Opinion
The Comical Side of Science
OAKLAND, Calif. — Science is always painted as a subject diametrically opposed to art, but some of the best scientists have talked about their thinking process as one that's very creative in scope.
AX Mina
AX Mina is an artist and culture writer exploring contemporary spirituality, technology and other sundry topics. She co-produces Five and Nine, a podcast about magic, work, and economic justice, and serves on the board of the Rabkin Foundation.
Art
When in Rome, Blog Like a Roman Foodie
OAKLAND, Calif. — Travel presents so many opportunities to stimulate the senses, from new color palettes to new sounds and languages. But in my opinion, you've not experienced a culture until you've engaged that other sense — taste — and savored its foods, until you've watched how people cook and st
Opinion
The Found Poetry of Google Autocomplete
Could our collective searches generate beauty? I, and presumably 60,000+ others, have been intrigued by Google Poetics, a Twitter account consisting of found poetry from Google search terms.
Art
Mapping San Francisco's Literary History
OAKLAND, Calif. — San Francisco has become a city of gadgets, but it's always been a city of letters. The town was central to the Beat movement in the 50's, and the recent, city-wide SF Lit Crawl shed light on its wide variety of independent bookstores.
Opinion
From 17th-Century Sketches to LA Street Art
If you've ever wondered what drives us to post and share in the first place, then the 17th-century practice of the liber amicorum, or book of friends, might have some answers.
Art
Village Demolition and Absurdist Film: Yang Fudong's China
OAKLAND, Calif. — That China is changing rapidly is a cliché wrapped in truth. It's a cliché because it is uttered so frequently, but it is true because the details and nuances are often more staggering that the perception.
Opinion
Can Art Make Us Care More?
OAKLAND, Calif. — So much of empathy seems to be determined by the position we occupy in the world.
Opinion
Remembering the Value of an Arts Education
Ask a contemporary college student about their average day, and they'll probably tell you they spend it multitasking. Classes here, academic clubs there, maybe a fraternity/sorority event, and then of course community service. No surprises there. But what might be a surprise is that this sort of hec
Opinion
Are the Robots Taking Over?
While the internet mourns the passing of one of its many fads of the moment, more sinister robots are coming to life in its wake.
Art
Gaming the System: A More Realistic Version of Monopoly
OAKLAND, Calif. — Earlier this year, there was a kerfluffle on the internet when users voted to oust the iron token in Monopoly in favor of a cat. It was a significant change to the aesthetics of the game — the iron had been around since the 1930s — but not a significant change to its gameplay.
Art
A Ghost in the Screen Machine
OAKLAND, Calif. — Steve Jobs knew this well: there's something magical about technology. Turn on a phone or a computer, and you can access not just information but people and communities with a few clicks and taps.
Opinion
Rethinking How We Source Toys
SAN FRANCISCO — With increasing frequency, it seems, toys from China provoke controversy.