When the world gets closer.

We help you see farther.

Sign up to our expressly international daily newsletter.

Already a subscriber? Log in .

You've reached your limit of one free article.

Get unlimited access to Worldcrunch

You can cancel anytime .

SUBSCRIBERS BENEFITS

Exclusive International news coverage

Ad-free experience NEW

Weekly digital Magazine NEW

9 daily & weekly Newsletters

Access to Worldcrunch archives

Free trial

30-days free access, then $2.90
per month.

Annual Access BEST VALUE

$19.90 per year, save $14.90 compared to monthly billing. save $14.90.

Subscribe to Worldcrunch
This Happened

This Happened — October 2: Josephine Baker's Debut

Josephine Baker's debut in Paris on this day in 1925, was a pivotal moment in her career and played a significant role in her rise to international stardom.

Get This Happened straight to your inbox ✉️ each day! Sign up here .



How did Josephine Baker start in Paris?

On October 2, 1925, Josephine Baker made her debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in Paris as part of the cast of the revue "La Revue Nègre." This marked her first performance in Paris and was the beginning of her career in the city.

How was Josephine Baker received in Paris?

Josephine Baker's exotic dance style was met with enthusiasm and applause. During her debut in "La Revue Nègre," she performed various dances, including her famous "Danse Sauvage" (Savage Dance) wearing little more than a skirt of artificial bananas.

How did Josephine Baker's career progress after her debut in Paris?

Following her debut, Josephine Baker's career continued to soar. She performed at prestigious venues such as the Folies Bergère and gained recognition as a singer and actress as well. She became one of the most celebrated and highly paid performers in Europe, achieving worldwide fame.

What was Josephine Baker's impact on race relations and civil rights?

Josephine Baker's presence in Paris allowed her to escape the racial segregation and discrimination she faced in the United States. She used her fame to advocate for civil rights, and she refused to perform in segregated American venues. She later became involved in the civil rights movement and was a supporter of the NAACP.

You've reached your limit of free articles.

To read the full story, start your free trial today.

Get unlimited access. Cancel anytime.

Exclusive coverage from the world's top sources, in English for the first time.

Insights from the widest range of perspectives, languages and countries.

Ideas

Look At This Crap! The "Enshittification" Theory Of Why The Internet Is Broken

The term was coined by journalist Cory Doctorow to explain the fatal drift of major Internet platforms: if they were ever useful and user-friendly, they will inevitably end up being odious.

A person holding their smartphone

Gilles Lambert/ ZUMA
Manuel Ligero

-Analysis-

The universe tends toward chaos. Ultimately, everything degenerates. These immutable laws are even more true of the Internet .

In the case of media platforms, everything you once thought was a good service will, sooner or later, disgust you. This trend has been given a name: enshittification . The term was coined by Canadian blogger and journalist Cory Doctorow to explain the inevitable drift of technological giants toward... well.

The explanation is in line with the most basic tenets of Marxism. All digital companies have investors (essentially the bourgeoisie, people who don't perform any work and take the lion's share of the profits), and these investors want to see the percentage of their gains grow year after year. This pushes companies to make decisions that affect the service they provide to their customers. Although they don't do it unwillingly, quite the opposite.

For the latest news & views from every corner of the world, Worldcrunch Today is the only truly international newsletter. Sign up here .

Annoying customers is just another part of the business plan. Look at Netflix , for example. The streaming giant has long been riddling how to monetize shared Netflix accounts. Option 1: adding a premium option to its regular price. Next, it asked for verification through text messages. After that, it considered raising the total subscription price. It also mulled adding advertising to the mix, and so on. These endless maneuvers irritated its audience, even as the company has been unable to decide which way it wants to go. So, slowly but surely, we see it drifting toward enshittification.

Keep reading... Show less

The latest