Culture

Our curated articles offering new takes on the big themes and questions in our culture. Plus reviews of books, film, media and experiences. Culture is one of four key themes covered by Seen & Unseen.

Article
  1. Culture
  2. Generosity
Two small lifeboats raft together on a river rescue.

We need to rescue volunteering

Julia Kendal
Our use of the word now reflects unwanted obligations, rather than a deep desire to serve.
6min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
Contestants in Race Across the world stand in front of neon-lit Chinese street scene

Race across the world: you can go fast and go far

Lauren Westwood
Forget the tight travel connections; it’s the human ones that enthral us.
5min read
Explainer
  1. Culture
  2. Gaza
A sign projected on to the Houses of Parliament reads: how many is too many.

Politics is the only way to solve the tragedy of Gaza

Graham Tomlin
Trump is not the first person to want to create a Riviera by the Mediterranean.
5min read
Article
  1. Community
  2. Culture
A Devon lane lined by hedges.

Hedgerows are boundaries, but they don’t divide so much as abound

Elizabeth Wainwright
The lines we draw between land and lane connect us.
5min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Digital
A mobile game still shows a robin standing close to a seated man.

The grand narrative that’s made it on mobile

Giles Gough
The Serpent & The Seed is a welcome addition to the cosy games genre.
4min read
Review
  1. AI
  2. Culture
Tom Cruise playing Ethan Hunt in an open necked shirt looks perplexed.

Ethan Hunt is MI Jesus, and it’s ridiculous

Yaroslav Walker
The final instalment of Mission Impossible warns about AI, yet plays out as if written by a chatbot.
4min read
Article
  1. Art
  2. Awe and wonder
Looking up at the front of Gaudi's cathedra; as the sun comes out from behind the spires.

The late Pope Francis was right – Antoni Gaudi truly was God’s architect

Jonathan Evens
Sanctity can indeed be found amongst scaffolding, as Gaudi’s Barcelona beauties amply demonstrate.
5min read
Review
  1. Ageing
  2. Belief
A book cover shows a cartoon man sitting on the title text while a dog sits below.

Mine eyes have just read the best novel of the year

Yaroslav Walker
Quentin Letts’ Nunc! is a beautiful, moving and funny exploration of life, death and first century Jewish cuisine.
4min read
Snippet
  1. Culture
  2. Digital
A speaker stands beside a podium in front of a TED sign.

Shorter TED Talks are not the only way to learn

Jamie Mulvaney
As education and entertainment blend, get ready for the unexpected.
2min read
Review
  1. Belief
  2. Books
A woman stares away from the camera

Could Lamorna Ash become a Christian in a year?

Lucy Denyer
Moving, funny and beautifully written, this young writer’s quest for faith has lessons for all of us.
4min read
Article
  1. Books
  2. Culture
A woman stands across a busy roads, looking up from her phone in a sad way.

Why we should mourn the death of the semi-colon

Paul Bradbury
In our busy, frenetic lives, we need that small pause more than ever.
4min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A montage shows the lead characters from Andor.

The story from a galaxy far, far away that's just made for these times

Krish Kandiah
Andor holds up a galactic mirror to our media-saturated world.
5min read