In Japanese society, prostitution is often framed as a necessary evil – a way to maintain social harmony by providing men with an outlet for their pent-up sexual desires. While there are a number of issues with this view – such as the implication that men are inherently unable to control their sexual impulses –...
Culture
Can Family Members Talk Politics During the Holidays?
Home for the holidays? Cal State Fullerton educator William Toledo, who prepares future teachers to guide possibly controversial conversations about politics in middle and high school classrooms, says the same tools used in classrooms can apply to holiday gatherings. The process of listening to a person and trying to understand their way of thinking is still...
Caste Differentiation in Ants
Superorganismal social insects Scientists from the University of Copenhagen have revealed how a specific hormone regulates ant caste differentiation by phenotypic measurements of organ-level developmental changes and matching transcriptome analyses. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS) on November 4th, 2024, the study entitled “Juvenile hormone as...
The Opera and The Magic Flute
The Florida Grand Opera’s staging of The Magic Flute is a truly astonishing update on the classic Mozart opera. The FGO and director Jeffery Marc Buchman have gone beyond the usual expectations for this lavish fantasy of an opera, and have rooted it in reality by framing with dream sequences of an actual, contemporary child....
‘Yellowstone’ Highlights Montana’s Long-Forgotten Connection to the Confederacy
The popular “Yellowstone” TV series, set and filmed in Montana, taps into a lesser-known chapter of the state’s history: its settlement by Confederates and ex-Confederates during and after the Civil War. I come to this story with a unique perspective. I’m a fourth-generation Montanan. I’m also a scholar of U.S. Western literary and cultural studies...
Quincy Jones Mastered the Art of Arrangement, Transforming Simple Tunes into Epic Soundscapes
On the sleeve notes of some of the most memorable and best-selling albums of all time, you’ll find the words “Produced and arranged by Quincy Jones.” It was a hallmark of quality. Jones, who died on Nov. 3, 2024, at the age of 91, transformed our understanding of musical arrangement. His work spanned decades and...
ARTE EN RETROSPECTIVA- Miami Art Week 2024
Take Celebrations to New Heights with Cristalino Tequila
Break out your best glassware and take your celebration to the next level with a trending tequila style that’s sure to wow guests with its bright, smooth and elevated expressions. Whether you’re honoring a special occasion, celebrating a holiday or simply looking to entertain, Cristalino, Mexico’s No. 1 style of tequila, can elevate all of your...
How Beef Became a Marker of American Identity
Beef is one of America’s most beloved foods. In fact, today’s average American eats three hamburgers per week. American diets have long revolved around beef. On an 1861 trip to the United States, the English novelist Anthony Trollope marveled that Americans consumed twice as much beef as Englishmen. Through war, industry, development and settlement, America’s...
As More Americans Go ‘No Contact’ with Their Parents, They Live Out a Dilemma at the Heart of Shakespeare’s ‘King Lear’
Is blood thicker than water? Should family always come first? These clichés about the importance of family abound, despite the recognition that familial relations are oftentimes hard, if not downright dysfunctional. But over the past few years, a discussion has emerged about a somewhat taboo move: cutting ties altogether with family members deemed “toxic.” Called...