The Syria Catastrophe
An analysis of the civil war in Syria that calls for an antimilitarist approach whilst recognising the challenges standing in the way of such a resolution.
How to Culture Jam a Populist in Four Easy Steps
Compelling article addressed to anyone that suddenly finds themselves a target of a populist authoritarian administration. The author lived through Hugo Chavez’s repressive and economically disastrous regime in Venezuela and seeks to share lessons from that time with today’s Americans.
Man v Rat
A fascinating study of the age old battle between humans and rats, one of the few species to challenge our supremacy on this planet.
Alan Rusbridger’s Guardian is on a suicide mission
There is more than a whiff of the hatchet job to the piece on The Guardian written by a self-described “friend of the paper” who has had a “falling out” with his erstwhile chum. There’s nothing like a bit of personal animosity to make for an interesting read. Beyond that though, it’s a case study of the dynamics of running one of the world’s largest media groups (and burning $45m a year in cash while doing so.).
Dry, the Beloved Country
A piece that examines the response to a severe drought in Cape Town. Whilst undoubtedly a crisis, it has also become “a kind of vast, unplanned, crazy—and fabulous—social experiment”.
The End of Independent Film As We Know It
A deep dive into how independent film makers are striving to make it work in the era of Netflix and Amazon Prime, and the impact on the major studios.
Future Shock
A piece looking back at Alfonso Cuaron’s 2006 masterpiece Children of Men, which presents a dark yet recognisable version of the world, with one key difference – humans have lost the ability to reproduce. The article finds parallels in the state of the world portrayed in the film and the political moment we find ourselves in today, assesses its cultural impact and explores its cinematography, including its iconic single-shot scenes.
The Agency
An extraordinary story profiling the Internet Research Agency, a Russian agency allegedly dedicated to spreading misinformation online about Russia’s enemies, both foreign and domestic.
Love – In Other Words
In 1960 Harper Lee, on assignment for Vogue, set about her allotted task – defining love. At the heart of her response, rather unexpectedly, was the Duke of Kent.