Culture
An American icon is born again
Kanye West was mocked for rediscovering faith, but he has genuine concerns about the modern world he helped fashion
Brief encounters and romps in the park
George Orwell pursued women with enthusiasm and varying degrees of success
Thoughts on the BBC: Reflections of a conservative historian
Jeremy Black ponders the place of the BBC
Has the National Theatre lost its way?
Alexander Larman considers Rufus Norris’s vision, and the future of the National Theatre.
Culture Coaches
As The Critic enters into the podcasting business, Dominic Green surveys the world of motivational, self-affirming podcasts
Is Jane Austen getting a bum deal?
As the new Emma comes to cinema screens, Alexander Larman considers the innumerable Austen remakes over the past 25 years
Cities risen from ashes
75 years after the Dresden bombings, Lincoln Allison discusses the raising of razed cities
Oscars so woke?
Predictability and cyclical trends at the 92nd Academy Awards
A belly full of agitpropera
Opera really doesn’t need the help of activist directors when it comes to politics — it’s all there already
A full stop in Sussex
Lisa Hilton is influenced by a Booker Prize shortlisted novel as she samples gastropub grub
The problem with public sector procurement
The Social Value Act has brought questionable benefits and serious costs
Cultural Christianity and the vulgar wisdom of memes
Dawkins is caught between the pure idea of rationalism, and the messy meme of cultural Christianity
On the deceptive use of words
We must be very careful with redefinitions of commonly understood words
And the band played on
Cash crisis in the arts — what’s new?
Liberal gerontocracy and its discontents
Fewer young people supporting more old people has become an unsustainable situation
Jam, Jute, journalism, Japanese design
There is a lot more to see and enjoy in Dundee than London reviewers suggested
The wrong kind of groupthink
Why do so many economists deny that the value of money is related to its quantity?
Against the relegation of Record Review
Why is Radio 3 mistreating one of its greatest assets?
Poor old Carmen
This update of a classic from the Royal Opera House is a reminder of why messing with great pieces is so risky
No questions about the woman question, please
Activists are even being excluded from conversations about activism
Religious freedom is back on the agenda
The International Freedom of Religion or Belief Bill, currently before parliament, is an important step for securing Britain’s role in promoting religious liberty
