896 posts tagged with culture.
Displaying 1 through 50 of 896. Subscribe:
Three days in Nuuk
If delta doesn't mess everything up, I'll have (probably) three days in Nuuk, Greenland in mid-Sept. Looks like Nuuk Water Taxi for a scenery/boat trip; any recommendations for engagement with modern Inuit culture? Open to any other suggestions as well.
Small fish, Big pond - strange new fish and the water's odd
I've got a contract with a large organization (as a sole consultant with a holist approach). [more inside]
Dating with your parents in mind
I am preoccupied with finding a partner whose family of origin compliments my own. This is a difficult task as my parents are a little unusual. Have you navigated this before? [more inside]
What's up with Croissants?
I don't really get croissants. How do cultures that are more croissant-based incorporate them into everyday life? [more inside]
Culture- or area-specific gestures (that you wish we'd adopt)
Through traveling and various media, I've learned about some interesting gestures or local variations on universal gestures. I'm curious to learn about more and would love to hear about those you know of and their intricacies.
For instance, I learned that in (at least some parts of) China, a light tap on the table indicates that someone should please pour their tea. But tapping can also be a general thanks, and perhaps one that indicates a status difference. It's complex and great! What are some more like this? [more inside]
Seeking modern Russian cultural context for Cheburashka
I have recently discovered and love the original Cheburashka cartoons (thank you, vast cultural swamp that is Youtube). I am amusing myself by learning Gena's songs on ukulele. If I go a step further and, say, put a Cheburashka sticker on something public facing like a water bottle, what would a Russian person the appropriate age to have that as a childhood icon think? [more inside]
Experiences/descriptions of 20thC illegal gambling
I am interested in hearing about or reading about cultures of illegal gambling businesses in physical places, in the twentieth century, but before the era of the internet. [more inside]
Jokes & comments about W.I.E.R.D. national stereotypes in the USA
Is it offensive or unacceptable to joke about White, Industrialized, Educated, Rich & Developed (W.I.E.R.D.) nationality stereotypes? Comments about the French being rude, British food is bland, Germans are too serious, Italians talk loud with their hands, the Spanish still take a siesta, & closer to home, Canadians are too damn polite off-limits in general? At work?
I ask out of curiosity & because of recent experiences. Example 1, I called some coworkers “Brits”. Example 2, I made a comment in a job interview about an Argentine stereotype. *facepalm* [more inside]
Is this pun based software project appropriate?
I have an idea for a very light hearted software project, based on a pun on "Geronimo". Do you think this is appropriate? [more inside]
the concept of resistance is creepy
I feel like I have a lot of difficulty with people in positions of authority who feel like they can comment on me or my life. [more inside]
Family interference vs helpfulness
Please help me understand Western Culture and family dynamics. Is it ok or not for family to point out your flaws and give you helpful direction? If not, why not? [more inside]
Gelebte Demokratie
Metafilter taught me that it is important for everyone to do their part in protecting democracy, instead of relying on others or "the system". I want to help protect the democracy in Germany. Please help me do that. [more inside]
Food History & Culture podcasts
I am interested in good podcasts about food history and culture. Tell me about your favorites.
You interrupted my dinner for this?
While I am pretty confident that many people believe that interrupting another person's meal is considered bad form etiquette-wise, I cannot seem to find good examples of this rule online. Can anyone help? [more inside]
Universal Basic Income studies and creative or risky pursuits
Are there any Universal Basic Income studies showing that UBI (the good kind not the regressive kind) promotes art, music, other economically “risky” activities?
Great Culture to Screen Culture
What practices/habits can I recommend to my office to build culture in a WFH situation? [more inside]
Seeking Asian American Books Beyond Lit and History
I'm looking for recommendations for Asian American books that are not Asian American literature or history textbooks. [more inside]
Anyone remember the story of discovering the Lost Forum for An Old Game?
A company ships a product. Hidden deep in supporting material for the product is a link to a functioning forum. Company ships game, time passes, everyone kind of forgets about game but the forum keeps ticking along. Years later, someone involved with the initial game discovers that the forum has hosted a robust (rp'ing?) community for many years. [more inside]
Specific, heritage nicknames of Latinos/Latinxs?
What are nicknames that latinos use based on their heritage/mother country such as
Puerto Rico: boricuas, Honduran: catrachos, Costa Rican: ticos..etc [more inside]
What is quintessentially Missourian?
I'm writing a character from a smallish town in Missouri (pop. under 50k). However, I've never actually visited Missouri! What types of texturizing details might a person actually from Missouri know that I might not know to look for on google? E.g., do Missourians have any special outlook on central AC versus external AC units (particularizing in many places)? Is there a state beer you see everywhere? What denomination of Christianity do most people practice? Were there any big trends in the early aughts? Culture that everyone was or is consuming (everyone I knew as a kid loved the Left Behind books)? Are there any Missourian attitudes or clichés (besides "show-me state") that only native Missourians know? What do Missourians who go other places get tired of hearing when they say they're from Missouri? What do they miss, what do they notice once they leave?
I'm thinking this fictional place will be in the four-state area (Missouri, OK, Kansas, AR). Do people actually say "four state area"? Lol. Much appreciated!
Showing some differences between Canadian and USAian culture
Looking for smart & cute videos, memes, web pages, etc. [more inside]
What does it feel like to become bilingual as an adult?
If I’m going to continue on my current path it’s important for me to become fluent in Spanish. Despite that I’m having trouble getting started and I’ve realized one of the big reasons is that I don’t have any image in my mind of what it would feel like to speak two languages. I’ve talked to people who grew up bilingual, but what if you came into it later in life? [more inside]
What can I do with my 70 year-old Aunt in or around Phoenix in April?
My Aunt's lived in Phoenix for the past few decades. She's mentally sharp and mobile. So am I! Last year we visited Taliesin West and enjoyed it. What do you recommend for this year? How can we best get us some culture?
What to read/know before working with Kenyans / in Nairobi.
I'll soon be working with my European team for a Kenyan client.
My knowledge of (East)African culture is close to none.
I'd love suggestions what to read/watch to get up to speed. [more inside]
Romantic, Interesting Chicago Tour
For Valentine's Day, I want to get my boyfriend tickets to a romantic and interesting tour in Chicago (he lives there, but I don't). He loves history and culture, but isn't much of an aesthete. Food is fine, as long as it's vegetarian; he's also not a big drinker. I'm hoping for tickets for the two of us to be under $100, and a Sunday tour is best. Any suggestions? [more inside]
Podcasts about "life" (broadly defined) in non-US places
I'm looking for podcasts (in English) from outside of the US. [more inside]
Institutional self awareness for amateurs
I'm looking for accessible writings that consider how the purpose and policy of bureaucracies and institutions are affected by their own need to recreate themselves and lobby for the necessity of their own existence. [more inside]
High-level Spanish resources that are NOT Spain-focused!
Help me decolonise and broaden my Spanish learning. Details/snowflakes inside. [more inside]
On a scale of A+ to F, how American is "spirit week"?
To what degree are the concepts of "school spirit" and "spirit week" localized to US schools and colleges (elementary to undergrad)? Why is that the case if so, and how did that came to be? Or can anyone outside of the US speak to their experiences of this concept? [more inside]
Have you read the complete works of a single author?
If you are a completist, how did you choose your author? Or is it worth being a completist at all?
I am thinking of reading all of Cormac McCarthy's works to immerse myself in his world, art, and methods. I am going with my gut, and feel he would be a great inspiration to my writing career. [more inside]
Shows about country cultures and languages for my students
I am teaching an MBA-level international business course this semester, and am looking for examples of YT/streaming videos about various cultures. [more inside]
Why aren't Australia and Canada closer?
Australia and Canada share a huge number of similarities, particularly in terms of international relations, comparable I think for example to the Scandinavians. So why don't we see the two countries standing closer together internationally and engaging more bilaterally? Is it simple distance? Is it that they're too similar, and therefore competitors? Or are we just too different on a few prominent aspects of our culture (for example, lacking a prominent sporting event; winter vs summer).
Anthropological term for which gender wears the fanciest clothes?
I have a vague impression that in some cultures men wear the fanciest, most colourful clothing (look at those Cavalier boots!) and in other cultures women do (I'm assuming those are Roundheads all around). I'm guessing there are cultures where men and women and other genders all wear fancy colourful clothing. Is there an anthropological word for the categories, sorta parallel to matrilocal/patrilocal/bilocal/avunculocal?
What to eat on Christmas
What does your non-traditional Christmas dinner look like? Bonus points if you're of South Asian heritage! [more inside]
Converting The Meme-able Into Money-Earning IP?
Whoever invented Duck/Rickrolling never got paid, but at least Rick did in a way. "This is fine" didn't earn its creator a fraction of its actual, cultural worth, but plenty of people /companies did well out of it by proxy.
Fruitless litigation aside, what (if any) are proven or possible ways of converting something meme-able into some sort of income stream for the creator? [more inside]
Ok, Dublin! Let’s go!
After asking Monday about a potential trip to (or connecting through) the UK immediately post the next Brexit deadline, we opted to book a trip to Dublin instead. It seems like it will be a great place to go with our 5 year old. We will do more research on sights later, but hoped those who know Dublin can help us figure out where to stay so that we’ll be central to the sights we may ultimately visit. [more inside]
Could food writing be a profitable niche?
I am a freelance writer looking to pivot from arts and culture to food. I see food writing as potentially an emerging trend with many writing opportunities popping up. To niche down would help me to strategise my nonfiction career via a clear speciality rather than the oversaturated market of literature and art. [more inside]
First-time listener, pero en español
Looking for podcasts or broadcasts similar to NPR/WAMU's 1A or WNYC's Brian Lehrer Show, but in Spanish. [more inside]
What's this job called: building tech across cultures
A big part of my work in the Tech world has been to act as a sort of cultural translator between business owners in the U.S. and software developers in other places (like India). Are there people who do that for a living? Agencies? Who are they? What are they called? [more inside]
Indian academic life/etiquette
I'll be in India for a month starting in about a week, as a visiting academic. I have never visited India before. I would appreciate information about academic culture and norms, and any info about how I should and shouldn't behave to be a good guest. I all coming at this from Australian academic culture but I am also familiar with European universities and North American universities so feel free to compare with those. [more inside]
Towns/small cities with leftist history/culture, outside the US?
Hello! I'm very interested in smaller cities, towns, and communities (preferably fewer than 100k) that have a strong culture, tradition, and/or history of leftist organizing. I'm interested in examples outside of the United States. Give me any examples you can think of, and any suggested further reading!
I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter, Los Angeles edition
Hi! Just re-located to Los Angeles and very ready to take advantage of all the amazing culture this city has. I'm not on any social media (and don't plan to join), but one way I've typically stayed on top of events is subscribing to newsletters of various museums/theaters/comedy clubs etc and actually reading them and then going to them. [more inside]
Okay, I have to ask: what's the deal with nose picking in Japan?
I am here, teaching kids down near Yamaguchi, and I've noticed more than of my few kids do this in class. Vigorously. And many many adults seem to have little to no shame about the act. Is this NOT a taboo here? And if so, is it going to be weird for me to come down on kids for doing it in my class? I don't want to be culturally insensitive. But I also don't want to gag. Thoughts?
Queer signaling 101 for the bisexual woman
I’m a bisexual (or maybe pansexual? I don’t know, I just like people) cis woman, and there’s a lesbian woman at my gym that I’m interested in getting to know better and maybe asking out. Would it be weird or inappropriate for me to wear a rainbow headband as an attempt at signaling “Hey, I’m queer, too!”? At the same time, I don’t want her to assume I’m lesbian when I’m not.
The mythical power of knowing someone's "True Name"
In some European myths, from Plato's Cratylus to Rumplestiltskin, knowing someone's True Name means having special knowledge about them, or power over them. What kind of powers are those? What about other cultures of the world? [more inside]
An American Werewolf in Canada
[Cultural Differences / Armchair Anthropology Filter] I am moving to Canada next month. American expatriates in Canada, what do you wish you had known before moving? What small (or glaring) cultural, institutional, infrastructural or procedural differences did you start to notice after being there for a while? (Also, for the Canadians: are there things that you wish American expatriates knew before they got there, or wish they’d stop doing or start doing?) [more inside]
The Rich Wives Club
Looking for suggestions of books/movies/articles where the female half of a heterosexual partnership is the primary breadwinner. It can be a plot point or an aside, but the relationship must be overall positive.
Adjusting to major metro area after life in a college town?
I grew up on one coast, went to college in a rural town on the other, and am slowly but not particularly successfully readjusting to life not far from where I began. Snowflakes after the cut, I guess. [more inside]
Who really said it?
I'm editing a commentary for publication, and I'm trying to track down the source of a quote that I believe has been misattributed to F. Scott Fitzgerald in The Great Gatsby:
“There’s a loneliness that only exists in one’s mind. The loneliest moment in someone’s life is when they are watching their whole world fall apart, and all they can do is stare blankly.” [more inside]
Where could I move to be more of a homebody?
I currently live in a big city but I'm considering a move to a smaller/cheaper area so I could work less and prioritize my leisure time and quality of life. [more inside]