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. Culture
Muppet characters dressed as Dickensian characters stand in a snowy street.

Christmas countdown day 7: festive films

Yaroslav Walker
Five Christmas films to revel in. Listen or read.
1min read
Review
  1. Ambition
  2. Culture
A cardinal glances to the side as he stands amid a gather of clergy,

Why we’re fascinated with power behind closed doors

Roger Standing
Conclave captures the powerful chemistry between heaven and earth.
6min read
Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
A Lego Stanta figure strolls across a table holding a wrench

Christmas countdown day 6: Father Christmas origin story

Graham Tomlin
Red radical: the tales behind the Santa we see today
1min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Digital
A screengrab from Spotify reads 'your 2024 wrapped.

What Spotify Wrapped really tells us about ourselves

Belle Tindall
We listen, therefore we are.
4min read
Podcast
  1. Art
  2. Christmas culture
A stained-glass style illustration of an Inuit mother cradling an infant with a halo-like background.

Christmas countdown day 5: Christmas cards

Jonathan Evens
Beyond Christmas cards: a guide to the season’s art, past and present
1min read
Article
  1. Books
  2. Culture
Sheep around a frozen pond in a snowy landscape, a ruined cottage sits beyond.

Wild writers for those who wish to wonder

Elizabeth Wainwright
A wilderness reader for wintertime and beyond
7min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A cartoon still shows a nightscape at sea with a Polynesian style vessel above, with Moana standing on it sailing above a whale illuminated by bioluminescence

What do Moana and Paddington have in common?

Krish Kandiah
Families, destinies, and the voyage between.
4min read
Review
  1. Art
  2. Culture
An artist's portrait show a figure turnng their head over their shoulder.

Not heroes or angels: the poise of Claudette Johnson’s figures

Jessica Scott
The Turner Prize nominated artist lets humans be human.
3min read
Podcast
  1. Books
  2. Culture
A TV production set shows Henry VIII at a masked ball.

Christmas countdown day 4: binge watching

Jack Chisnall
On Boxing Day, ask yourself: would you rather live in Wolf Hall?
1min read
Article
  1. Books
  2. Character
A 18th century woman sits at a desk, beside a candle and stares out the window.

In defence of Jane Austen’s unlikeable heroine

Beatrice Scudeler
Fanny Price: passive and prudish or brave and resilient?
5min read
Article
  1. Assisted dying
  2. Comment
An MP stands and speaks in a parliamentary debate.

The assisted dying debate revealed the real role of Parliament

M. Ciftci
MPs from areas where people are vulnerable and at risk were more sensitive to the dangers.
5min read
Podcast
  1. Christmas culture
  2. Culture
Three children dressed as orange lobsters stand sheepishly on a stage.

Christmas countdown day 2: nativity plays

Yaroslav Walker
In defence of the traditional nativity play.
1min read