The caveat is that most of us cannot afford the particular beauty we are watching here. Most of us can’t simply uproot our life, quit our jobs and move to a carefully curated farmhouse in the country. For many of the gawkers and voyeurs, this is pure fantasy, a kind of calming, momentary escape. (Roiphe, The Wall Street Journal)
Read MoreRosé and Mars’ “APT.” dominated across several charts, ranking at No. 1 on the top global music tally, Shazam, global radio and lyrics charts. The peppy tune, which was released in October 2024, was a runaway hit for both artists, continuing to pick up nominations for song and record of the year for the 2026 Grammy Awards. (Horowitz, Variety)
Read MoreYouTube celebrated its 20th birthday this year, and while a lot has changed over the years, one thing has stayed consistent: Pop culture continues to be defined by the ways creators and fans use video. This is especially evident in the end-of-year Trending Topics, Top Creators, Top Songs, Top Songs on Shorts, and Top Podcasts lists in the U.S. (Buxton, YouTube)
Read MoreThe holiday season is here, and with it, a present for fans of end of year data and marketing: Spotify Wrapped is here! And Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has been named its most-played artist for a fourth time, dethroning Taylor Swift. (Sherman, AP News)
Read MoreThe truth is: Bible movies are more diverse and weirder than ever. These productions are just one facet of the genre. And when you look at how the Bible has shown up at the movies for the last century, it’s obvious that this is not new at all. (Wilkinson, The New York Times)
Read MorePaganism is the most popular spiritual destination for British Christians who convert to another faith, outstripping Buddhism, Islam and Judaism, a study has found. (Burgess, The Times)
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