Stories by Krystal D'Costa

Maybe it's Michael Myers. Maybe it's a jumbie. But chances are it's something else. The real question is: Why are we all afraid of it?

There was a time when the Victorian facade was a prevalent status symbol in the United States. How did these houses go from celebrated to creepy?

Questions of bathroom access tend to have the greatest impact on the poor and the marginalized. 

We live in the age of information, so why do we still make bad decisions? Or worse, no decisions?

Why have cats taken over the Internet?

Although it doesn’t quite seem that we’re ready to chat in all emojis and only emojis, they are serving to modify our responses and add meaning in an environment where it could otherwise be difficult to interpret meaning

Social media has made digital voyeurism the norm, but some of us are more inclined to pursue online surveillance than others

The ways in which we're speaking out against Syrian refugees indicates that we are redefining prejudicial discourse

We know that online peer pressure is powerful. But what we don't know is whether that pressure is driving real change

We may be driving technology to respond to our needs in various areas, but this is one instance where we've definitely demonstrated that we're also adapting to accommodate technological change

Is our cultural antipathy toward pregnancy and children creating a health hazard?

Wooden floors. Open concept. Giant kitchen islands. Marble countertops. Large windows. High ceilings. Walk-in closets. Space for entertaining. Stainless steel appliances. These are some of the criteria that potential television home-buyers list when discussing what they want in a home. We live in an age that celebrates the person. So why are we striving to be the same from a design perspective?

Social media has changed the way we access and process local news. It empowers individuals to share what they know, which can be both good and bad as people may sometimes share (and continue to share) inaccurate information. We know Facebook and Twitter can help serve the public's information needs during times of crisis. But these media also serve an important role for local offline communities during non-critical times as well, and can provide the foundational basis that bind these communities.

People will often feel that the return trip covering the same geographical distance requires less time to complete. It doesn't. When all factors are equalized--same distance, traveling at approximately the same speed, no external delays, roughly the same number of rest stops--the duration of the return trip will be almost identical to the original journey. So why does it feel different?

Wood has played an important role in the history of civilization. Humans have used it for fuel, building materials, furniture, paper, tools, weapons, and more. And demand for wood continues to increase annually, spurring conflicts between neighboring states over control of shared resources. Our relationship to this resource has remained relatively unchanged over time, and our methods of developing and managing woodlands continue to rely on tried and true techniques established by early civilizations. So perhaps this is why we take it for granted: wood has long been a part of our lives, and we probably can't really imagine it not being there. 

As more cultural commodities enter the market, cultural distinctions will become muted to suit the appetites of a wider clientele

The signfiicance of selling a personal substance in the public market.

About Rice and Beans: Following recent discussions on food here on Anthropology in Practice, this week I'll feature a four part series that that explores the ways immigrant groups in Corona, NY are involved in creating generic versions of their cultures to support themselves.

About Rice and Beans: Following recent discussions on food here on Anthropology in Practice, this week I'll feature a four part series that explores the ways immigrant groups in Corona, NY are involved in creating generic versions of their cultures to support themselves.

Last Saturday over 170,000 people descended on Churchill Downs for the 141st Kentucky Derby. The Derby is the first of three races that comprise the American Triple Crown which awards a multi-million dollar purse.

We're big on teaching cooperative practices, even while we encourage competition. Humans are the only species to cooperate to the degree that we do, and this cooperation may have allowed for many other derived social traits related to group living to emerge, including generosity, sharing, teaching and learning, and shared intentionality.

What do you normally have for lunch? Leftovers? A sandwich? Do you bring it from home or do you buy it from a local eatery? In New York City, a sandwich from a deli (with a pickle and a bag of chips) will cost you about $8.00 to $12.00.

Do you lock the door to your home when you're inside during the day? Or do you leave the door open if you are just running out for a minute?

Where is here exactly? Here is a tired, eye-roll inducing pseudo-holiday that we endure with a grimace every year. Hopefully you have room for one more article about April Fools’ Day.