All articles tagged with #culture
Tim Curry, famed for Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show, has died at 80 in Los Angeles. Tributes from Susan Sarandon and fellow stars praised his heart, generosity, and fearless artistry, noting he had used a wheelchair since a 2012 stroke. Curry’s six-decade career spanned theatre and film—from Home Alone 2 and It to Clue and Spamalot—leaving a lasting cult legacy.
Yayoi Kusama, the Japanese outsider artist whose infinity-net polka dots and immersive mirrored rooms made her a global art icon, has died in Tokyo at age 97. In a statement on her website, her studio said she spent decades in a psychiatric hospital but continued to create—across painting, sculpture, performance and writing—until her final days, leaving a lasting legacy that reshaped contemporary art and captivated audiences worldwide.
Dolly Parton has died at 80 after a brief cancer battle, and Buckingham Palace marked the occasion with a military band performance of her hit “9 to 5” outside the palace gates. The Royal Family shared a tribute on social media celebrating her legacy and her Imagination Library charity that has provided books to millions of children.
The article traces how right-wing commentators and social media figures push baseless claims that transgender women already play in the WNBA, even though there are no transgender players and the league has no eligible-matter issues. Pundits like Sydney Watson and players such as Sophie Cunningham amplify anti-trans narratives, with some even proposing extreme measures like cheek-swab tests. The piece argues this misinformation weaponizes sports culture, harming both cisgender women and transgender athletes, and highlights how online discourse can fuel harassment and distort policy debates.
Texas drag performer Brigitte Bandit, who testified at the Texas Capitol against anti-drag bills, received a guitar signed by Dolly Parton—a rhinestone-covered instrument reportedly gifted after Parton’s connection with Bandit and a public display of support; the article notes Parton died on Tuesday. Bandit plans to bring the guitar to a Drag Hoedown and says Parton’s example inspires her advocacy and artistry.
A Indian jeweller, Giva, withdrew its Rakhi-themed ad featuring Bollywood star Kriti Sanon after social media backlash over her cropped-top outfit for the festival and discussions about whether dress choices are appropriate for tradition. Kriti Sanon defended herself, while critics including Kangana Ranaut called the ad “creepy”; supporters argued fashion should not police culture. Giva said the ad was withdrawn out of respect for culture, noting the decision extended to its pets in the campaign and drawing parallels to past controversies like Tanishq’s 2020 ad.
BBC Culture highlights nine September TV premieres across Netflix, Apple TV+, BritBox and more—ranging from crime dramas (The Gentlemen; Monster: The Lizzie Borden Story) and thrillers (Last Seen; Slow Horses) to comedies (Colin From Accounts; Brothers) and horror (American Horror Story), plus Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence and A Different World, with dates in mid to late September.
A retrospective showing how Dolly Parton turned country clichés inside out—combining a savvy, self-aware image with feminist-tinged songwriting and bold pop crossovers—producing enduring hits like Jolene and 9 to 5, influencing a new generation and proving the joke was on the public in the Barbara Walters interview.
Seventeen fragments of medieval manuscripts found in Guernsey were repurposed as notebook covers, preserving pieces of literature and documents that reveal late medieval island readers preferred French texts (and Latin ones) over English. Discovered in the Island Archives and strongroom, the fragments include works such as the rare French Griselda tale and a poem from L'Estoire de Griseldis, showing that libraries and literary culture existed on Guernsey and illustrating recycled parchment practices long before modern times. The find came via archival work by Callum Tostevin-Hall with scholars Tamara Atkin and David Rundle, transforming our understanding of Guernsey's medieval manuscript culture.
Simon & Schuster UK will publish Jason Arday’s memoir, Great and Unfortunate Things, on Aug 27 as his family requested, despite his death amid plagiarism allegations; the family asks for privacy and says the book should speak for itself.
Around 1,800 volunteers in Aomori, Japan, used ropes and rollers to drag a 360-tonne Hirosaki Castle keep about 2 meters toward its original base as part of ongoing preservation. The move, using the hikiya technique on rails, followed a wall restoration completed in 2024; the effort drew thousands of applicants from across Japan and overseas. The relocation will continue through August (about 4,100 people expected to move the total 5 meters), with machinery handling the remaining 73 meters by year-end, after which the keep is slated to reopen to visitors in 2033.
Since moving to California, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pursued a string of American ventures—Oprah’s interview became a global cultural moment; Netflix docuseries drew millions of households; Spare set a record as the fastest-selling nonfiction book—yet many projects underperformed (Me You Can’t See, The Bench, Heart of Invictus, Archetypes) and Meghan’s lifestyle brand faced a branding reshuffle (American Riviera Orchard was renamed As Ever). With a surprising move back to the U.K. for an extended period, the piece argues their American Dreams were mixed at best, yielding some high-profile wins but uneven success overall.
A retrospective on Meg White’s influential, understated drumming with the White Stripes, the sexism she faced, her retreat from public life, and her eventual recognition in the Rock Hall, underscoring that she defined the duo on her own terms.
The 11th‑century Bayeux Tapestry, soon to be shown at the British Museum, treats virility as power through male‑centered battle scenes and even genital motifs; scholars say women largely serve as emotional punctuation and the borders carry subtext about power relations. Likely commissioned by Bishop Odo, the work’s discussion is broadened by the 1885 Reading Museum replica—stitched by women—highlighting female creators and inviting renewed debates about gender, artistry, and how history is told.
Erling Haaland debuted a dramatically shorter haircut ahead of the new Premier League season, triggering a viral frenzy among fans and celebrities. Reactions ranged from Zlatan Ibrahimović’s joking digs to Pep Guardiola’s light praise, while Haaland’s look coincided with Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Bournemouth in their opener, despite him missing several chances.