Culturedecoder

Gap's cool smack down to racist graffiti directed at ad with Sikh model

Stroll around New York City and you're bound to come across defaced ads, with graffiti that can be racist, stupid or just plain vulgar. The pervasiveness of such vandalism makes Gap's response to one of its defaced ads all the more remarkable.

How brand Modi is merchandising Indian politics

Modi kurtas. Modi t-shirts. Modi toys for children. As an upscale mall in Ahmedabad gets ready to sell NaMoMantra apparel, it's clear that Narendra Modi is not just selling us a brand. He has also become a brand to be sold. Like Mickey Mouse in those Disney stores.

A problem like Megha: The spurious feminism of Tanishq's 'Mia' campaign

A new line of 'Mia' jewellery aimed at young working women sends the message that looking pretty is more important than professional success.

Rajat Gupta vs Raj Rajaratnam: The 21st century Great Gatsby

Though Leo DiCaprio will never portray him on screen, Raj Rajaratnam could well be the Jay Gatsby of our times. The whole Rajat Gupta vs Rajaratnam affair is playing out like a modern day Great Gatsby.

Vijay Mallya: From Indian idol to evil seth

Vijay Mallya seems to have jumped out of a Bollywood script. He is the evil seth personified - greedy, heartless, fiddling while his Rome burns. But let's not forget how much once we loved the king of good times.

Benetton does it again: shocking their way to the bank

Benetton withdrew an advertisement using an image of Pope Benedict kissing an Imam on the mouth after the Vatican protested on Wednesday at the Italian clothing firm's latest shock campaign.

The GVK Reddy Wedding: Partying like it's 1985

The Reddy extravaganza is a jolting reminder of how many of our wealthiest business families remain tightly wedded to the past, thumbing their nose at over two decades of social change.

Art of Kissing to Kiss of Love: Artist takes on taboo of kissing in public

Ayushman Mitra spoke to Firstpost about his art work, inspirations, love for big art and Indian mythology.

So who's the most powerful Indian of them all? Answer: The usual suspects

In a year that saw seismic shifts in India's political structures, the Power List of the 50 most powerful Indians of 2014, seems largely unruffled. The five most powerful Indians are still five industrialists.

Right issue, wrong tactic: Why Kiss of Love protests miss the mark

It’s 100 percent not okay to have a lathi-wielding policeman come up and haul you off to jail under Section 294 for some consensual public pappi-love. However, it is also okay to be uncomfortable about seeing a couple making out next to you. The Kiss of Love protests seems to miss that key distinction, and therefore undermine the very cause they espouse.