I'm working on a video project about the backlash to Obama mentioning the price of arugula at Whole Foods. Can you think of any other examples, real of fictional, of food being framed as elitist or snobby? [more inside]
posted by loping on Nov 8, 2009 - 35 answers

Where is the most bountiful font of 'hipster cribs' stories? [more inside]
posted by mattholomew on Nov 4, 2009 - 22 answers

If I'm sitting on the terraformed surface of a Culture orbital, what does the horizon look like? [more inside]
posted by reverend cuttle on Oct 26, 2009 - 12 answers

Americans: if you had to represent the USA with only three things, what would they be? [more inside]
posted by lapsangsouchong on Oct 22, 2009 - 95 answers

I used to enjoy a podcast titled "Josh in Japan" produced by an ordinary guy living in Japan who talked about his daily experiences adjusting to Japanese culture. I am looking for other podcasts in this vein. [more inside]
posted by Piscean on Oct 15, 2009 - 3 answers

What are different cultures' versions of comfort foods that are prepared for people who are sick and feeling under the weather? [more inside]
posted by illenion on Oct 15, 2009 - 67 answers

Help me spend 5 non-traditional days in Egypt! [more inside]
posted by hasna on Oct 14, 2009 - 10 answers

Are there any cultures in which a smile is not an expression of happiness? [more inside]
posted by kmtiszen on Oct 14, 2009 - 17 answers

What are some sociology phd programs where I would be supported in (where research is already being done) studying the interaction between social-psycology (micro-interaction) and culture. [more inside]
posted by elationfoundation on Oct 8, 2009 - 2 answers

I'm half Dutch, but I've never been to The Netherlands. On my first trip there, where should I go, and what should I do, to get a better understanding of contemporary Dutch culture and language? [more inside]
posted by embrangled on Oct 8, 2009 - 11 answers

Dating Across a Language Barrier: Can you share success stories and advice about relationships where you and your partner primarily spoke different languages? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Oct 7, 2009 - 13 answers

London in the early 1990s. (Or, Britain in general). How did it differ from the present day? What were the little, day-to-day differences, the minutiae that was of its time? Any books or resources recommended? [more inside]
posted by mippy on Sep 25, 2009 - 21 answers

Can anyone recommend some good ESL/EFL curriculum materials, both for the child and adult level? Bonus points if they are not so western-centric. [more inside]
posted by wander on Sep 19, 2009 - 2 answers

There are gay icons and lesbian icons - are there people who are bisexual/pansexual icons? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Sep 15, 2009 - 47 answers

What are the five metrics you would use to measure the health* of an online community? [more inside]
posted by A Terrible Llama on Sep 12, 2009 - 10 answers

What are your secrets to maintaining sanity in this increasingly connected and busy world? [more inside]
posted by sciencemandan on Sep 8, 2009 - 43 answers

Can anyone with good academic-library-fu point me toward an article that argues for cultural differences between how certain keys or chords are interpreted affectively? Specifically, I'm looking for a source for the claim that perceiving minor chords as sad is specifically a Western thing, and that non-Westerners don't perceive minor chords as sad and/or they perceive other types of chords as sad (or whatever). [more inside]
posted by Dr. Send on Sep 6, 2009 - 14 answers

FootballFilter: This is a question of loyalty and etiquette and is aimed to all football (soccer) fans. [more inside]
posted by jadepearl on Sep 2, 2009 - 29 answers

A few months ago I read about French-Canadian immigration into the U.S. from the 1840s to 1930s. Evidently, some of these immigrants established "Little Canadas." I'd like to learn more about them. [more inside]
posted by Korou on Aug 31, 2009 - 17 answers

Suggestions for books on Maine history and culture, non fiction preferred but not a necessity. This would be for a person traveling to Maine in the near future, will be spending time on the coast and in the great north woods.
posted by flummox on Aug 31, 2009 - 15 answers

Let's say I'm a Russian student in my mid-twenties. [more inside]
posted by klue on Aug 28, 2009 - 14 answers

I'm looking for books about Italy, specifically Rome and Venice, and also books set in Rome and/or Venice. What would you recommend? [more inside]
posted by garlic on Aug 24, 2009 - 19 answers

How have issues of cultural appropriation, stereotypes, and diversity been tackled in art and popular culture? [more inside]
posted by divabat on Aug 17, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the real reason for [X]? [more inside]
posted by lunchbox on Jul 25, 2009 - 42 answers

I am curious about different varieties of hip-hop style (basically, the kinds of things I see cool [mostly] black teenagers and young adults wearing). I'm interested in looking at pictures of it (are there street fashion blogs for this kind of thing?) and also in finding out more about the history, origins, and cultural associations of this kind of dress (anything from academic articles to fashion magazines). [more inside]
posted by bubukaba on Jul 24, 2009 - 13 answers

Cheap holiday for a few brits in their mid-20s? Looking for destination suggestions: somewhere cheap to get to and a little off the beaten track for three lads in September... [more inside]
posted by Cantdosleepy on Jul 22, 2009 - 10 answers

I want more podcasts/vidcasts like Ill Doctrine. [more inside]
posted by callmejay on Jul 20, 2009 - 2 answers

I'm trying to track down a book which was written in the last 25 years (or so) about an American couple who inherited a house in the west of Ireland. The culture shock and concomitant problems involved with relocation, the house, the weather the people, etc. almost brings them to the point of divorce with each blaming the other for the decision to move. I've searched high and low but could only come up with a similar tome about an Australian couple. Thanks very much for any help.
posted by Tullyogallaghan on Jul 9, 2009 - 7 answers

How accurate are the media portrayals of young people engaging in risky sexual behaviors? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Jul 8, 2009 - 54 answers

What are some interesting blogs that touch on both the language and culture of a country? [more inside]
posted by ElectricBlue on Jun 28, 2009 - 7 answers

How much has where you grew up determined your personality? How important is location? Those who grew up in New Zealand, how much has its culture and limitations shaped you? Children of expats, how did having expat parents influence you? Any Americans in NZ want to tell me why they are raising their children there? [more inside]
posted by scazza on Jun 19, 2009 - 9 answers

What is the company that makes the commercial where bikers enter a cafe and approach a table with a dad, his wife and daughter. The dad has just finished telling his girl something, to which, she has rolled her eyes. Then the bikers stop at the dad and the wife and daughter looked panicked. But they show the dad respect and he fist punches them back while recognizing and acknowledging them. The wife practically faints but the daughter suddenly has new-found respect for her seemingly geeky dad. And, is that commercial available for viewing online anywhere?
posted by CollectiveMind on Jun 2, 2009 - 5 answers

What are some good events (art, music, film, dance) websites or weblogs for Paris? Are there equivalents of Le Cool or Flavorpill. Looking for something a bit more focused than Time Out Paris or Parissi. French or English is fine. [more inside]
posted by vacapinta on May 28, 2009 - 3 answers

I'm going to Mexico for a year in September. Michoacan to be precise. I don't want to appear like a dumb tourist, so help me prepare culturally! [more inside]
posted by freddymetz on May 26, 2009 - 13 answers

Does there exist a culture where sex doesn't result in orgasm? [more inside]
posted by alice ayres on May 22, 2009 - 26 answers

Books about Peru & Bolivia? [more inside]
posted by UbuRoivas on May 18, 2009 - 10 answers

How would you detach primary adherent tissue cells from tissue culture polystyrene if trypsin/EDTA is ineffective? [more inside]
posted by Mapes on May 18, 2009 - 8 answers

I'm looking for a recommendation for dealing with the relationship between food and culture/society/history [more inside]
posted by KilgoreTrout on May 18, 2009 - 8 answers

Prison gang reading lists and what's on them. Does anyone out there know a concise answer? [more inside]
posted by monkishies on May 14, 2009 - 17 answers

What are some good gifts for Japanese families? Also, are there any cultural taboos that I should be particularly sure to avoid breaking while staying in Japan? [more inside]
posted by bassooner on May 3, 2009 - 23 answers

Recommend me some neat blogs, websites or news sources about South Asian culture, please. [more inside]
posted by Ziggy500 on Apr 27, 2009 - 6 answers

What books or series spur their own mythology or philosophy? I love getting lost in the world of a book or movie. Past books and series such as "Harry Potter," "The Da Vinci Code," "Lost," "The Matrix" movies, "Buffy" and "Star Wars" come with their own universe - people analyze them, look for mythological/philosophical undertones, solve puzzles and come up with their own theories. [more inside]
posted by adverb on Apr 24, 2009 - 69 answers

Seeking advice and shared experiences from other people who are not attracted to people from their same racial/ethnic/national identity. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 21, 2009 - 23 answers

Are there any human cultures, past or present, which have developed completely (or largely) distinct spoken and written languages? [more inside]
posted by nthdegx on Apr 20, 2009 - 22 answers

I'd love to get tips/resources for 1) learning more about the Chinese language and culture for work travel, 2) doing graphic design for a Chinese audience and 3) learning more about working with Chinese writing (this was helpful, for example).* Thoughts? *Bonus points if anyone can tell me if there are any Chinese typefaces I could access that have a particularly whimsical, fun, or child-like feel. [more inside]
posted by miss lynnster on Apr 12, 2009 - 12 answers

Please help me find a way to support my boyfriend's integration into my culture... [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 9, 2009 - 14 answers

Who are the best magazine and newspaper feature writers, past and present? [more inside]
posted by reenum on Apr 8, 2009 - 20 answers

Linguistics-Filter: Can you help me figure out the pop-culture origins of the term "creep"/"creeper" (referring to an unsavory character)? [more inside]
posted by niles on Mar 30, 2009 - 23 answers

What are some arts/culture organizations (or individual artists) in Southern California that produce film, video art, radio, sound art, criticism, etc. that are run by or work with young people, exclusively or primarily? [more inside]
posted by colinmarshall on Mar 25, 2009 - 4 answers

Looking for variety of different podcasts or radio shows to listen to. Please give me many recommendations. [more inside]
posted by reenum on Mar 3, 2009 - 16 answers