Vault of Culture

NST #1397: Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events (2004) — The Vault of Culture An investigation room is briefly revealed in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (dir. Brad Silberling, 2004), before being destroyed.

An investigation room is briefly revealed in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (dir. Brad Silberling, 2004), before being destroyed: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1396: Octopus maps (1870s-1910s) — The Vault of Culture The optopus served as a potent visual motif for control/influence of various maps from the late 1800s through World War I, often with conspiratorial overtones and building on various prior lines-of-co...

The optopus served as a potent visual motif for control/influence of various maps from the late 1800s through World War I, often with conspiratorial overtones and building on various prior lines-of-control maps: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1395: Zootopia 2 (2025) — The Vault of Culture As with its predecessor, Zootopia 2 (dirs. Jared Bush and Byron Howard, 2025) contains a string board in its police briefing room and adds a string wall and table variant.

As with its predecessor [NST #410] Zootopia 2 (dirs. Jared Bush and Byron Howard, 2025) contains a string board in its police briefing room and adds a string wall and table variant: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1394: "San Francisco’s new smart homes see you coming" (2026), illustration by Westend Studio — The Vault of Culture Some images portraying biometric identification systems draw heavily on digital string motifs, such as this illustration by Westend Studio for Zara Stone’s “San Francisco’s new smart homes see you com...

Some images portraying biometric identification systems draw heavily on digital string motifs, such as this illustration by Westend Studio for Zara Stone’s “San Francisco’s new smart homes see you coming,” at The San Francisco Standard (26 January 2026): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1392: Department of Truth #35 (2026), Dylan Burnett variant cover — The Vault of Culture Dylan Burnett teased a variant cover with some classic string for the upcoming The Department of Truth #35 (Image, 2026) on social media.

Dylan Burnett (@dylrburnett.bsky.social) teased a variant cover with some classic string for the upcoming The Department of Truth #35 (Image, 2026) on social media: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1391: Cheekati Lo [చీకటిలో] (2026) — The Vault of Culture Classic string walls appear in the marketing, credits, and the podcaster’s investigation in Cheekati Lo [చీకటిలో] (dir. Sharan Koppisetty, 2026).

Classic string walls appear in the marketing, credits, and the podcaster’s investigation in Cheekati Lo [చీకటిలో] (dir. Sharan Koppisetty, 2026): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1390: The New Avengers #8 (2026) — The Vault of Culture The cover of The New Avengers #8 (Marvel, 2026), by Stephen Segovia and Rain Beredo, features a classic string board.

The cover of The New Avengers #8 (Marvel, 2026), by Stephen Segovia and Rain Beredo, features a classic string board: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1389: Doing Academic Research (2019/2025) — The Vault of Culture Both editions of Doing Academic Research: A Practical Guide to Research Methods and Analysis , by Ted Gournelos, Gary Beck, and Timothy Hackman (Routledge, 2019; 2/e, 2025) contain connection variant...

Both editions of Doing Academic Research: A Practical Guide to Research Methods and Analysis, by Ted Gournelos, Gary Beck, and Timothy Hackman (Routledge, 2019; 2/e, 2025) contain connection variants: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1388: "There’s an intensifying kind of threat to academic freedom” (2026) — The Vault of Culture Symbolic red string appears in the lead illustration (credited to PM Images/iStock/Getty Images) for Austin Sarat’s “There’s an intensifying kind of threat to academic freedom – watchful students serv...

Symbolic red string appears in the lead illustration (credited to PM Images/iStock/Getty Images) for Austin Sarat’s “There’s an intensifying kind of threat to academic freedom – watchful students serving as informants” at The Conversation (14 January 2026): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1387: The Household (2025) — The Vault of Culture A digital string boar appears in The Household (dir. Luke Shaw, 2025).

A digital string board appears in The Household (dir. Luke Shaw, 2025): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1386: "Google Starts Scanning Your Photos For People And Places—Decision Time" (2026), illustration by Getty — The Vault of Culture Digital red string appears over a holographic eye in the lead illustration (credited to Getty) for Zak Doffman’s “Google Starts Scanning Your Photos For People And Places—Decision Time” at Forbes (1...

Digital red string appears over a holographic eye in the lead illustration (credited to Getty) [also used in NST #1261] for Zak Doffman’s “Google Starts Scanning Your Photos For People And Places—Decision Time” at Forbes (15 January 2026): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1385: Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America (2023) — The Vault of Culture Banner ads and the opening credits of Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America , directed by Brian Knappenberger (Netflix, 2023), connect Scout badges with red thread.

Banner ads and the opening credits of Scouts Honor: The Secret Files of the Boy Scouts of America, directed by Brian Knappenberger (Netflix, 2023), connect Scout badges with red thread: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/02...

NST #1384: Academic Trumpists (2024) — The Vault of Culture The cover of David L. Swartz’s Academic Trumpists (Routledge, 2024) uses a node and connections variant.

The cover of David L. Swartz’s Academic Trumpists (Routledge, 2024) uses a node and connections variant: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1383: Jet Lag: The Game, "Hide & Seek" (2022- ) — The Vault of Culture The “Hide & Seek” episodes of the YouTube series Jet Lag: The Game use a digital string board to track participant progress. An example from episode 4 of “Hide & Seek: U.K.” (2026).

The “Hide & Seek” episodes of the YouTube series Jet Lag: The Game use a digital string board to track participant progress. An example from episode 4 of “Hide & Seek: U.K.” (2026): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1382: All Red Line telegraph cable map (1902/03) — The Vault of Culture To the modern eye, the British “All Red Line” map of its system of telegraph cables (completed in 1902) shares a deep affinity with string maps.

To the modern eye, the British “All Red Line” map of its system of telegraph cables (completed in 1902) shares a deep affinity with string maps: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1381: DeepBlueInk, "Julie Uses Blender" (2021) — The Vault of Culture A classic string board appears in “Julia Uses Blender” (2021) by DeepBlueInk.

A classic string board appears in “Julia Uses Blender” (2021) by DeepBlueInk: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1380: I Still See You (2018) — The Vault of Culture A dimly lit classic investigation wall appears in I Still See You (dir. Scott Speer, 2018).

A dimly lit classic investigation wall appears in I Still See You (dir. Scott Speer, 2018): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1379: Stranger Things s05e05 (2025) — The Vault of Culture As with prior seasons, season 5 of Stranger Things contains a classic string board, particularly in s05e05 (Netflix, 2025).

As with prior seasons, season 5 of Stranger Things contains a classic string board, particularly in s05e05 (Netflix, 2025): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1378: MIT Hackapult (2015) — The Vault of Culture A 2015 entry in the long-running history of “hacks” at MIT featured a “Hackapult” and a string board labelled “Hack Ideas?” positioned in front of the Great Dome building.

A 2015 entry in the long-running history of “hacks” at MIT featured a “Hackapult” and a string board labelled “Hack Ideas?” positioned in front of the Great Dome building: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1377: Wendell & Wild (2022) — The Vault of Culture A classic string wall appears in Wendell & Wild (dir. Henry Selick, 2022).

A classic string wall appears in Wendell & Wild (dir. Henry Selick, 2022): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1376: Mr. Buzzkill (2025) — The Vault of Culture A classic obsessive wall appears over the opening credits of Mr. Buzzkill (Rob Collins, 2025).

A classic obsessive wall appears over the opening credits of Mr. Buzzkill (Rob Collins, 2025): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1375: The Toxic Avenger Unrated (2023) — The Vault of Culture A classic investigation wall with string appears at the beginning of The Toxic Avenger Unrated (dir. Macon Blair, 2023).

A classic investigation wall with string appears at the beginning of The Toxic Avenger Unrated (dir. Macon Blair, 2023): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1374: The Similars [Los parecidos] (2015) — The Vault of Culture Some string adorns a couple of vague maps in The Similars [ Los parecidos ] (dir. Isaac Ezban, 2015).

Some string adorns a couple of vague maps in The Similars [Los parecidos] (dir. Isaac Ezban, 2015): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1373: Gold Bars: Who the F*ck is Uncle Ludwig? (2025) — The Vault of Culture Producer and Director of Gold Bars: Who the F*ck is Uncle Ludwig? (dir. Billie Mintz, 2025) notes that “I used this series as inspiration for my film.” The results are a classic string wall that exp...

Producer and Director of Gold Bars: Who the F*ck is Uncle Ludwig? (dir. Billie Mintz, 2025) notes that “I used this series as inspiration for my film,” in which one figure says, “I’ve been trying to make these connections.”: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1372: Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer (2021-22) — The Vault of Culture A retrospective exhibit, Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer , which was on display at Cooper Hewitt from 10 September 2021 to 10 April 2022, used line connections for some of its elements.

A retrospective exhibit, Underground Modernist: E. McKnight Kauffer, which was on display at Cooper Hewitt from 10 September 2021 to 10 April 2022, used line connections for some of its elements: www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1371: Up (2009) — The Vault of Culture A small corkboard and classic string wall examples appear in Up (dir. Pete Docter, 2009).

A small corkboard and classic string wall examples appear in Up (dir. Pete Docter, 2009): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1370: Worldbreaker (2025) — The Vault of Culture A classic investigation wall appears in Worldbreaker (dir. Brad Anderson, 2025).

A classic investigation wall appears in Worldbreaker (dir. Brad Anderson, 2025): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1369: Retro Freaks II (2025) — The Vault of Culture A classic string wall appears in Retro Freaks II (dirs. Michael Goldermann & David James Ryan, 2025).

A classic string wall appears in Retro Freaks II (dirs. Michael Goldermann & David James Ryan, 2025): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1368: Mizzurna Falls [ミザーナフォールズ] (1998) — The Vault of Culture A pixelated variant appears at the beginning of the Twin Peaks inspired Mizzurna Falls [ミザーナフォールズ] (Human Entertainment, 1998).

A pixelated variant appears at the beginning of the Twin Peaks inspired Mizzurna Falls [ミザーナフォールズ] (Human Entertainment, 1998): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...

NST #1367: George Saunders, "Sticks" (1995) — The Vault of Culture A totem variant appears in “Sticks” by George Saunders, which first appeared in Harper’s Magazine in 1995, later included in Tenth of December (2013).

A totem variant appears in “Sticks” by George Saunders, which first appeared in Harper’s Magazine in 1995, later included in Tenth of December (2013): www.vaultofculture.com/vault/nst/20...