Sneakers (or trainers for Brits), once the symbol of athleticism, have transcended their primary function to become commercial and fashionable objects of desire. From sportswear and street style to catwalk fashion, sneakers have made their mark as cultural commodities. The global sneaker market valued at approximately US$79 billion (£56 billion) in 2020 and is predicted… Continue reading The history of sneakers: from commodity to cultural icon
The dastaar — most commonly referred to as a turban — is perhaps Sikhism’s most visible expression of identity. We talked to 13 British Sikh men to learn about their identity, religious practice and their experiences of wearing the turban in the UK. They told us that they hoped the recent visibility of the turban… Continue reading We asked Sikh men in Britain what the turban means to them — here’s what they told us
Born in Florence in 1386, Donatello was, and remains, celebrated as one of the most skilled sculptors of the Renaissance. Studying under the likes of Ghiberti and Brunelleschi, he developed a style influenced heavily by the classical language of architecture but not restricted to this. He used materials ranging from wood to bronze and produced… Continue reading What makes Donatello’s sculptures so compelling?
“You mustn’t be afraid to dream a little bigger darling” Christopher Nolan is probably the Best Director of all time. His capacity to synthesize and merge complex story narratives with breathtaking cinematic set pieces is unique and due even more spectacular to the fact he authors what we see, or usually what we try our… Continue reading Directed Focus — Christopher Nolan
‘A walk-in attraction’ – Circus Maximus Experimental and genre-bending, Utopia offers a masterfully produced soundtrack combining Scott’s tactile, iconic sound with meticulous beats and instrumentals to create innovative music illustrating his versatility and willingness to take risks. While there may be a lack of a coherent artistic vision within the album, Scott stays true to… Continue reading Travis Scott continues to define his sound in Utopia
James Joyce’s Ulysses, which turned 102 last February, is now central to the literary canon and features on university literature courses around the world. However, it was not always as revered as it is now. In fact, it was banned as obscene before it was first published as a complete novel, regarded as a work… Continue reading Why Ulysses was banned for being obscene
Secrecy has become as important for corporations as transparent and taxable profits used to be, according to Raymond W. Baker in his new book Invisible Trillions. Global capitalism, he argues, operates beyond the rule of law. This contributes to extreme inequality that threatens liberal democracy. Deals in the financial secrecy system account for half of… Continue reading Invisible Trillions — global capitalism operates beyond the rule of law and threatens democracy
A cultural critic rails against a society that worships celebrity and prizes images over ideas. A progressive intellectual attacks the dominance of corporate elites. A curmudgeonly academic condemns his society’s ignorance of its past and the dumbing down of public education. A psychologically astute writer explores the conflicts eddying around gender and sexuality. Who are… Continue reading Seer of the selfie — in the culture of narcissism, Christopher Lasch excoriated his self-absorbed society
When OceanGate, the deep-sea exploration enterprise, created a promotional video for its ill-fated US$250,000-per-head trip to see the wreck of the Titanic, it told prospective passengers to: “Get ready for what Jules Verne could only imagine – a 12,500-foot journey to the bottom of the sea”. Those behind the video hoped viewers would recognise the… Continue reading Classic literature still offers rich lessons about life in the deep blue sea
Imagine a world where we knew the name of Homer, but the poetry of The Odyssey was lost to us. That was the world of the early Italian Renaissance during the second half of the 15th century. Many people knew the names of some early poets of Italian literature—those who were active during the 13th… Continue reading How a lost manuscript revealed the first poets of Italian literature
