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.

Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Community
Jon Tilkin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Christmas Countdown Day 18: singing together

Belle Tindall
All this carol singing rang a bell about the joy of belonging.
1min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
Two men, dressed in the style of the 1940s look around shocked.

Watching Bonhoeffer from below

David Emerton
Does a new biopic capture a compelling and complex character?
6min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Music
Rapper Stormzy raises a hand to heaven as he sings with a gospel choir on the Glastonbury stage.

Rock ‘n’ roll’s long dance with religion

Jonathan Evens
How popular music conjures sacred space.
6min read
Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
A man stands one side of a bank counter while others, on the other side, look hopefully at him.

Christmas countdown day 14: It's a Wonderful Life

Jon Kuhrt
It really is a wonderful life.
1min read
Article
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
Carol singers, lit by candle light.

Christmas countdown day 13: the hidden messages in carols

Ian Bradley
Beyond the festive there's a hint of rebellion and even revolution.
1min read
Article
  1. Awe and wonder
  2. Christmas culture
A carol singer looks down while candles flicker.

If you think Christmas is ‘right’ you’ve got it wrong

Katherine Amphlett
Contrasting cathedral Christmases conjure world-changing subversion.
7min read
Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
Dressed in camouflage uniforms and makeshift costumes, soldiers create a nativity scene

Christmas countdown day 12: TV specials

James Cary
The search for the perfect sitcom Christmas special.
1min read
Review
  1. Books
  2. Culture
Preisdent Putin stands behind a lectern with a gold door and Russian flag behind him.

All this can be yours: the momentum that drives mafia states

Simon Burton-Jones
Once abhorred opinions gain traction among the distracted nursing grievances.
1min read
Review
  1. Belief
  2. Books
A singer, wearing a hat, pulls his head back holding a note, and a mic.

Belle and Sebastian's suffering singer on the struggle and the hope

Jonathan Evens
On the edge of ‘Nobody's Empire’: something good will come.
1min read
Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
A shop assistant stands by a foobank trolley, while a child holds a packet of pasta beside it

Christmas countdown day 10: sharing food

Isaac Frisby
A foodbank trolley signposts how to share joy.
1min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A woman runs down a street at night accompanied by dogs

Nightbitch’s metamorphosis of motherhood

Krish Kandiah
In parenting the best things in life cost everything and nothing.
5min read
Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
A medieval illustration of King David being anointed by Samuel

Christmas countdown day 9: consider the crown

Nick Jones
Re-enchanting's Justin Brierley shares his cultural moment of the year, and we dig deeper into the theme of royal crowns.
1min read