High Culture
featured
How AI learned to paint like Rembrandt
The Rijksmuseum employed an AI to repaint lost parts of Rembrandt’s “The Night Watch.” Here’s how they did it.
Tim Brinkhof
Tim Brinkhof is a Dutch-born, New York-based journalist reporting on art, history, and literature. He studied early Netherlandish painting and Slavic literature at New York University, worked as an editorial[…]
All Stories
How storytelling gives life meaning
Since the advent of communication, humans have used stories to create meaningful lives.
Remembering George Dantzig: The real Will Hunting
How the story of a statistics student being late to class became the inspiration for the protagonist of Good Will Hunting.
Behold, the ’70s sci-fi book series that popularized the Illuminati conspiracy
Modern notions about the Illuminati are the result of a satirical cult-classic book.
10 novels that brilliantly capture the American experience
The distance between the American dream and reality is expressed best through literature.
He had countless hit records. You never heard of him.
Many of the world's favorite records weren't really recorded by the artist on the label.
5 definitive books on Leonardo da Vinci
For years we have been fascinated with the artistic prowess of Leonardo da Vinci.
A new Dr. Seuss book — ‘Horse Museum’ — is coming out this fall
A new generation is waiting for the whimsy and wit of Dr. Seuss.
10 Golden Age science fiction novels
Transport yourself to other worlds and states of mind.
How to use a thesaurus to actually improve your writing
Looking up big, fancy words won't make your writing better. But a thesaurus can help – if you use it like this.
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9 weird and terrifying monsters from Japanese mythology
From animated umbrellas to polite-but-violent turtle-people, Japan's folklore contains some extremely creative monsters.
The WWE’s newest bad guy? A vegan who hates capitalism and consumerism.
Daniel Bryan is a "heel" who might sincerely believe in some of the things his persona is known to say.
Originally, Poe envisioned a parrot — not a raven
Quoth the parrot — "Squawk! Nevermore."
Steven Pinker’s 13 rules for writing better
The Harvard psychologist loves reading authors' rules for writing. Here are his own.
New study finds vloggers and viewers share emotions
How you feel influences what you watch, and vice-versa.
The 5 most intelligent video games and why you should play them
Some games are just for fun, others are for thought provoking statements on life, the universe, and everything.
7 of the most interesting fictional drugs
From the cosmic blast into another being's mind, to rolling bliss or obedient mind-slavery, fictional drugs have it all.
What should we do with all of those empty churches?
Thousands of churches are left behind every year in America.
The path of bliss: 11 epic quotes from Joseph Campbell
The great mythologist reminds us that our bliss is part of our suffering.
Margaret Atwood is writing a sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
The renowned author plans to publish a follow-up to the 1985 bestseller in September 2019.
7 of the best psychedelic books ever written
Turn on, tune in, and drop out and into a good psychedelic book.
James Patterson on writing: Plotting, research, and first drafts
The best-selling author tells us his methods.
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Why American history lives between the cracks
The stories we tell define history. So who gets the mic in America?
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Stan Lee, Marvel co-creator, is dead at 95
The comics titan worked for more than half a century to revolutionize and add nuance to the comics industry, and he built a vast community of fans along the way.
10 people who got famous from the grave
Really puts the whole "don't give up until you're dead" thing to shame.
Stephen King says writers should stop using this one “very tired” word
The 71-year-old author suggests replacing the adjective "amazing" with something more "pungent & specific".
7 most important horror movies: Double-feature edition
Feeling the urge to scare yourself this Halloween? Here are seven important horror films you have to see.
‘Brave New World’ predicted today’s world better than any other novel
His book warns us of the dangers of mass media, passivity, and how even an intelligent population can be driven to gladly choose dictatorship over freedom.
Amy Winehouse’s hologram is set to tour in 2019
The money will go to her foundation, but is the tour really in the 'Back to Black' chanteuse's best interest?