Culture and media
Taking our cue from Raymond Williams’ ‘culture is ordinary’, we explore how politics works through old and new media, books, film, stage and screen, music and sport.
We cover a breadth of themes, from representations of class, race and gender in the arts, to progressive and reactionary uses of nostalgia, to the grassroots voices democratising the channels of communication.
Taking our cue from Raymond Williams’ ‘culture is ordinary’, we explore how politics works through old and new media, books, film, stage and screen, music and sport.
We cover a breadth of themes, from representations of class, race and gender in the arts, to progressive and reactionary uses of nostalgia, to the grassroots voices democratising the channels of communication.
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Anchors for hope: The uses of nostalgia
Nostalgia can inspire action towards a more just society, says Siobhan McGuirk, if we remember without romanticising socialist victories past
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Left Feminisms – review
Jo Litter’s book is an inspiring and accessible overview of feminism from a diverse array of left-wing thinkers, writes Marin Scarlett
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Ram Rajya 2.0: Nostalgia, cinema and Indian nationalism
Priya Chacko and Maggie Paul explore how historic and religious popular culture uses nostalgia to further Hindu nationalist agendas – a process known as ‘saffronisation’
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Against AI sensationalism
Emmanuelle Andrews argues that yes, AI is scary, but these systems can and must be regulated to provide greater public security and purpose
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Love Island and emotional labour
Love Island is not just a reflection of the dominant model of love, but part of its ideological reproduction, writes Jaswinder Blackwell-Pal
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I Could Be So Good For You – review
John Medhurst’s history of north London offers a rich tapestry of working class community and resilience, writes Eli Davies
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Settler Colonialism – review
Sai Englart’s book is an invaluable examination of settler colonialism as an ongoing force shaping our modern world, writes Matthew Lee