The Mao Mango Cult of 1968 and the Rise of China’s Working Class
“Apparently, Mao didn’t like fruit. It was an easy re-gift.”
The Existential Conundrum That Is the American Waste Paper Basket
“Until I read Paradox, I had not considered the possibility that waste paper baskets could be imbued with paradox, but Legrand has convinced me.”
When Medieval Monks Couldn’t Cure the Plague, They Launched a Luxe Skincare Line
Whether you were European royalty desperately seeking a cure for impotence or a working-class neighbor looking for the latest deodorant, Santa Maria Novella was the place to go.
The Sissies, Hustlers, and Hair Fairies Whose Defiant Lives Paved the Way For Stonewall
Before Stonewall, there was Compton’s Cafeteria: “In August 1966—fifty years ago this month—transgender and gender-nonconforming customers at Gene Compton’s Cafeteria stood up to years of abusive, discriminatory treatment by the San Francisco police.”
The Rise and Fall of Restaurant Kitsch
As minimalist design goes down-market and T.G.I. Friday’s says goodbye to clutter, what happens to all the fake Tiffany lamps?
Why Are America’s Most Innovative Companies Still Stuck in 1950s Suburbia?
Why do tech companies keep building suburban corporate campuses that are isolated—by design—from the communities their products are supposed to impact? Oatman-Stanford looks at the history of corporate urban design and the midcentury rise (and continued reign) of the suburban office park.
Our Pungent History
From the ancient Egyptians to modernity, a history of body odor and our attempts to deal with it.
The Tragic Life of the Courtesan in Japan’s Floating World
A glimpse into the difficult lives of Edo-Period Japanese prostitutes.
When Rock ‘n’ Roll Loomed Large Over the Sunset Strip
For nearly two decades hand painted rock ‘n’ roll billboards loomed large over the Sunset Strip. The billboards were ephemeral, but a budding young photographer documented them throughout their heyday.
Straight Razors and Social Justice
A history professor examines the deep roots and empowering evolution of black barbershops:
In a country where institutionalized racism has been the norm for centuries, black barbershops remain an anomaly. Though initially blocked from serving black patrons, these businesses evolved into spaces where African Americans could freely socialize and discuss contemporary issues. While catering to certain hair types may have helped these businesses succeed, the real secret to their longevity is their continued social import. For many African Americans, getting a haircut is more than a commodity—it’s an experience that builds community and shapes political action. As both a proud symbol of African American entrepreneurship and a relic of an era when black labor exclusively benefitted whites, black barbershops provide a window into our nation’s complicated racial dynamics.
