Category Archives: Art and Cultures

Reviews etc…

The Mealie Mouthed Statement from the #Jaipur Literary Festival

Posted on 21 January 2012 by Robert

I’ve just been sent this rather mealie mouthed statement, apparently from the Jaipur Literary Festival, in response to a protest by authors Hari Kunzru, Jeet Thayil and others. They read from The Satanic Verses at the festival after Salman Rushdie … Continue reading →

Posted in Literature | 1 Comment

Sharing Adele on the Internet

Posted on 20 January 2012 by Robert

It is enriching art like this which is likely to be compromised by the propose SOPA legislation in the USA. Continue reading →

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How the Depiction of Technology in #Sherlock Captures the Zeitgeist

Posted on 8 January 2012 by Robert

In a paywalled Times article this time last week, Hugo Rifkind highlighted our loss of the communal Christmas TV moment. EastEnders can never achieve the dizzy ratings heights of the 1980s, Eric and Ernie are dead, and even the numbers … Continue reading →

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The End of Cultural History?

Posted on 21 December 2011 by Robert

What drives this retor chic, this nostalgia at the expense of innovation? I think it is due to a decline in the belief that we are progressing. Continue reading →

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Gingrich, Bin Laden, and Issac Asimov

Posted on 19 December 2011 by Robert

Apparently, the megalomaniac tendencies that many perceive in Presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich are inspired by Iassac Asimov: If men are from Mars and women are from Venus, Newt Gingrich is from the planet Trantor, a fictional world created by Isaac … Continue reading →

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Niall Ferguson threatens to sue Mishra

Posted on 30 November 2011 by Robert

Oh dear. We now hear that Ferguson is threatening legal action, which rather undermines my point about the classiness of ‘counter-speech’ over legal threats. Continue reading →

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Shadow Cities

Posted on 17 November 2011 by Robert

This is a marvellous evocation of why I enjoy much of the literature and imagery that I do. I have discussed the idea of overlaying of invisible worlds onto aphysical space quite a lot on this blog. Continue reading →

Posted in Art and Cultures, London | Leave a comment

On ‘Authority’ and Reality TV Judges

Posted on 7 November 2011 by Robert

It’s a funny paradox that Masterchef, which is run in an entirely authoritarian manner by the judges, still manages to involve its audience more than the shows that allow viewers to vote for the winner. Continue reading →

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Trainyard and Neural Pathways

Posted on 19 October 2011 by Robert

Trainyard works wonderfully well as a metaphor for neural pathways Continue reading →

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Power Politics and Revolution in Albert Square

Posted on 3 October 2011 by Robert

Last week, a fascinating storyline emerged in Eastenders. It’s all about the weak standing up to the strong. Bald bully Phil Mitchell (Steve MacFadden) is pursuing a vindictive vendetta against cheery Minute Mart Manager, Patrick Trueman (Rudolph Walker). Patrick saw … Continue reading →

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