What is Cultural History? How is it Different from Other Forms of History? Is Cultural History Inferior? Can We Do Without It?
Cultural history explores how societies create meaning through symbols, practices, and institutions, emphasizing language and representation. Distinguished from political and social history, it reveals how power dynamics form through cultural expressions. This approach connects everyday experiences with historical narratives, underscoring culture’s critical role in shaping identities and social structures.
The Musical Experience of Aditya Dhar’s Dhurandhar Films: “Play it Again Sam”
The discussion revolves around the musical elements of the film Dhurandhar, highlighting its nostalgic tunes from the 1990s that evoke a longing for a past era in India. While critics debate its cinematic value compared to classics like The Godfather, its soundtrack captures the essence of a transformative period in Indian history, resonating deeply with…
Early Contacts Between India and Iran in Ancient History
The historical relationship between Iran and the Indian subcontinent is marked by migration, technological exchange, and cultural proximity from 3000 to 2000 BCE. Archaeological findings show a shared cultural sphere with significant artefacts, burial customs, and linguistic affinities, underscoring deep-rooted connections that shaped both regions’ early histories.
Synesthesia, Raymond Chandler, and Gulzar
In The Elements on Eloquence (2013), Mark Forsyth makes some very pleasant heavy weather of Raymond Chandler’s specimen of synesthesia in The Little Sister: “She smelled the way the Taj Mahal looks by the moonlight.” Published in 1949, it is a novel that one might easily suspect of having been read by someone like the…
Can Artificial Intelligence Think About its Thoughts?
Ricky J. Sethi proposes implementing metacognition in generative AI to enhance self-monitoring and decision-making. By using a metacognitive state vector, AI can evaluate emotion, correctness, and conflicts, enabling better responses. This could improve safety and transparency in fields like medicine and education, though challenges remain in calibration and validation.
The Instagrammatology of the Neoliberal University
The concept of Instagrammatology highlights how universities adopt digital platform logic, prioritizing visibility and engagement over substantive academic labor. Faculty are pressured to produce shareable content, blurring work-life boundaries, undermining scholarship quality, and fostering dependency on institutional feeds. Resistance involves reevaluating metrics, promoting alternative knowledge-sharing methods, and recognizing exploitation within academic practices.
Arup K. Chatterjee 