Culture
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Superhero mania as Avengers: Endgame released
After 11 years and 22 films in the Marvel universe, Avengers: Endgame is finally here. It could be one of the most successful films ever. Why do we love superhero movies so much?
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Human conversation is dying, research shows
It’s not just that we spend more time on FaceTime, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Skype. Evidence suggests that many of us choose digital communication over face-to-face. Is this a tipping point?
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Hope rises from the ashes of Notre Dame
The extraordinary global reaction to the huge fire in one of the world’s greatest cathedrals has prompted a profound debate about civilisation, spirituality and the failings of modernity.
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Death of minimalism as home design runs wild and free
For decades, fashionable homes have been styled in muted colours and minimal design. But is our anxiety about the modern world spilling over into bold, disordered self-expression in our homes?
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Record 541 new skyscrapers planned for London
Britain’s newest high-rise gets approval, sparking a war of words. Some think these superstructures are an abomination. Others find them breathtaking: “the point where art and the city meet”.
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The misunderstood genius of Vincent van Gogh
Does genius go hand-in-hand with “some touch of madness”? Aristotle thought so. No one exemplifies the idea more than Van Gogh, who has a new exhibition in London. But is it really true?
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Apple takes on Amazon Prime and Netflix
Last night, Apple announced that it will create original shows and films for its hotly-anticipated streaming platform, Apple TV+. Should traditional TV still have a place?
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Google Stadia heralds gaming revolution
Netflix has transformed TV and film. Spotify has revolutionised music. Now Google aims to do the same for gaming with a new streaming service, Stadia. But too much choice is stressing us out.
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Queer Eye takes on the world’s ‘miserable men’
Can five gay men save masculinity? The third season of Netflix’s Queer Eye is released today. Its mission: to help struggling men who “can’t articulate what they’re truly feeling.”
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Female superhero accused of sexism and racism
After making 20 superhero movies in the past decade, today Marvel releases its 21st — and the first with a female lead. Some fans are accusing Captain Marvel’s star of sexism and racism. Why?
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World Book Day celebrates pure joy of reading
To quote Jane Austen, “there is no enjoyment like reading!” It is one of life’s purest delights, and it comes with health benefits too. But should you read for pleasure or self-improvement?
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The world’s youngest self-made billionaire
Is she a role model? Aged 10, Kylie Jenner was a reality TV star, standing in the shadow of her sisters. Aged 21, she is one of the world’s most successful businesswomen with an Instagram...
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‘Time to stop listening to Michael Jackson’
In a new documentary, two men allege that they were abused as children by Michael Jackson. They are not the first to speak out against the star. Should we stop listening to his music?
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Oscar winner Green Book accused of ‘whitewash’
Is this year’s Best Picture a masterpiece — or a whitewash of history? Green Book tells the story of a “true friendship” between a black concert pianist and his white chauffeur in 1962.
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The real story of Britain’s forgotten Queen
Olivia Colman has won a BAFTA for her portrayal of Queen Anne, an overlooked monarch who was often dismissed as fat, ugly and dull. Has history been unfair to Anne?