Where Culture Comes Alive
While algorithms decide what you're allowed to see, a growing wave of zine makers is saying forget it — and reaching for the scissors instead. From queer collectives in Chicago to anarchist print shops in Portland, handmade publications are having their loudest moment in decades.
Forget the bestseller list — some of the most compelling narratives in America right now are being whispered directly into your earbuds. Independent audio creators are building loyal audiences and cultural weight that traditional publishing houses can only dream about. Here's why the podcast is having its literary moment.
Mainstream playlists are fine, but the most exciting sounds in American music right now are happening well outside the algorithm's reach. From haunted Appalachian string revivals to chaotic hyperpop basements, here are nine genres building serious momentum — and exactly where to find them.
Something is happening in American creative culture, and it smells like darkroom chemicals and fresh-pressed vinyl. Gen Z and millennials are reaching past their screens toward film cameras, pottery wheels, and letterpress machines — and the reasons are more complicated, and more interesting, than simple nostalgia.
Forget Broadway ticket prices and Manhattan hotel costs — some of the most electrifying theater in America right now is happening in Asheville, Omaha, and Boise. A new generation of regional theater companies is proving that world-class storytelling doesn't need a zip code that starts with 100.