Culture and commerce
The Case for Debt
Public anxiety over “excessive” consumer debt has a long, and misguided, history. By Virginia Postrel.
Inconspicuous Consumption
A new theory of the leisure class.
The Art of Healing
How better aesthetics in hospitals can make for happier—and healthier—patients [Web only: Slideshow: "Wellness by Design"]
Playing to Type
The practical (and tacky) fruits of a revolution in typeface design. [Web only: Video: "Fine Print"]
A Tale of Two Town Houses
Real estate may be as important as religion in explaining the infamous gap between red and blue states.
Beautiful Minds
On television shows like CSI and Numb3rs, scientists are still weird—but a geeky glamour has replaced the old stereotypes.
Starlight and Shadow
George Hurrell’s brilliantly orchestrated photographs helped define Hollywood glamour in the 1930s.
Paint of View
The color of a house is a sign of owner individuality—and a test of neighborhood tolerance.
Dress Sense
Why fashion deserves its place in art museums [Web only: Slideshow: "Museums in Fashion."]
Lofty Ambitions
Once upon a time, lofts were cheap spaces for struggling artists. Today they are phony and pricey, and that’s just fine.
The Truth About Beauty
It is the same in the eye of every beholder.
Up, Up, and Away
Today, air travel is just another form of mass transit. Is there any going back to the glamorous days of yore?
In Praise of Chain Stores
They aren’t destroying local flavor—they’re providing variety and comfort.
