Concerts, theatre, and crowded rooms still offer something a screen cannot: the feeling of being part of a moment as it happens.

Across the conversations behind this story, one theme kept returning: the most lasting changes tend to be the least dramatic. They are built gradually, by people paying close attention to what is already in front of them.

Being in the room

Shared experiences create a particular kind of memory. Sitting among strangers who are reacting to the same moment reminds us that culture is something we make together.

As more of life moves online, the places that bring people physically together are taking on new importance.