Skip to main content

Culture

The entertainment and cultural moments that define our society.

Trump impressions are mostly bad. The Apprentice pulls it off.
CultureMember Exclusive

In the new movie, Sebastian Stan’s Trump is built of grievance and gilding.

By Constance Grady
Trump impressions are mostly bad. The Apprentice pulls it off.
CultureMember Exclusive

In the new movie, Sebastian Stan’s Trump is built of grievance and gilding.

By Constance Grady
For some evacuation defiers, Hurricane Milton is a social media goldmineFor some evacuation defiers, Hurricane Milton is a social media goldmine
Culture

They didn’t listen to Hurricane Milton evacuation orders. Then they posted through it.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Creativity as a spiritual practiceCreativity as a spiritual practice
Audio
The Gray Area

Laraaji — ambient musician and onetime actor and comic — on laughter, surrender, and transcending the thinking mind.

By Sean Illing
So, what was the point of John Mulaney’s live Netflix talk show?So, what was the point of John Mulaney’s live Netflix talk show?
Culture

Everybody’s in LA’s week-long stint is over. It still might point toward the streamer’s future — and the comedian’s.

By Aja Romano

The latest in Culture

Are humans the only ones that can be creative?Are humans the only ones that can be creative?
Audio
The Gray Area

Essayist and author Meghan O’Gieblyn on the meaning of art in the age of artificial intelligence.

By Sean Illing
“1 woke teen vs. 20 Trump supporters”: The new age of viral political videos“1 woke teen vs. 20 Trump supporters”: The new age of viral political videos
Culture

Viral debate videos have become inescapable online.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The resurgence of the r-wordThe resurgence of the r-word
CultureMember Exclusive

Disability advocates spent a decade campaigning against the slur. Now it’s coming back.

By Constance Grady
The one horrifying story from the new Menendez brothers doc that explains their whole caseThe one horrifying story from the new Menendez brothers doc that explains their whole case
CultureMember Exclusive

The Menendez murders seemed inexplicable. They’re not anymore.

By Aja Romano
Let’s get divorced
Relationships

An exploration of divorce and its impact on our culture.

By Vox Staff
Am I less likely to get a divorce than my parents?Am I less likely to get a divorce than my parents?
Explain It to Me

Millennials are less likely to get divorced than their parents. Why?

By Jonquilyn Hill
How “Divorce him!” became the internet’s de facto relationship advice
The Highlight

Most men are walking red flags, according to TikTok.

By Rebecca Jennings
What if we celebrated divorces more like weddings?
The Highlight

Divorced people deserve gifts and parties too.

By Whizy Kim
Why do divorced guys dress like that? 
The Highlight

The aggressively, brutally companionless divorced guy aesthetic.

By Alex Abad-Santos
The real reason cheese is yellowThe real reason cheese is yellow
Play
Video

Cheese is yellow, milk is white. What’s going on here?

By Edward Vega
Why absolutely everyone is obsessed with Moo DengWhy absolutely everyone is obsessed with Moo Deng
Science

(And wait until you hear about Pesto the penguin.)

By Li Zhou
The Rings of Power and the trouble with orc babiesThe Rings of Power and the trouble with orc babies
Culture

Tolkien himself couldn’t figure out the morality of orcs. Amazon’s Lord of the Rings prequel is trying anyway.

By Caitlin PenzeyMoog
Wait, why is Dr Pepper so popular now?Wait, why is Dr Pepper so popular now?
MoneyMember Exclusive

How the proudly weird beverage became the second-most popular soda in America.

By Whizy Kim
Ta-Nehisi Coates’s troubled American conscienceTa-Nehisi Coates’s troubled American conscience
CultureMember Exclusive

The acclaimed writer takes on another intractable problem.

By Constance Grady
The miserable, utterly charmless razzle-dazzle of Joker: Folie à Deux The miserable, utterly charmless razzle-dazzle of Joker: Folie à Deux 
CultureMember Exclusive

What if you made a musical version of My Cousin Vinny, but it was awful?

By Alex Abad-Santos
Saturday Night Live’s nostalgia is ruining the jokeSaturday Night Live’s nostalgia is ruining the joke
CultureMember Exclusive

Prepare for a 50th anniversary season full of self-mythologizing.

By Rebecca Jennings
Love Is Blind: DC sadly doesn’t feel like DC Love Is Blind: DC sadly doesn’t feel like DC 
Culture

The Netflix reality dating show’s latest season is light on Hill staffers and politics, but thankfully heavy on dating monsters.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Megalopolis is an incoherent mess. Maybe you should see it anyway.Megalopolis is an incoherent mess. Maybe you should see it anyway.
CultureMember Exclusive

Francis Ford Coppola’s CGI ball of optimism, explained as best we can.

By Aja Romano
7 questions — and zero conspiracy theories — about the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs7 questions — and zero conspiracy theories — about the allegations against Sean “Diddy” Combs
Culture

Everything we know about the growing case against the music mogul.

By Lavanya Ramanathan and Anna North
Ask A Book Critic: I want a murder mystery that happens somewhere pretty
The HighlightMember Exclusive

Plus short stories to dip into when life gets busy, and small-town longings.

By Constance Grady
The egregious missteps of Ryan Murphy’s new Menendez brothers dramaThe egregious missteps of Ryan Murphy’s new Menendez brothers drama
CultureMember Exclusive

Monsters could have been a nuanced look at abuse. Instead, it’s sleazy tabloid drama.

By Aja Romano
The NFL’s head trauma problem isn’t going awayThe NFL’s head trauma problem isn’t going away
Sports

Concussions — and Brett Favre’s Parkinson’s diagnosis — are putting a spotlight on head trauma.

By Li Zhou
How bad is inflammation really?How bad is inflammation really?
Even Better

Doctors explain how to tell the truth from social media BS.

By Keren Landman, MD
MTV’s nostalgia problem, explained by The Challenge MTV’s nostalgia problem, explained by The Challenge 
Culture

The network has lost its way. So has its biggest franchise.

By Kyndall Cunningham
The yellow school bus is in troubleThe yellow school bus is in trouble
LifeMember Exclusive

The disappearance of bus service is hurting kids around the country.

By Anna North
The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is really about coworkers who hate each otherThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is really about coworkers who hate each other
CultureMember Exclusive

Why is Utah the epicenter of reality TV?

By Alex Abad-Santos and Rebecca Jennings
The biggest joke in Ellen DeGeneres’s new Netflix special The biggest joke in Ellen DeGeneres’s new Netflix special 
Culture

The comedian and former talk show host wants to girlboss her way to sympathy.

By Alex Abad-Santos
The cultural power of the anti-woke tech broThe cultural power of the anti-woke tech bro
The present — and future — of the American right

The aesthetic of Cybertrucks, energy drinks, and MMA, explained.

By Rebecca Jennings
Why do we say “like,” like, all the time? Why do we say “like,” like, all the time? 
Explain It to Me

In defense of the supremely useful and unfairly maligned word.

By Jonquilyn Hill
Chappell Roan and the problem with fandomChappell Roan and the problem with fandom
CultureMember Exclusive

The toxic stans aren’t the problem, it’s fan culture itself.

By Aja Romano
Why America hates to love chicken nuggets
FoodMember Exclusive

Kids love to eat them. Parents love to fight about them.

By Anna North
Sally Rooney’s new book is an exquisite return to formSally Rooney’s new book is an exquisite return to form
Culture

In the deeply-felt Intermezzo, the celebrity novelist plays chess with God.

By Constance Grady
Agatha All Along is a Marvel show you don’t have to do homework for Agatha All Along is a Marvel show you don’t have to do homework for 
Culture

There’s enough fun in the WandaVision spinoff to make you forget about the MCU.

By Alex Abad-Santos
Shohei Ohtani just did something no pro baseball player has ever doneShohei Ohtani just did something no pro baseball player has ever done
Sports

His staggering new record cements his dominance in the sport.

By Li Zhou
How Kodak invented the “snapshot”How Kodak invented the “snapshot”
Play
Culture

The original Kodak camera changed photography forever.

By Coleman Lowndes
How Minion Jesus died — and then rose — on TikTokHow Minion Jesus died — and then rose — on TikTok
Internet Culture

The winding, weird story that even involves, yes, the battle for the White House.

By Laura Bullard
Diddy’s arrest — and the allegations against him — explainedDiddy’s arrest — and the allegations against him — explained
Culture

The rapper’s indictment on sex trafficking and other charges is the latest in a months-long saga of sexual assault and violence allegations.

By Anna North
Linkin Park is back. Its new frontwoman has ties to Scientology.Linkin Park is back. Its new frontwoman has ties to Scientology.
Culture

Linkin Park fans welcomed new vocalist Emily Armstrong. Then the Scientology allegations surfaced.

By Aja Romano
Is this year’s snoozy Emmys the future of TV?Is this year’s snoozy Emmys the future of TV?
Culture

A minor upset for Best Comedy Series couldn’t keep the rest of the night from feeling predictable.

By Constance Grady
Nicole Kidman’s exquisitely fun and silly murder mystery era is upon usNicole Kidman’s exquisitely fun and silly murder mystery era is upon us
Culture

Please pay your respects to the new queen of TV killer thrillers.

By Alex Abad-Santos