This has been an extraordinarily rich year for culture. Incredible artists releasing new music, studios launching fresh and inspired blockbusters, esports reaching new heights, the list goes on.

At the Harbingers’ Culture section, we’ve tried to keep up and publish a number of articles on a wide range of topics that will appeal to our core audience, doing our best to be your one-stop shop for culture news worldwide.

Every article published in the Culture section this year has had its own spark, but a few stand out for their exceptional writing, unorthodox subject, worldwide relevance – or all three.

As editor of the section, I’ve compiled a list of five articles that I think everyone should read, presented in chronological order.

The rise of careless consumerism among young people was one of the first articles of the year, by Shriya Kalluri. It explores the link between social media and fast fashion, critiquing and bringing attention to the many consequences of fashionable clothing, such as inequitable labour practices and clothing waste.

Of course, 2024 was not without its controversies. Sanjana Senthil’s article on a controversial school board decision to “filter literature” raised important questions about the ethics of book banning in the United States and worldwide.

This year also marked Harbingers’ first ever Pride Month-themed website. Throughout June, we spotlighted the important and often sidelined stories of the LGTBQ+ community. Christian Yeung’s article ‘Say it loud, gay is proud’: A brief history of Pride Month explores the diverse history of the celebration and its modern importance.

This year also marked the arrival of our summer pop-up newsroom in Washington, DC. Set in the capital of the melting pot that is the United States, a select group of writers reported, conducted interviews and wrote a number of articles. One of these was my own interview with the incredible Virginia Ali, whose restaurant Ben’s Chili Bowl has been around since the Civil Rights Movement.

Finally, I would like to highlight the incredible and provocative Harbinger Prize-winning article by Reva Sobti. In her discussion of “crossfire racism”, she explains the malicious nature of this particular brand of racism and shares her own experiences with it in the US.

This has truly been an amazing year for Harbingers’ Magazine. Our writers have demonstrated extraordinary skill and dedication in highlighting the beautiful diversity of our world. As we look forward to 2025, we wait eagerly for the new movies, books, music and cultural richness coming our way.