From Sight & Sound, a list of the best video essays of 2025 . I have barely seen or linked to or even heard of most of these. What am I even doing here, besides utterly failing you? (I wonder what would make my list…?) 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
In all its artistic iterations across millennia, the nativity remains inherently political in its depiction of God choosing to enter the world in marginalized circumstances.
The elusive street artist’s latest stencil may reference the tens of thousands of unhoused children living in London.
From Kurzgesagt, an hour-long animated music video that shows all of human history in an hour. So here’s an experiment: every second, 2 generations or 50 years will pass. You are on a musical train ride looking out the window, as you watch our ancestors hunt large animals,
We walk you through the incestuous, murderous, and surprisingly relatable world of Egyptian deities at The Met.
Why Japan’s internet looks weird — unless you live here . “Japanese customers are used to seeing a lot of information packed into tiny spaces — consider how much text you can find on the label of an onigiri…” 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
A letter to Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch reiterates that federal funds are conditional on the organization turning over records, including exhibition drafts.
Underwater photographer Álvaro Herrero positioned himself in the midst of a humpback whale pod and captured on video several of the whales breaching high out of the water, including one that landed incredibly close to him. Since he was floating in the water, you get to see the
American Classmates Having Difficulty Understanding Better Educated Foreign Exchange Student. “Kids say it’s really hard to understand what he’s talking about due to his precise English diction and extensive vocabulary.”
Long-term loans to former colonies are not restitution. They do not acknowledge historical wrongdoing, nor do they restore agency to source communities.
Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey is my #1 most anticipated film of 2026 and this trailer has got me revved up! Nolan’s trailers never reveal much, but still, it looks gooood. I am still skeptical of Matt Damon at Odysseus. Zendaya as Athena, Charlize Theron as
A simple material blossoms into large-scale assemblages, narratives, and designs. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Artists Embrace an Affordable and
Runaway supermassive black hole? Did not know this could be a thing. It’s moving at 2.2M mph and “is pushing forward a literal galaxy-sized ‘bow-shock’ of matter in front of it, while simultaneously dragging a 200,000 light-year-long tail behind it”. 💬 Join the discussion on
In 1925, the dance company got its start in St. Louis, and it has since grown to be a Christmas season staple
A full archive of The Hairpin ( iykyk ). 💬 Join the discussion on kottke.org →
Reimagining a 1962 modernist interior. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article A ‘Hybrid Habitat’ By Guto Requena Gives New Meaning to ‘Urban Jungle’ in
However celebrated by historians, scrutinized by archaeologists, and descended-upon by tourists it may be, Pompeii is not exceptional — not even in the fate of having been buried in ash by Mount Vesuvius in the year 76, which also happened to the nearby town of Herculaneum.
This year’s edition features more than 60 artists from the U.S. and abroad, with pieces hand-picked by the show’s Special Guest Juror, Swoon. Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as
An appeal to the mayor-elect from an art worker, a controversial nativity scene in Belgium, and were medieval Psalms elitist?
Uncle Ben told Peter Parker, “with great power comes great responsibility.” Some people, hoping to avoid responsibility, insist that they don’t have great power. That’s a choice, but it might undermine what we’re capable of. [Also worth a thought: with great responsibility
Who doesn’t treasure a handmade present? As the years go by, we may begin to offload the ill-fitting sweaters, the never lit sand cast candles, and the Styrofoam ball snowmen. But a present made of words takes up very little space, and it has the Ghost of Christmas Past’s power