- The Eccentric Life Of Ed WoodSo bad he was worse, Ed Wood is a bigger figure dead than he was alive.
- Anish Kapoor banned from colour-changing paintWhy is this still going on?
- A Brilliant Banana Bread Bottom CheesecakeIf you love banana bread and cheesecake, you’re in luck.
- Brutal bookendsDesigned by Klemens Schillinger, these bookends come as part of his Tabletop Landmarks design set.
- Emotional Simpsons Scenes“Do it for her.”
- When Joanne the Scammer Visited BritainBritain is in the throes of turmoil so what better way to cheer the country up than an appearance from Joanne the Scammer.
- The UN want to combat cultural appropriation. But is that enough?“Cultural appropriation” makes people of colour indignant towards the oppressors and the oppressors indignant towards the accusers.
- Possibly The First Ever Cat Video From 1894?Cats videos aren’t a modern creation, like this one from the 1894 shows.
- 2 polyglots have an awesome chat in 21 languagesPolyglots are amazing but have you ever seen two speak to each other in 21 languages?
- Trump Has Always Been Trash, But Here’s A Pizza-Related Example From 1995Fuck 45 for everything, including the way he eats pizza.
- Brief Excerpts From James Baldwin’s 1,884-Page FBI FileJames Baldwin, one of the 20th century’s greatest public figures, had an FBI file.
- 40,000 Movie Posters Under The Sea with PosteritatiPosteritati is home to over 40,000 movie posters from decades of cinema.
- FilmGrab: an archive of movie stills and potential memesWe can all appreciate cinematography when we watching a beautiful shot film but capturing the stills adds permanency to its allure.
- The Cultural Legacy of the Russian Revolution (BBC Audio Doc)And not a Russian backwards R in sight.
- Mies van der Rohe’s Barcelona Pavilion (Documentary)The Barcelona Pavilion is one of the greatest and most famous pieces of modernist architecture.
- The Minimalists + the art of letting goThe Minimalists did a TED Talk last year about letting go.
- Proper Magazine is a proper magazineLet me preface this article with one statement: print media is not dead.
- will.i.am Can See the FutureI can’t stop watching this video of will.i.am behaving like a futuristic sage.
- The National Film Archive of Japan uploads 60 animated films from 1917–1941The idea of Japanese animated films from the modernist era will blow the minds of anyone with an interest in… anything!
- The Hateful Eight’s Homage To The ThingTarantino loves a good homage.
- The Atlantic Remember Black Postmodern Artist Barkley L. HendricksPostmodernist reflection often undermines black culture.
- A Gold ExperienceAn entire article about gold things. Midas would be green with envy.
- Get Out: Black Solidarity and Knowing the CodeMark Mukasa takes a look at the intriguing way language is used in Get Out…
- New York’s Met Museum Publish Over 375,000 Images For Free UseThe New York Met Museum digitised their collection under the Creative Commons Zero (CC0) licence.
- The Addams Family Promo That Became Michael Jackson’s Ghosts“Michael Jackson’s Ghosts” is a short film starring the King of Pop made in 1996 but did you know it started life as a shorter film back in 1993?
- The Wonderful Art of Jonny WanJonny Wan is a UK-based graphic artist “with a fascination for all things ancient and Art Deco.”
- Happy 30th, Barcelona PavilionWhen the Barcelona Pavilion was designed in 1929 for the Barcelona International Exhibition, it wasn’t built to last.
- Nottingham Contemporary: A ReviewNottingham Contemporary is an international art centre. Opened in 2009, it holds a strong local purpose. This is my review.
- 8 Games I’d Love To See On The Nintendo SwitchThe Nintendo Switch is set for release next year. Here are 8 games I’d love to see join it on the shelves.
- Bored Of Crossword Puzzles? Try Nonograms.My mother once got a free subscription to The Times newspaper for 6 months.
- Internet Archaeology: a gallery of early internet imagesDig a little deeper to find some of the internet’s earliest images via Internet Archaeology.
- Vox analysed the impressive economics of Homer SimpsonWith over 100 jobs, Homer has spread his labour over the last four decades.
- JetSetRadio.LiveAshton James Brown explores a fan-made JSR online playlist/station called JetSetRadio.Live.
- Sucklord, The NYC Artist Who Makes Bootleg Action FiguresAll hail Sucklord – the champion of bootleg toys in his kingdom of NYC.
- AntennaPod – A Podcast Manager For AndroidPodcasting is a curious digital art form that has changed the way audio (and sometimes visual) media is broadcasted.
- Observe The Rugged Side Of The Internet With “Brutalist Websites”A good looking website can take you places. But some designers have opted for a more brutal approach.
- X-Men Fan Creates Web Show Based On The 90s Animated SeriesJoel Furtado, a Canadian animator and X-Men fan will be giving his fellow “X-Fans” a shot of nostalgic joy with an 18-episode web series based on the 90s animated series.
- The Machete Order – An Alternative Way To Star WarsYou thought Star Wars was only meant to be watched from I to VI (before the VII, VIII and IX come out) didn’t you?
- PokéDad: A Webcomic About A Dad’s Journey Through The Pokémon WorldImagine your father going on a Pokémon journey. PokéDad makes that a reality.
- The Original Ghost BustersWe all remember the classic 1984 film Ghostbusters, along with the sequel and animated series. But before all that, there was a TV series bearing the same name but no relation.
- Pop Culture Soaps by Yvonne KaiNow you can wash your legs in the shower in style with these awesome pop culture soap bars.
- The Rights To “Do The Bartman” Sold For $38,500An unnamed party bought the rights to The Simpsons’ song “Do The Bartman” for $38,500 in an auction this week.
- A Spotify playlist of songs about tennisTracklist Tennis – Needle And A Knife Sky Sailing – Tennis Elbow De La Soul’s Plug 1 & Plug 2 present First Serve – Tennis Jim Noir – Ping Pong Time Tennis Pixel Perfect – Tennis Court Telemachus – Tennis Season Binge – “Grand Slam Man (Roger Federer)” Indian Wells – Wimbledon 1980 Florent Campana …
- Everything Wrong With Batman & Robin In 17 MinutesGeorge Clooney’s only outing as the caped crusader was a Bat-flop. But there was plenty more wrong with Batman & Robin.
- Mangle – The Random LiveJournal Image GeneratorMangle has created a random picture generator showing Russian culture in its rawest form using images from LiveJournal.
- Play 3 Video Games Featured On The SimpsonsNow you’re playing with Max Power!
- 17 Proverbs and Phrases from Jamaican CultureJamaican people have a way with words and I looked at 17 of the best sayings from the Caribbean island.
- The Ad Hominem Fallacy FallacyPeople love to argue on the internet and especially love a game of oneupmanship.
- Man submits 52,438-word dissertation without punctuation & passesIf you’ve written an academic essay, you’ll know how hard it is to keep to a word count, let alone checking your spelling and grammar.
- The Super Realistic Art of Charles BierkCharles Bierk is a photorealist currently living in Toronto.
- Jonpaul Douglass – Pizza In The WildYou’d be hard pressed to find someone who hates pizza (don’t bother looking, it’s not worth the potential pain if you find them).
- Superheroes In Native American Culture Explored By Exhibit At Arizona MuseumThe Heard Museum in Arizona held an exhibit looking at superheroes in Native American culture.
- Madison Moore Gives Lectures on “How to be Beyoncé”I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen the phrase “I wish I was Beyoncé” on Twitter or thereabouts.
- A Cheatsheet of Typographic Characters and How To Use ThemCheck out this helpful guide to a plethora of typographic symbols, from ampersands to pilcrows, courtesy of Typewolf.
- A Thesis Discussing Hip Hop, Skate Culture & Web Culture In Tyler The Creator’s MusicAs someone who wrote a thesis for my music technology degree, I’m a sucker for music academic papers.
- It’s Not Hip To Be Square: What Is A Hipster Really?You know the drill. White men with beards, slicked hair, lumberjack shirts and a penchant for obscurity are hipsters.