Battles in Print & Culture Wars

Battles in Print are specially-commissioned essays that explore topics being discussed at the Battle of Ideas, serving as introductions to the debate and encouraging further reflection. Battles in Print take a variety of forms, from short provocation essays to longer think pieces and interviews, and are available both online and in print at the festival itself. They are complemented by themed book reviews on Culture Wars, the Academy of Ideas' online review.

Editors: Dolan Cummings and Sarah Boyes

Select a theme on the left to see related Battles in Print from the archive. You can also narrow your selection by selecting a year below and clicking Go! Or return to the overall index

2009 2008 2007 2006
Arts & Culture

The value of poetry, Michele Ledda

What's the point of archeology?, Christopher Wakefield

Judgement in crisis, Chris Kerr

Criticism in crisis?, Nick Westbrook

What does music mean?, Sarah Boyes

"Books should remain the essence of public libraries", Andrew Wheelhouse vs. Kiranjeet Kaur Gill

Should art change the world?, Andrew Brighton

Can films change the world?, Josh Appignanesi

The Battle for the Arts, Colin Lawson

Festival Buzz
Each to his iPod or Great Music For All

View: Each to his iPod or Great Music For All

"It alerts me to new areas of debate, and gives thought-provoking new angles on topics I thought I already knew well. Altogether it's a wonderful intellectual tonic, which cheers up the dog days of November."
Ivan Hewett, music critic, Daily Telegraph