At the SHEFTALL Lab, our main focus is on understanding “culture” as a phenomenon shaped by information and media. In simple terms, we are exploring the following questions:

Why is it that, among all living beings on Earth, only humans manipulate symbols, create narratives, and manage “culture” in this way? How is “culture” formed, developed, and sustained? What is the relationship between “culture” and “war”? To address these questions, we draw from the fields of history, anthropology, social psychology, and media studies.

We aim to understand why humans, alone among Earth’s creatures, depend on “culture” in such a unique way. How is “culture” constructed and maintained, and what role does “information” play in this process? How are “culture” and “war” interconnected?

While it is commonly believed that wars are primarily driven by economic reasons, a closer look at history and current events reveals that many conflicts are marked by “humans killing each other over symbols and ideas.” In this context, we ask: how does humanity’s reliance on “culture” as a species influence these conflicts?