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.
Editor: 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
The value of poetry, Michele Ledda
The street just ain't got much edge, Alan Miller
Should music be a tool of social policy?, Alan Miller
Fashion and me: nothing wrong with looking good, Abigail Ross Jackson
Deshistoricising the Holocaust: remembrance and the abandonment of history , Dr Jean-Marc Dreyfus
What's the point of archeology?, Christopher Wakefield
Judgement in crisis, Chris Kerr
Criticism in crisis?, Nick Westbrook
A Journeying Perspective, Jack Tan
The Truth? - you must be making it up!, Sarah Boyes
Whose culture is it anyway?, Sarah Boyes
Social critique by stealth: why a subversive heart supplies the veins of all good comedy, Anna Travis
Won't read, can't read, don't read?, Angus Kennedy
The Gates of Eden are rusting!, Don Eales
What does music mean?, Sarah Boyes
"Books should remain the essence of public libraries", Andrew Wheelhouse vs. Kiranjeet Kaur Gill
Sound, city and song (or, iPod, therefore iAm), Sarah Snider
Film stars: from icons to role models, Nathalie Rothschild
The Music Manifesto misses the real power of music, Piers Hellawell
Diversity policies and the arts - what's next?, Sonya Dyer
Each to his iPod, or great music for all?, Anca Dumitrescu
Should art change the world?, Andrew Brighton
Can films change the world?, Josh Appignanesi
The Medium is Not the Message, Tim Black
Enriching the reading experience, Toby Lichtig
The Battle for the Arts, Colin Lawson
Debating Matters on poetry, David Bowden
Consuming Children - Neil Davenport
"As ever, the Battle of Ideas is full of stimulating and lively argument. It's fun to be able to clash robustly in a good-humoured atmosphere."
Martin Wright, Editor in chief, Green Futures