Bauhaus, Sartre, and Tennis' Strangest Rule

Bauhaus, 101

The Bauhaus was an influential art school in Germany that is often credited with inspiring the rise of 20th-century modernist design in architecture, typography, industrial design, and other disciplines. Over time, Bauhaus has come to refer to both the school and the aesthetic—bold, clean, bright, and practical—associated with it. (Browse a collection of its iconic furniture.)
 

The school was founded in Weimar in 1919 by Walter Gropius as the Bauhaus State School, a utopian institution for collaboration and anti-elitist art. The school moved three times to escape political pressure, but finally closed in 1933 when its leaders, including director Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, refused to incorporate Nazi ideology into its curriculum.
 

Following its closure, Bauhaus-affiliated artists spread across the globe, with prominent groups settling in Tel Aviv, Chicago, and North Carolina, among other places. The artists' relocations helped shape the school's style and spirit into a major 20th-century aesthetic. (See some of its most famous sites.)

... Explore everything else we learned about Bauhaus.

Also, check out ... 

> How Bauhaus' sleek typography subtly protested Nazism. (Watch)

> A gallery of the school's elaborate costume parties. (View)

> Why one Bauhaus photographer remained uncredited for years. (Listen)

> The ways Bauhaus still shapes modern life. (Watch)

In partnership with Multiply Mortgage

What If Your Mortgage Rate Were Lower?

Buying a home—or thinking about refinancing—usually means bracing for the rate you'll be offered, not the one you actually want. Multiply Mortgage, founded by veterans of Uber and Square, built their platform around flipping that script: members can access rates up to 0.50% below national averages.*

They back those rates with free 1-on-1 sessions with experienced loan advisors who understand local markets, have relationships with agents and appraisers, and know how to structure a loan around your situation—not a generic one. Whether you're a first-time buyer, upgrading, or refinancing, the guidance is personalized and the service is hands-on from pre-approval to close.

Getting started is free, with no hidden fees. 1440 subscribers get exclusive access to this deal powered by Wizard Perks. Schedule your complimentary session and see what rates you qualify for.

Please support our sponsors!

An introduction to Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre was a 20th-century French philosopher, novelist, playwright, and critic. He is often associated with existentialism, a philosophy that argues life has no inherent meaning and that humans should, in turn, define themselves. Sartre, in particular, believed humans were "condemned to freedom," meaning they were ultimately responsible for their own lives.
 

Sartre's romantic partner and sometimes artistic collaborator was the groundbreaking feminist theorist Simone de Beauvoir. The couple had a lifelong open relationship, an arrangement they believed was representative of their existentialist ideals but also inspired accusations of unethical behavior and abuse.
 

Sartre was a popular writer in his time, responsible for some of existentialism's defining works, including his 1938 novel "Nausea," the 1943 philosophical text "Being and Nothingness," and the 1944 play "No Exit," all of which are all still widely read today.

... Explore everything else we learned about Jean-Paul Sartre.

Also, check out ... 

> The story behind the FBI's investigation into Sartre. (Read)

> What Sartre's most famous quote really means. (Read)

> Why the writer rejected his Nobel Prize. (Read)

> Footage from Sartre's funeral, which attracted between 20,000 and 50,000 people. (Watch)

Fan fiction for beginners

Fan fiction is a form of creative writing that repurposes preexisting, sometimes copyrighted, stories and characters. Fan fiction is typically posted on websites like Wattpad or Archive of Our Own, where other users can comment on the stories. (See a reader's guide to the genre.)
 

While writers—including John Milton and William Shakespeare—have always reinterpreted and retold others' stories, modern fan fiction began in the 1960s with fans of "Star Trek," who shared self-published magazines that reimagined the show on their own terms. The genre found a home on the early internet, where its writers created online communities dedicated to sharing their "transformative stories" about their favorite books, shows, and movies.
 

Fan fiction gained popularity as the internet became more widespread. Several 21st-century bestsellers—including EL James' "50 Shades of Grey" and SenLinYu's "Alchemised"—began as fan fiction before being revised to avoid copyright infringement. While some authors oppose readers repurposing their work with fan fiction, others tacitly permit it, believing it's a boon to their art.

... Explore everything else we learned about Fan Fiction.

Also, check out ... 

> Why George RR Martin opposes "Game of Thrones" fanfic. (Watch)

> The history of Jane Austen fan fiction. (Read)

> How some authors and publishers responded to fan fiction that sexualized their characters. (Watch)

> The professors studying fan fiction as a discipline. (Read)

Cultural Context

Beyond our weekly deep dives, we love finding great takes on the culture currently shaping our lives. Here are some of the best reactions, profiles, and think pieces we encountered this week.

> Why I Took a $50K Pay Cut

Dirt | Jennifer Berney. When her employer offers her a lump sum to quit, Berney takes it, despite knowing it's a poor financial decision. As she lays out in this personal essay, though, she doesn't regret the time she earned back—or the realizations she's had while living outside the 8-hour day. (Read)

> Justin Bieber Spent Coachella on YouTube

SF Gate | Timothy Karoff. The pop star was the festival's Saturday headliner, a slot typically reserved for massive spectacles. Bieber, however, spent a significant portion of it scrolling YouTube. Karoff's evenhanded review tries to make sense of the unexpected scene. (Read | More on Coachella)

> 'Rocky Horror' Strikes Broadway

NY Times | Rachel Sherman. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" gained cult status because of raucous, fan-centric midnight showings. Now that the musical is on Broadway, the production is trying to determine just how much of that participation is appropriate for the show's new setting. (Read | More on Broadway)

> Streaming's Biggest TV Show Is for 5-Year-Olds

Stat Significant | Daniel Parris. The most reliable franchise in television isn't the newest gritty drama or the classic sitcom: It's "Bluey," an Australian children's cartoon about dogs. One data journalist digs into the numbers behind the unexpected commercial behemoth. (Read)

> What the Rise of Chicken Thighs Says About America

WSJ | Adam Chandler. For decades, chicken thighs were seen as an inferior cut, largely because of the erroneous belief that dark meat was unhealthy. Chandler catalogs how the tide has turned, with trendy restaurants now embracing the chicken thigh as a versatile and delicious centerpiece. (Read)

In partnership with Multiply Mortgage

A Mortgage Company You Might Actually Like

Most people assume the rate they're quoted is just ... the rate. Multiply Mortgage—built by alumni of Uber and Square—disagrees. Their platform gives members access to rates up to 0.50% below national averages,* paired with free 1-on-1 guidance from local loan advisors who know your market.

Buying, refinancing, or just curious? Schedule a free 1:1 session and see what you qualify for.

Please support our sponsors!

Best of the Week

We curate hundreds of resources into 1440 Topics each week. Here are some of our favorites from the world of society and culture.

> The strange rule that stayed with women's tennis until 2022.

> A short history of the drum machine that changed the sound of music.

> How one wealthy enclave has managed to stay off Google Street View.

> "Fantasia" terrified (and ultimately ignited) a young Steven Spielberg.

> The new MLB season has us exploring the best baseball books of all time.

> A Hitchcock film has been adapted for a new demographic: smartphone users.

> The Japanese folklore that inspired Pokémon.

> Find your new favorite band with this music map of taste.

> Why Disney pays to keep one Los Angeles street pristine.

> How Voltaire, Joseph Conrad, and more famous writers chose their pen names.

Join 4.7+ million insatiably curious news readers:

1440 Daily Digest (Monday-Saturday)

The "1440 Explores" podcast: 

Apple, Spotify, YouTube

Weekly 1440 Topics newsletters: 

Science & Technology (Tuesday)

Health & Medicine (Wednesday)

Business & Finance (Thursday)

Society & Culture (Saturday)