Culture
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Law school adds chitchat to the curriculum
Do we need lessons in small talk? Worried that its students are losing the art of conversation, a British university has announced a new module to help them learn to break the ice.
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Photo and Oprah date clash with privacy aims
Can celebrities have both publicity and privacy? Harry and Meghan release an intimate portrait and agree to an interview with Oprah Winfrey but demand that the press leave them alone.
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#FreeBritney: new spotlight on troubled star
Are we all partly to blame for her troubles? Britney Spears skyrocketed to fame in the 1990s. Now, a new documentary asks whether her legions of fans are responsible for her downfall too.
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Help dispel the gloom – join the poetry boom!
If everyone read a poem a day, would there be no more wars? Amanda Gorman’s performances have brought millions of people together and provided inspiration in a time of global crisis.
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‘China locked us up like animals…’
Is China guilty of genocide? Despite growing calls for it to be held accountable for seeking to eradicate Uighur Muslims, some countries are unwilling to accuse the nation outright.
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Snubs, rancour and a triumph for three women
Do Hollywood award ceremonies really matter? The Golden Globes have been criticised for some controversial snubs. But its defenders say the headlines miss the event’s true purpose.
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Comic Relief thumbs its nose at the virus
Do the best jokes come from the hardest times? Some people question the idea of holding Red Nose Day during the pandemic, but the comedians launching it insist it is just what we need.
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From fictional French conman to surprise hero
Should we be so fascinated by brilliant criminals? A new French drama about a cunning conman has become a massive Netflix hit. But some say Lupin sends entirely the wrong message.
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The man who had to teach himself to lie
Is honesty overrated? In a new magazine article, a writer tells of growing up in a family where nobody told a lie – and the difficulties it caused him in dealing with the rest of the world.
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How a room of your own can really shape you
Does your room help form your character? Joe Biden removed a bust of Winston Churchill from his office yesterday and replaced it with Rosa Parks, Cesar Chavez and Martin Luther King.
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Savage mountain finally beaten by teamwork
Is it madness? A team of Nepali climbers has risen to the ultimate mountaineering challenge, becoming the first to conquer K2 in the depths of winter. But some wonder what the point was.
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The musical performed 60 seconds at a time
Can a TikTok video be high art? A new musical produced entirely on TikTok has some wondering if the platform could revolutionise our culture – but others think it is just a passing craze.
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The raven and the tower: an omen returns
Are omens useful? As the queen of the ravens vanishes, a prophecy foretells the end of the United Kingdom. Some call this fantasy, but others say there is wisdom in listening to the birds.
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‘This is pre-fascism’ says top US professor
Is it local news that can save democracy? It might sound far-fetched. But respected academic Timothy Snyder is devastating in his diagnosis of America’s ills – and lucid in his prescription.
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The Vogue cover image dividing America
Should we portray politicians with more respect? The cover of American Vogue has been attacked for its portrayal of the US vice-president elect, raising tensions over race and gender.