What do Princess Diana’s wedding, the “Survivor” first season finale and Prince’s 2007 Super Bowl halftime show all have in common? They were huge cultural moments that brought millions of Americans together. In an era of streaming, social media bubbles and sharp political divides, are unifying events like these becoming relics of the past?On today’s episode, the hosts make a case for the secular ritual of the Super Bowl and ask whether we need more mass cultural events to bring Americans together.(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication, and can be found in the audio player above.) Mentioned in this episode:<ul><li>“Bowling Alone,” the 1995 <a href="https://muse.jhu.edu/article/16643" target="_blank">essay</a> in the Journal of Democracy and 2000 book by Robert D. Putnam</li><li>“<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078504/" target="_blank">The Wiz</a>,” the 1978 American musical featuring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson</li><li>Tracy Chapman and Luke Combs perform “<a href="https://www.grammy.com/videos/tracy-chapman-luke-combs-fast-car-2024-grammys-performance-66th-annual-grammy-awards" target="_blank">Fast Car</a>” at the 2024 GRAMMY Awards</li></ul>Thoughts about the show? Email us at <a href="mailto:matterofopinion@nytimes.com">matterofopinion@nytimes.com</a>.

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Our Super Bowls, Ourselves

Matter of Opinion