Culture

The return of the surreal 

Mythical, dreamlike, phantasmagorical, and absurd: Surrealism, which took the art world by storm in the early 20th century, has enjoyed a huge resurgence in the past decade.  The original pioneers...

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.

‘I’d like to thank my hamster’

Cherwell takes a quick look at the Oscar nominations

Review: The Fighter

Cherwell finds Christian Bale on top form in the much-awaited David O. Russell film

Graphic Violence

Cherwell offers two different perspectives on the much maligned comic book

Under the Covers

Cherwell chats with David Pearson, designer for the Penguin Great Ideas series

Judged By Its Cover: The Yellow Wallpaper

Cherwell eyes up the Dover Thrift Edition of The Yellow Wallpaper

Judged By Its Cover: Beloved

Cherwell examines the Vintage Classics edition of Beloved

Judged By Its Cover: Luchford

We look at the 2009 Steidl volume of Glen Luchford’s photography.

Judged By Its Cover: Kafka

Cherwell looks at the striking 2009 Oxford World’s Classics editions of Kafka.

Spinal Tap Revisited

Has this cult classic lost its appeal for the MTV generation?

Dream Diaries: Part 1

Producer of A Dream Play, Charlotte Ellis, takes us behind the scenes with an insider's view into putting on a play

Review: The Thin Red Line (1964)

There is something to be said for Andrew Marton’s gritty take on James Jones' novel.

Review: Betrayal

This piece about the Nazi occupation of Norway is something of a missed opportunity.

Review: ‘All Day’ by Girl Talk

Girl Talk release a disappointing third album

Review: No Direction Home

Scorcese's documentary on Bob Dylan is 208 minutes long, but still watchable

Review: Control

Anton Corbijn's sincere account of the life of Ian Curtis

Here’s Lookin’ at Zoo, kid

Andrew McCormack takes a stroll in the park with Albee's Zoo Story

Life is a Cabaret

Cherwell celebrates the cheesy power of musicals

Cinéma-voyeurisme

Cherwell takes a look at the music biopic

Sound Distortion

Matthew Shribman deplores the commercialisation of our modern day radio music

Review: The Decemberists

A stylish album that won't convert the nay-sayers

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