Culture
The Poppy’s Many Meanings
The flower is used to commemorate sacrifice in war, but the humble weed has far more negative connotations in some countries.
Phases of Consciousness
Over the centuries, layers of interpretation have mediated our experience and separated the self from the world, but glimpses of an older mode of consciousness can still be found. Even modern literature that is transfixed by the self and immersed in its workings can fleetingly reveal the older intimacy.
The Sumerian Roots of Zaha Hadid’s Architecture
Zaha Hadid’s architecture is known for being cutting-edge and hypermodernist. But she drew inspiration from as far back in time as the Sumerian civilization of her native Iraq.
Organized Looting Is Dispersing Islamic Heritage
Heritage from across the Middle East and the Islamic world is being plundered and resold in a market that is booming thanks to armed conflict, lack of enforcement and the ease of online selling. And despite the temptation for those wishing to preserve them, purchasing antiquities only fuels the problem.
Listen Again: Looking Twice at the History of Eyeliner — with Zahra Hankir
“This is not just a makeup product, it’s not just a cosmetic. It carries within it so much meaning that goes far beyond beauty.” Writer Zahra Hankir joins New Lines’ Ola Salem for a discussion about the unexpectedly rich history of eyeliner.
Are Vienna’s Dancing Horses Worth Saving?
For half a millennium, Vienna’s Spanish Riding School has passed down the secrets of horsemanship from one generation to the next. As the UNESCO-listed stable teeters on the verge of collapse, the question of what heritage is worth saving takes the spotlight.
The Hijab Obsession in Hollywood and High Fashion
Anya Taylor-Joy’s fashion choice at the “Dune: Part Two” world premiere shows that the veil is a symbol of glamor and mystique in Hollywood and high fashion, while, worlds away, it evokes poignant images of unimaginable suffering and loss — but also superheroic resilience.