Kurt Andersen and his guest, historian Gary Cross, discuss our love-hate relationship with cuteness, and how biology and culture conspire to make us say “awwww…”
Gary Cross is the author of The Cute and the Cool, a study of how and why adults project cuteness onto their children — and how our children are constantly rebelling against it. His other books include Kids’ Stuff: Toys and the Changing World of American Childhood. He is a Distinguished Professor of Modern History at Pennsylvania State University.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!