in Culture Wars, December 16, 2011

‘I am the simulacrum of myself’

Baudrillard, A Graphic Guide, by Chris Horrocks and Zoran Jevtic (Icon Books, 2011)

in spiked, November 30, 2011

Classical music ain’t just for snobs

Demanding and ambitious, the BBC’s Symphonyseries recalls a time when Haydn and Mozart were pop.

in spiked, November 8, 2011

Questo corso è molto prevenuto

Language courses always come with baggage, like the BBC one that teaches you to talk about climate change in Italian.

in spiked, October 21, 2011

Stone Roses reunion would be Fool’s Gold

The doyens of Madchester have announced a comeback, but they should stay where they belong: in our memories.

in spiked, September 16, 2011

All together: ‘We’re the best country in the world’

The Last Night of the Proms is about more than Little Englanders having a sing-song. It’s a celebration of nationalism itself.

in spiked, August 19, 2011

Love the music, hate the artist

Wagner may have been a vile anti-Semite and Bono might be a self-righteous plonker, but their music can still be great.

in spiked, July 15, 2011

Mash-ups: a Derridean delight

Pomo thinkers said ours is an era of endless cultural cannibalism. The rise of the internet mash-up has proved them righ

in spiked, June 3, 2011

Don’t they remember Elvis the Pelvis?

Far from suddenly using ‘faux porn’ to sell records, pop stars have always been sexist and, well, sexy.

in spiked, June 30, 2011

Father Kit: neither monster nor saint

It’s a shock to the system when you discover that an old family friend was once a ‘paedophile priest’.

in Voltaire (Sweden) May 2011

THIN LIZZY OCH DEN PLATONISKA ESSENTIALISMEN

in spiked, May 6, 2011

Pride and self-pity, set to music

National anthems are generally tedious, jingoistic dirges - but they come alive when we watch sporting events we actually care about.

in spiked, March 4, 2011

Viva Verdi?

As Italy approaches its 150th birthday, Verdi’s ability to stir nationalist sentiment has apparently become problematic.

in spiked, February 4, 2011

Thin Lizzy and Platonic essentialism
What's the point of Thin Lizzy when Phil Lynott is dead? A band is just a brand without its creative founders.

from spiked, January 7, 2011

The joy of wallowing in musical misery
Kicking off his new music column, Patrick West sticks up for the cathartic power of self-pitying songs.