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. Awe and wonder
  2. Culture
A woman sitting in an empty church talks to the camera and gestures with one hand.

Sarah Irving-Stonebraker: re-enchanting the ahistorical age

Nick Jones
In our age of self-invention, we are profoundly disconnected from the history that once gave us identity.
1min read
Review
  1. Belief
  2. Culture
A man looks scarily upwards.

Heretic: Hugh Grant’s brilliance wrestles this tranquilized take on holy horror

Yaroslav Walker
If not original, a dissection of belief needs to be sincere and agile.
4min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Grace
three folk musicians face the camera across a meadow

Revisiting Amazing Grace inspires new songs

Jonathan Evens
Today’s musicians capture both the barbaric and the beautiful.
5min read
Column
  1. Culture
  2. Football
A striker is about kick a football towards a goal, a red beach ball sits between him and the goalkeeper.

Referees and stupidity

Jonathan Rowlands
What one referee’s foul-mouthed rant tells us about the nature of sport, and authority.
7min read
Podcast
  1. Art
  2. Books
a comic book style image of a thirsty man drinking from a vessel.

Siku: re-enchanting comic books

Nick Jones
The creativity of comic books, and the theology of storytelling.
1min read
Article
  1. Assisted dying
  2. Care
A tired-looking doctor sits at a desk dealing with paperwork.

The deceptive appeal of assisted dying changes medical practice

Ewan Goligher
In Canada the moral ethos of medicine has shifted dramatically.
8min read
Snippet
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A TV production set shows Henry VIII at a masked ball.

Would you rather live in Wolf Hall?

Jack Chisnall
Monarchy and deciding who's really in charge.
2min read
Explainer
  1. Culture
  2. Freedom of Belief
A data map shows circles of varying size across a map of Nigeria

From Nigeria’s killing fields to Europe’s shores, the data behind the domino effect

Chris Wadibia
While Nigeria thrives, some left-behind are desperate to escape.
7min read
Review
  1. Books
  2. Culture
The gaunt face of a dishevelled man stares into the distance

Small Things Like These: putting the spotlight on backstage goodness

Kevin Hargaden
What it means for a film to be good.
4min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A cartoon bear, wearing a blue duffel coat and red hat, rests his arms on a rock against a mountainous background

The Paddington paradox

Krish Kandiah
With a tip of his hat, he brings a trace of grace to every life he touches.
4min read
Review
  1. America
  2. Culture
An 1980s business man looks contemptuously at the camera.

Trump: from apprentice to master of contempt

Yaroslav Walker
The Trump biopic is a morality tale for our times
5min read
Podcast
  1. Culture
  2. Death & life
A woman leans on a table, talking into a microphone.

Zoe Clark-Coates: re-enchanting life and loss

Nick Jones
Sharing her own experience of baby loss, Zoe talks with Belle and Justin about grief, sorrow and faith.
1min read