I want to know how culture works. I know that a book can change how I see the world. That a song can make me cry — or break records on the treadmill. And that a fictional character can break my heart. Pretty amazing, right? But why? And what does it mean?
Cultural Tendencies is my attempt to work out what culture does to us – and for us. What is culture? Why do we keep doing it? Why does it matter?
My working theory? Culture is part of our mental infrastructure, both as individuals and as societies. Humans have always had plenty of other things to worry about. Still, somehow, we keep making culture. Why? I really want to know.
I find it annoying when people don’t take culture seriously. I find it even more annoying when they take it too seriously. Getting to the core of culture should be a weird and wonderful quest with curiosity in the driver’s seat.
I don’t care whether it’s Homer or Homer Simpson, Lady Macbeth or Lady Gaga, ancient myth or Killing Eve, museums or internet memes. Culture is a vibrant conversation across time. It all matters. Everything is connected.
I’d love you to join me on this fabulous quest.
I’m Anna Troberg, a Swedish writer and cultural-policy thinker. I have an MA and have spent many years poking around where culture, communication and politics collide. I’m also president of DIK, the Swedish union for people working in culture, communication and creativity.
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Behind the scenes – the team at work
