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.

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

11 August 2023
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’

6 August 2023
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

3 August 2023
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

31 July 2023
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

29 July 2023
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

22 July 2023
Labour pains: Views on birthing, pregnancy and birth control

AJ Silver, Moly O’Brien and Devon Price challenge how UK medical institutions exert control over their bodies

6 July 2023