Culture

Must theatre be so dire? Thoughts on the “unworthy scaffold”

If 'art est celare artem' (true art is to conceal art), then theatre is pretty poor art. You ain't fooling me into thinking that's a storm.

Seasonal reads: On childhood hobbies, growing up, and guilt

Reconnecting with reading is something many people tend to do on a summer holiday,...

Between beer gardens and picnics: Climate Culture Care at the Ashmolean

When I returned to Oxford this term, just as England teased us with the sixth heat-wave of the year, I found myself at a loose end. With the deadline for two vacation essays still far in the distance, the sun lit up the sign for Soma Surovi Jannat’s Ashmolean Now exhibition, Climate Culture Care.

“What is a good life?”: The Standard of Living in review 

“What is a good life?” This axiological question, asked earnestly in the opening lines of James Graham’s The Standard of Living – playing at Theatre Royal Haymarket until December 12 – is often overlooked by the fractured and hyper-specialised discipline of economics.

Santa among the Victorians

Jack Powell looks into our literary heritage for the roots of our Christmas traditions

Review: Nuel – Trance Mutation

Harry Scholes enters into a trance with techno stalwart Nuel's hypnotic new album

Review: One Man, Two Guvnors

Daniel Frampton visits the Adelphi Theatre for a welcome change from the Christmas pantomime

Review: The Human Centipede 2

Joseph Newall is under-stimulated by Tom Six's latest helping of 'torture porn'

Short and Sweet

Benjamin McEvoy reviews the short films at the Leeds International Film Festival

Where the Wild Things Are

Patrick Thorpe interviews Wild Beasts singer Hayden Thorpe

Review: Hugo

Jacob Williamson is touched by Martin Scorsese's unexpected offering

Review: Moneyball

Jacob Williamson is impressed by this intelligent sports film

Limp Pens

Christy Edwall considers the quirks of literary anti-prizes in general, and the 2011 Bad Sex in Literature Award in particular.

Review: South Pacific

James Blythe is swept away by this production at Oxford's New Theatre

Review: An Island

En Liang Khong follows Danish band Efterklang's move into cinema

Review: Curling King

Joseph Newall takes a look back at his film of the year, the Norwegian 'Kong Curling'

Review: My Week with Marilyn

Jacob Williamson is charmed by a hazy portrait of the cultural icon

Review: The Vaccines, O2 Academy

Harry Scholes expresses his disappointment at The Vaccines sell-out gig on 29th November

First Night Review : The Browning Version

Finola Austin finds Anna Stelle’s production of The Browning Version by Terence Rattigan to be an enjoyable night out but let down by the details.

First Night Review : Kafka’s Dick

Kafka’s Dick is a delightfully surreal dive into the life of the eponymous author.

First Night Review : Broken Stars

Julian Bubb-Humfryies sees 'a competant and thoughtful production' at the Wadham Moser Theatre.

Oxford Book Club

Michelle Cancellier on her recent visit to the Oxford Book Club

A fishy phenomenon

Fay Lomas pays tribute to a daring Oxford artistic feat

Better to be Popular than right

A review of Oxford alumnus Gareth Russell's new young adults' novel 'Popular'

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