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.

Column
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A crazed-looking man walks away from a burning backdrop.

Why do films portray Christians as crazy?

Roger Bretherton
Exploring why films often portray the god-fearing as ‘always so god-damn weird’, psychologist Roger Bretherton recalls a first divine experience.
7min read
Editor's pick
  1. Culture
  2. Weirdness
A felled decidious tree lies sprawled on the ground. The freshly sawn stump and roots are in the foreground

The felled tree: decoding the destruction

Theodore Brun
The deliberate felling of an iconic tree is a story that author Theodore Brun had heard somewhere before, prompting him to explore the reactions to it further.
5min read
Podcast
  1. America
  2. Culture
A woman seated at a table gestures with both hands while talking

Re-enchanting... conversion & US evangelicalism

Nick Jones
Journalist and professor Molly Worthen talks to Belle and Justin about what led her to embrace faith, after researching the good, the bad and the ugly of Christian history.
1min read
Podcast
  1. Comedy
  2. Culture
Around a table with microphones, three people record a podcast, one leans in talking and gesturing with a hand while the others listen.

My conversation with... Frank Skinner

Belle Tindall
Re-Enchanting... Comedy. Frank Skinner is only interested in the weird. In the un-graspable. In the outrageous. Belle Tindall gets a lesson in "super poetry" from Frank.
4min read
Weekend essay
  1. Culture
  2. Generosity
A group of old and young men sit on red sofas, listening to one of themselves.

From family to flourishing community, why relationships count so much

Rob Wickham
Little local acts of listening and kindness shed light on an age-old question, writes Rob Wickham - am I my brother’s keeper?
5min read
Podcast
  1. Culture
  2. Re-enchanting
At a podcast recording in a room overlooking Big Ben, A man holds his hand up in gesture while speaking

Re-Enchanting season two is live

Nick Jones
Find out who's sharing with Belle and Justin this season.
1min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A family arrive at an overnight stay, enter a room and look around uncertainly

Two terrible travelogues in search of their storylines

Yaroslav Walker
Yaroslav Walker would rather get to a monastery than recommend these threequels.
7min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Politics
A suited politician stands looking pensive, framed by two out of focus audience members.

The tragic heart of British politics

Belle Tindall
As political party conferences commence, Belle TIndall is riveted and repulsed by the scandals, toxicity and true tragedy at the heart of Rory Stewart’s memoir.
6min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
A man and a woman sit in a cathedral pew and incline their heads towards each other.

The real hearts of oak

Krish Kandiah
The power of the lens, food and hospitality drive the hope in Ken Loach’s last film. Krish Kandiah reviews The Old Oak.
4min read
Review
  1. Addiction
  2. Art
A painting shows a group of refugees waiting behind a barrier across a road, the background is intense yellow.

To the abyss and back. The art of Peter Howson

Alastair Gordon
Painter Peter Howson captures personal conflict, toxic masculinity and horrific wars. Alastair Gordon reviews his work. Part of the Problem with Men series.
5min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Music
A illustration of a boy sitting in a field with his back to us, above him is a heart shaped cloud.

Imagining our heart’s fragile condition

Belle Tindall
The songs and sketches of Paul Simon and Charlie Mackesy invites us to seek out sacred answers. Belle Tindall reviews their Sevens Psalms collaboration.
6min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Masculinity
Three young men sit on a couch. One is leering at a phone while the others look on hesitantly

Russell Brand and the bystanders: how to say enough is enough

Tiffany Bluhm
When calling out misogyny, low standards are expected of men. Tiffany Bluhm assesses the ‘Say Maaate’ campaign and explores bystander intervention. Part of the Problem with Men series.
5min read