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. Belief
  2. Culture
A clock repair peers at a clock he is repairing, amid a see of alarm and wall clocks on display

Ted Giola is right: we’re all addicts now

Jonathan Rowlands
Addiction to distraction prevents deep thought about our place in time.
5min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A closely cropped group of gold Oscar statues showing mostly their head and shoulders.

The Oscars and ourselves

Belle Tindall
Beyond the shiny escapism, the awards spotlight all our stories.
4min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
in an immaculate garden a family play in and around a small swimming pool. Beyond the garden wall, a barracks is visble with crematorium smoke rising beyond it.

The Zone of Interest’s peripheral vision of evil

Yaroslav Walker
Director Jonathan Glazer bests Spielberg thanks to a quality of attention.
4min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A young couple lounge on floating rings in a swimming pool.

Perpetually present in Palm Springs

Beatrice Scudeler
A movie's time loop explores the meaning in the mundane.
7min read
Podcast
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A woman sits in a blue velver high wing chair and speaks while bringing her hands together in front of her with balled fists.

Jessica Oyelowo: re-enchanting Hollywood and motherhood

Nick Jones
A creative force of nature: Jessica talks with Belle and Justin about what dreaming big dreams looks like when faith is involved.
1min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Music
Through illuminated dry smoke, a figure stands tall, holding a light up to his head.

A day, night and dawn with Nick Cave’s lyrics

Jonathan Evens
Does Adam Steiner’s rappel into Cave’s art help us understand its purpose?
8min read
Podcast
  1. Comedy
  2. Culture
A sitting man raises one hand above his head to emphasise a point, while two other people looking on are laughing.

Milton Jones: re-enchanting laughter

Nick Jones
The king of the one-liners talks comedy with Belle and Justin.
1min read
Article
  1. Art
  2. Culture
An artist holds a sketchbook while standing overlooking a deserted village by a bay, sided by jagged cliffs.

St Kilda: sketching sanctuary and struggle

Alastair Gordon
A remote Scottish island’s many meanings catch an artist’s eye.
6min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Time
A airy and light station concourse in which people stand and look at a long set of travel information screen.

Taking the train taught me about time travel

James Sampson-Foster
A delay gives time to think about time.
2min read
Podcast
  1. Culture
  2. Doubt
A young man wearing a dark suit talks to a minister wearing regalia.

Seen & Unseen Aloud: new episode

Nick Jones
Listen now. A deep dive into doubt, inspired by Prince William, and a sensory journey through Lent and Easter.
1min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Politics
Flowers and notes of condolence for Alexander Navalny lie in a pile.

Shall the tyrants win?

Michael Bird
Understanding Navalny's death.
4min read
Essay
  1. Culture
  2. War & peace
A religious icon is propped on the side of a trench, a soldier can be seen further down the trench.

Swords now, ploughshares later

Tom Simpson
There’s a moral case for investing in defence capabilities right now.
7min read