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Culture : 13.7: Cosmos And Culture Cultural context gives science much of its meaning and importance. So we write a lot about the interplay between science and culture. Hey, its in our name.

13.7 Cosmos & Culture

Commentary On Science And Society

Culture

An Object Of Contention At The Venice Biennale

Il Palazzo Enciclopedico: A visitor puzzles over the multitude of choices offered by the the 55th International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. It runs from June 1 to November 24, 2013. Marco Secchi/Getty Images hide caption

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Marco Secchi/Getty Images

Opinion

Culture

An Object Of Contention At The Venice Biennale

Commentator Alva Noë is taken by the work of Tino Sehgal at the 2013 Venice Art Biennale. It's hard to explain, but in the end he concludes that we do not stand apart from art. We are engaged with art in ways that we don't always expect.

The Mutable Meanings Of Music

Drummer Roger Taylor and singer Freddie Mercury (1946 - 1991) of the British rock band Queen perform at the Playhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1st September 1976. Gary Merrin/Getty Images hide caption

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Gary Merrin/Getty Images

Opinion

Culture

The Mutable Meanings Of Music

Songs, like all art, can take on a life of their own once they are thrust into the public domain. Their meanings can shift substantially, something commentator Alva Noë experienced recently during a school music recital.

Noir Through Space And Time

There's always a girl and there's always a gun: the Hero-Blaster used by Harrison Ford's character in the movie Blade Runner. The gun was up for auction in 2009. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Opinion

Culture

Noir Through Space And Time

Dark detective tales never get old. It's the same old story every time, even when events take place off world and the people are nothing more than machines. It's a form we love to relive and revive with every generation, says commentator Adam Frank.

A Fresh Answer To Vermeer's Mystery

The Procuress, painted by Johannes Vermeer in 1656, hangs in a Dresden, Germany, museum in 2004. While this particular work is not in question, Benjamin Binstock argues that other pieces attributed to the Dutch master are by an apprentice and a member of his household. Norbert Millauer/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Norbert Millauer/AFP/Getty Images

Opinion

Culture

A Fresh Answer To Vermeer's Mystery

The work of the Dutch master Johannes Vermeer has long puzzled the art world. Some of his pieces just don't quite fit. They're a little off. What gives? Author Benjamin Binstock has an idea, an idea that commentator Alva Noë finds appealing.

What 15,000 Years Of Cooking Fish Tells Us About Humanity

Pots like this 15,000-year-old vessel from Japan are among the world's earliest cookware. Tokamachi City Museum hide caption

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Tokamachi City Museum

Opinion

Culture

What 15,000 Years Of Cooking Fish Tells Us About Humanity

A study out last week analyzes charred food remains in Japanese pottery dated to 15,000 years ago. Results show that hunter-gatherers in Japan cooked fish in the pots, a finding commentator Barbara J. King says adds new depth to our comprehension of the complexity in human prehistory, even before farming.

For The Love Of The Game: Play Ball!

The Mets' Lucas Duda celebrates a homerun against the Phillies with Kirk Nieuwenhuis on Wednesday. Despite the shot, the Phillies won 7-3. Drew Hallowell/Getty Images hide caption

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Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Opinion

Culture

For The Love Of The Game: Play Ball!

Baseball is more than a game to many people. Commentator Alva Noë thought he knew it better than most, until his children started playing Little League. That's when the community that makes up organized youth baseball welcomed him into their fold and opened his eyes to whole new levels of meaning in the game.

Coughing And The Meaning Of Art

Musical instruments wait for the arrival of the orchestra during the closing session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 12. Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images

Opinion

Culture

Coughing And The Meaning Of Art

There's a lot of coughing in audiences at concerts and plays. Why? Commentator Alva Noe suggests that the answer has something to do with the importance of art.

Should All Women Heed Author's Advice To 'Lean In'?

Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook's chief operating officer, speaks at a luncheon for the American Society of News Editors in San Diego. Gregory Bull/AP hide caption

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Gregory Bull/AP

Opinion

Culture

Should All Women Heed Author's Advice To 'Lean In'?

Sheryl Sandberg's new book on women and ambition has some critics wondering what a top tech industry executive can really tell the average American woman. Commentator Tania Lombrozo argues that not all books by women and for women need to be for all women.