🧭 Cultural Compass #5

A round-up of culture influencing my navigation of life.

Welcome back to the ‘Cultural Compass’ series of The Navigation, where each month I’ll be sharing a round-up of recently consumed culture (usually books, podcasts, articles; sometimes TV, and other miscellaneous items) that’s in some way had an impact on my thinking around navigating life.

Maybe something that’s caused me to reflect on an aspect of my life I want to change, something I want to strive for, a daily routine ‘hack’, or something that I just feel compelled to share, relating to the themes I’m thinking and writing about.

📑 Female Legends

First up, following on from the last Cultural Compass’ celebration of Shania Twain (and so good to hear from a few of you who also watched the documentary!), a piece on another musical icon: the one and only Tina Turner. This Substack post from

Tiny Violences

I thought was a harrowing, heart-warming and honest portrayal of the wonder that Turner was, and will live on to be, and why she meant so much to so many.

I’m a big fan of her music (she is my karaoke go-to) but her life story, personality and strength is what has made her musical prowess all the more special. Her heart and soul pulsate through every word in every song; perhaps in some of her earlier work with more of a hunger to prove she could make it, and later getting everything she possibly could out of her success.

When I heard the news of Tina Turner’s passing, I felt instantly emotional, and that lingered for a few days. I didn’t know her. I’ve never seen her live. I’ll never know the kind of town life that inspired “Nutbush City Limits”. And yet the idea of her, and her music, is bound with so many memories of mine. My grandfather singing “The Best” for my grandmother at big birthday party in her honour, little me clinging to her side as she watched on in surprise. My friends obligingly joining me on the dancefloor whenever I hear the opening beat of “Proud Mary”. The joy, pain, and utter astonishment I felt, along with my Mam, on experiencing Tina the Musical (hard recommend!), leaving on a high we rode for weeks.

It’s funny, isn’t it, how someone we’ve never met can touch us in such a close way.

I will long continue to listen, sing and dance to her music, and will look forward to seeing the legend featured in the upcoming DIVA exhibition at the V&A Museum, which is on my list to visit this summer!

🖼 Exhibition Enthusiasm

Speaking of the V&A, I visited last weekend to squeeze in two exhibitions before they closed, and immersing myself in those, enjoying the sunny courtyard in between, was the perfect weekend antidote to a week where I’d spent an annoying amount of time in my head. I’ve written before about how awe and wonder, or just something outside our day-to-day routines, can do so much good for clearing our brains and allowing for a fresh, often brighter, perspective, and my Saturday afternoon wandering the galleries of two (very different!) curations was no exception.

First up, Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance, which has now closed, though there are features and highlights on the website if of interest.

Now, I know next to nothing about sculpting, about goldsmith work, or even about the infamous Renaissance - though can appreciate the influence of the latter in making Florence a particularly beautiful place to visit. But technical eyes aside, when you look at the complexity and detail of tiny marble carvings or huge stone statues, dating back to 1400, it’s hard not to be impressed. What I also found really touching were the various portrayals of the Madonna and Child. While I’m not religious, seeing beyond traditional connotations to a more simple reflection of the tenderness between a mother and her baby was something quite beautiful.

Sculpting and sensitivity.

Next, on an entirely different vein, I visited Hallyu! The Korean Wave, which is still open until June 25^th.

This was quite the sensory overload, with music, moving images and fun lighting being a key feature throughout, but providing a fascinating insight into Korean culture, and how the nation’s historical context has fed into what we see and hear today. While the Donatello exhibition felt quite calming, Hallyu! felt more intense, both in terms of the information to take in and piece together, as well as the myriad of features you want to see, hear and feel all at once. That said, it was ideal to immerse my brain into a context entirely new, engaging with war, K-Pop and Parasite all within the hour.

For something a bit different, I’d recommend a visit before it ends.

An eclectic mix of Korean culture.

🎧 Listening to Learn

My final snippet to share with you this week is a Ten Percent Happier podcast episode, A Three Part Plan for Anxiety. I listened to this on what I will tongue-in-cheek-ly dub a ‘mental health walk’ (see also, ‘hot girl walk’) where I could enjoy time in the sun while trying to shake off some uneasiness and sense of anxiety through a bit of movement.

While I didn’t personally come away feeling like I had a three part plan at my disposal, it was interesting to hear guest Dr Luana Marques speak about how we need different things at different times when thinking about dealing with or controlling anxiety, and the way we can speak to ourselves when we’re feeling relatively even-keeled is quite different to what might be needed when we’re about to face a fear head on, or are stressed to the point of not being able to see the wood through the trees in the forest of our brains.

Exploring psychology, values and actions, this was an interesting listen for anyone who is interested in or has experienced anxiety at any level - from needing to get rid of an unwelcome spider in the bathroom, to facing severe relationship insecurity. But even if this doesn’t float your boat I’d recommend scrolling through the podcast back catalogue for a range of interesting conversations on how we can live a bit better, and be ten percent happier.

How do you navigate the need to get out of your own head sometimes? Your tips or thoughts are welcome in the comments below!

PS…

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