Irrational self-belief is one of the reasons villains deeply resonate across culture, says Kevin Wynter, a professor of media studies at Pomona College. In a repressive society such as ours that cham… [+2838 chars]

Villains were everywhere and more relatable than ever. Across pop culture, social media, and IRL, the phenomenon went full-on main character.

Wired

The Year Villainy Won

Process is the investment we make in inefficiency now to prevent errors from costing us later.
Jet airlines are the safest form of travel ever created, largely because of the inefficient process tha… [+936 chars]

Process is the investment we make in inefficiency now to prevent errors from costing us later. Jet airlines are the safest form of travel ever created, largely because of the inefficient process that we put in place. They’re over tested and over staffed, with…

Seths.blog

Building a process culture

"The stigma is old now - that's not what what Bradford is," says actor and writer Natalie Davies
As Bradford begins its year as UK City of Culture, it is not just trying to show a different face to … [+5636 chars]

Being the UK's new City of Culture is a chance for Bradford to challenge prejudices against the city.

BBC News

Giant naan breads and taking on the doubters in Bradford

The government has urged video platforms like YouTube to feature "high-quality" children's content more prominently on their websites.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy warned young people are less likel… [+2493 chars]

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy says children are missing out on educational TV because of how online platforms operate.

YouTube urged to promote 'high-quality' children's TV

Have you been waiting for a chance to see Molly-Mae "as never before"?
If so, you're in luck, as she's starring in a new TV series which comes out on Friday.
But that's not all this week has in sto… [+7907 chars]

We've rounded up all the key culture releases for the week ahead, from film to music.

Molly-Mae 'as never before' and Liam Payne cinema tribute: What's coming out this week?

A surge in popularity for fantasy sub-genres has led to concerns about under-researched Welsh inspirations 
A Court of Thorn and Roses, also known as ACOTAR is the TikTok-viral fantasy book series w… [+6117 chars]

While some celebrate the spread of Welsh language and culture, its misuse is a  concern for others.

Our culture isn't fantasy - so stop misusing it for mystical books

Perhaps in part due to this strategy of exclusion, the audiences Republicans reached were far more engaged with the content than Democratic viewers. A recent study from People First and Infegy found … [+2197 chars]

Democratic digital strategists and creators argue that the party’s influencer outreach was too little, too late—and that without a coherent message, even the best strategy won't matter.

The Year Democrats Lost the Internet

The first full moon of the year, also known as the Wolf Moon, has appeared, according to NASA.
It first appeared Sunday and will extend into Wednesday morning. The full moon will reach peak illumina… [+596 chars]

This moon phase is nicknamed the Wolf Moon, which is rooted in Native American culture.

The first full moon of 2025 is here

Beyoncé performed at halftime during the Netflix-streamed game against the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans on Christmas Day.Eric Christian Smith/AP
<ul><li>Beyoncé performed at halftime during t… [+4347 chars]

Beyoncé's 12-minute Christmas halftime performance on Netflix paid homage to Texas and Mexican culture.

Business Insider

6 details you may have missed from Beyoncé's Christmas halftime show on Netflix

As the days turned into hours ahead of the TikTok ban, many Americans shared a common refrain: "Follow me on RedNote!"
The mass migration to yet another Chinese-owned short-form video app pushed Xia… [+6823 chars]

Instead of following the masses to TikTok replicas like RedNote or Lemon8, some users say they would ditch doomscrolling culture for good.

Facing uncertainty on TikTok, some users say they'll ditch scrolling culture altogether

Henri Leduc/Getty Images
<ul><li>Major alcohol companies have been bracing for a culture shift favoring nonalcoholic options.</li><li>Younger consumers under the age of 30 buy less alcohol and drink… [+5140 chars]

Alcohol companies like Heineken, Constellation Brands, and AB InBev have been preparing for a customer culture shift toward nonalcoholic options.

Alcohol companies have been bracing for a culture shift. Their nonalcoholic options have buoyed sales.

"Hot to Go" singer Chappell Roan embraced the neo-medievalism trend at September's MTV Music Video Awards.Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for MTV
<ul><li>"Neo-medievalism" is emerging as a consumer trend,… [+4024 chars]

The trend embraces medieval aesthetics and reflects a rejection of modern tech culture, according to Wonderhood Studios.

Why 'neo-medievalism' could be a hot consumer trend in 2025

On September 28, Bowen Yang performed one of 2024s most resonant pieces of political theater while dressed as a pygmy hippo.
Yang was behind the desk on Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update segment, … [+2732 chars]

From MAGA to Moo Deng, fans had more power in 2024 than ever before.

In 2024, Fandom Conquered the World

If you click 'Accept all', we and our partners, including 239 who are part of the IAB Transparency &amp; Consent Framework, will also store and/or access information on a device (in other words, use … [+703 chars]

Yahoo Entertainment

‘Targets culture’ meant police ignored grooming gangs, leaked report reveals

Sam Altman's leadership philosophy aligns with that of other tech leaders.Markus Schreiber/AP
<ul><li>Sam Altman says his researchers still push back in meetings — a positive for him.</li><li>Altman… [+3770 chars]

Other tech leaders swear by a culture of disagreement from the top. One of Jeff Bezos's leadership principles is "disagree and commit."

Sam Altman says OpenAI's researchers give him 'nothing but disrespect' — and that's a good thing

I moved to the US 12 years ago, but I still miss my life in New Zealand.Dragonite_East/Getty Images
<ul><li>When I moved from New Zealand to the US, I didn't realize how much it would actually cost … [+5177 chars]

I moved from New Zealand to California 12 years ago. I experience reverse culture shock when I visit home, but I feel "tall poppy syndrome" in the US.

I married an American and moved to the US 12 years ago. I'm happy now, but I didn't realize how tough the transition would be.

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.
Life Kit's Gui… [+3368 chars]

It is officially 2025 and 'Life Kit' is kicking the year off with a series to help people complete Dry January successfully. And, a look ahead for this year from pop culture to politics.

Life Kit's guide to a successful Dry January

On a tall bluff that overlooks the south Puget Sound in one direction and sparkling headlights on I-5 in another, members of the Nisqually Indian Tribe gathered for a Winter Moon Celebration on this … [+3038 chars]

Native American New Year was celebrated on the solstice under a canopy of winter stars. Near a crackling bonfire, the Nisqually tribe shared their culture and renewed their sacred pact with the salmon.

Under a 'grandma moon,' Native Americans honor their sacred pact with salmon

Two things can be true at once:
A: The allegations of sexual and emotional abuse against author Neil Gaiman along with claims about a relationship with his son's nanny are viscerally repellant. They… [+8852 chars]

Pop culture critic Glen Weldon says he can't separate the art from the artist. But in light of the sexual abuse allegations against Gaiman, he will separate himself from the author's future work.

GENIEUS

culture