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. Culture
  2. Death & life
A woman guest on a podcast sits at a table with a mic in front, gesturing to the side with both hands.

Dame Sue Black: re-enchanting death

Nick Jones
The leading forensic scientist talks with Justin and Belle about her work and our reluctance to look death in the eye.
1min read
Article
  1. Art
  2. Culture
A painting depicts a man a prophet pointing skywards while another person sleeps on the ground

Why is religious art still popular?

Susan Gray
What looters, curators and today's public find in a genre that survives the centuries.
5min read
Podcast
  1. Culture
  2. Podcasts
A hand held out is gentle grasped by a turning person.

Love for friends, neighbours and team mates

Natalie Garrett
Celebrating friendship, mediating on who is my neighbour, and bonding on a quiz show.
1min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Identity
A model of an office desk and shelves, at which a green plastic person sits leaning into the desk.

Even the office can be a place for self-discovery

Henna Cundill
What the office makes us feel about ourselves
5min read
Interview
  1. Art
  2. Attention
An artist sits in front of a board covered in images, canvases and paper.

Interview: Alastair Gordon on the artist’s attention

Jonathan Evens
Why the overlooked and everyday capture the creative gaze.
5min read
Article
  1. Community
  2. Culture
Four quiz show contestants stand behind a table with the show host.

Here’s why strangers unite on The Chase

Stuart Haynes
Chasing the prize isn't everything on the TV quiz show.
5min read
Review
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
In a retro-future styled office, workers stand or sit around a pod of desks.

Severance: the ins and outs of seeking oblivion

Josh Richards
We can't contain trauma to just one sphere of our lives.
4min read
Review
  1. Comedy
  2. Culture
A movie still shows a Roman amphitheatre, covered in body parts, over which a sign reads 'children's matinee'.

When I watched Life of Brian with my teenage kids…

James Cary
The universe is still not making sense.
7min read
Review
  1. Books
  2. Culture
Two angels converse.

The provocateur philosopher who wants to wean us off the junk food of popular science

Isaac Frisby
David Bentley Hart serves up meat on mind and matter.
8min read
Article
  1. Culture
  2. Film & TV
Two hobbits gaze at something.

Why we rewatch The Lord of The Rings each year

Steve Dew-Jones
Great quotes, powerful themes, stir memories.
4min read
Article
  1. America
  2. Character
Elon Musk sits next to Donald Trump on a plan, while giving the thumbs up gesture with both hands.

What would make America great again - humility

Graham Tomlin
Hubris, Hope and Humility - and how they fit together in the court of King Donald
5min read
Article
  1. AI
  2. Character
A worker at a desk sits back contemplating a situation

Apple’s AI ads show how we can lose our moral skills

Jenny Lander
Apple Intelligence promises to safeguard us from the worst of ourselves.
7min read