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History, music, cooking, travel, books, theatre, film – but also with an eye on the ‘culture wars’, nationalism and identity.
Molly Greeves on why the iconic festival celebrating the LBGT+ community must return to its roots to have a real impact on social change.
In the first of our new series, The Odeon of Death takes a look at the week’s events through the medium of cinema.
(v.) to talk boastfully or pompously; to talk without actually saying anything meaningful
As hustings are held throughout the country as part of that morbidly parochial spectacle that is the Tory leadership contest, the Count of the Saxon shore remembers the internationalism that was always part of the regional nature of English identity.
WAG Club founder and DJ Chris Sullivan reminisces and riffs about the rave scene of the late 80s
Otto English on why celebrities, who know very little about the political issues they are offering views on, should stick to their métier.
The Count of the Saxon Shore on the Anglo-Saxon arguments about independence and internationalism over a religious customs union with Europe.
Salena Godden on how our ancient dreams of the impossible became today’s realities and prove that ‘Pessimism is for Leightweights’
Hardeep Matharu explores the 30th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Wall and how and why the building of walls is making a worrying comeback – in the US and elsewhere.
Erika Koljonen investigates whether cheap and cheerful clothing can be sustainable as the fast fashion brands claim.
Chris Sullivan on the age-old debate about whether fictional displays of violence increase it in reality, now informed by some groundbreaking research.
Whenever Mike Stuchbery travels to Stuttgart he is reminded that the courage to resist authoritarianism and tyranny isn’t restricted to a particular kind of individual and here manifests itself in the form of a bookish single mother.
Salena Godden’s fourth episode of ‘Pessimism is for Lightweights’ warns of the dangers of too much bad news and the need for hope.
aberglaube (n.) belief in things beyond the rational or verifiable.
John Mitchinson on the life and times of Ignácz Trebitsch and the prescient lessons our politicians can take from his grisly demise.
In the latest in his series exploring how to experience travelling as a antidote to your mood, Kyle Taylor sets out the wonders of Hong Kong.
John Mitchinson explores why weeds force us to think differently about what is and isn’t ‘natural’
Salena Godden writes her third episode of ‘Pessimism is for Lightweights’ about a testing week that had a precious moment of solidarity
(n.) political bossism; a political system in which one powerful figure wields considerable power or influence The first is that it could win you a game of Scrabble one day. In 1982, a professional player named Karl Khoshaw played caziques (an official alternative spelling caciques) in an international Scrabble tournament and, with a score of…
Mike Stuchbery on a renaissance artist who overcame the predatory sexism of her day and survives as an emblem of feminist persistence.
The Count of the Saxon Shore on why ‘the North Remembers’. It was the original source of a progressive, articulate English identity.
Salena Godden, poet and writer, continues her whirlwind of readings and gigs at festivals and invites us all to share a moment of peace, community and solidarity. “The Future hasn’t happened yet. The idea that our civilisation is doomed is not an established fact. It is a story we tell ourselves.” – John Higgs The…
(n.) a state of indecision, wavering between two opinions or options If last week’s EU election results taught us anything, it’s that the UK is still as divided as ever. On the one hand, Remainers claimed the biggest victory of the night: add up the votes for all those parties overtly calling for the 2016…
Mike Stuchbery recalls a cacophony of people through time, who came to London and made it what it is today.
Built by Romans, shunned by the Anglo Saxons, renewed by the Normans, Britain’s great capital has survived adversity through diversity.
Chris Sullivan, DJ and writer remembers Steve Strange, lead singer of Visage and the New Romantic Movement on what would have been his 60th birthday.
On the road with her LiveWire poets, Salena Godden finds hope in youth and poetry’s ability to help us mourn our passing world.
Mike Stuchbery on another stirring story from our European past that shows how small actions can have big consequences.
Kyle Taylor and psychologist Pasha introduce their concept of prescribing where to go and what to do as an antidote for your mood.
The Count of the Saxon explains the fluidity of Saxon religious belief as new archaeological discoveries suggest the East Saxons converted to Christianity, and back to Paganism again.
‘A Plague Tale: Innocence’ is a game about change. True to the alchemical concepts upon which much of the plot rests, the game represents an arc of corruption, distillation, purification and sublimation.
John Mitchinson recounts the life of Daniel Defoe, the Patron Saint of Freelancers and Master of Aliases, who hustled journalism into existence three hundred years ago.
Another timely Word of the Week from @HaggardHawks: broggle (v.) to make repeated ineffectual attempts at doing something
DJ and writer Chris Sullivan on the timely new film ‘Beats’ as he explores 30 years of rave culture in the UK.
hang-choice (n.) a choice between equally unappealing options
When Far Right and populist figures such as Hungary’s Viktor Orban talk about a ‘crusade’ to defend ‘Christendom’ – this should ring some very shrill alarm bells.
The 2nd Century tombstone near Hadrian’s Wall tells a story as exotic as anything out of Game of Thrones, the epic love story of a woman from Hertfordshire and her partner from Syria.
(n.) a non-committal, equivocating politician [19C slang] There were local elections in England and Northern Ireland this week (though not, despite what Boris Johnson thinks, in London). And with the results now in, for the first time in a long time one clear message has been sent to Westminster: the overtly pro-Remain Lib Dems and…
Far from being topics of taboo, integration, immigration and racism have been politicised for years in dishonest narratives. Are Tony Blair and other centrists going down the same path again as populism rears its ugly head once more?
The story of the Beguines is important to remember in a time of increasing social fracturing.