Reading for Battle
Battle Readings is a regularly updated compilation of articles, essays, and opinion pieces relevant to the themes of the Battle of Ideas.
Choose a theme from the listing on the left to narrow your search, or view all readings.
Arts & Culture
Spirit for our age
Marx may have been inspired by him, but there is far more to Shelley's poetry than politics
Anne Wroe, Guardian, 6 July 2007
Marx may have been inspired by him, but there is far more to Shelley's poetry than politics
Anne Wroe, Guardian, 6 July 2007
No strings attached!
Why Arts Funding should say no to Instrumentalism
Claire Fox, Arts & Business, 4 July 2007
Why Arts Funding should say no to Instrumentalism
Claire Fox, Arts & Business, 4 July 2007
We should look to democracy, not poetry, to deliver justice
An anthology of poems by Guantanamo Bay detainees has been lauded by liberal commentators - but this sort of poetic justice makes a travesty of equality before the law.
Shirley Dent, Guardian Unlimited, 2 July 2007
An anthology of poems by Guantanamo Bay detainees has been lauded by liberal commentators - but this sort of poetic justice makes a travesty of equality before the law.
Shirley Dent, Guardian Unlimited, 2 July 2007
Where have all the rock stars gone?
With the shift from public to private consumption, and from mass to a niche culture, the very notion of popular music becomes outmoded
David Shumway, Chronicle of Higher Education, 21 June 2007
With the shift from public to private consumption, and from mass to a niche culture, the very notion of popular music becomes outmoded
David Shumway, Chronicle of Higher Education, 21 June 2007
Why are the Tories like Bernard Manning?
An Englishman, a Cuban, a Japanese man and a Pakistani were all on a train...
Alice Miles, The Times, 20 June 2007
An Englishman, a Cuban, a Japanese man and a Pakistani were all on a train...
Alice Miles, The Times, 20 June 2007
Surplus Manning
The late Bernard Manning will no doubt be rehabilitated by some as an 'edgy' funny man. But to me, he will always be an unreconstructed bigot.
Marcus Brigstocke, Guardian Unlimited, 19 June 2007
The late Bernard Manning will no doubt be rehabilitated by some as an 'edgy' funny man. But to me, he will always be an unreconstructed bigot.
Marcus Brigstocke, Guardian Unlimited, 19 June 2007
Ballet is elitist and won't enthuse children to take part
'With its elitist nature, ballet polarises audiences rather than acting as a common denominator'
Mario Lopez-Goicoechea, Guardian, 11 June 2007
'With its elitist nature, ballet polarises audiences rather than acting as a common denominator'
Mario Lopez-Goicoechea, Guardian, 11 June 2007
Black Gold
An articulate documentary causes Wendy Ide to think twice when ordering her morning caffeine hit.
Wendy Ide, The Times, 7 June 2007
An articulate documentary causes Wendy Ide to think twice when ordering her morning caffeine hit.
Wendy Ide, The Times, 7 June 2007
The Olympics killed my theatre company
My theatre company was to have celebrated its 20th anniversary next year. The Arts Council has put paid to that, making us victims of censorship.
Howard Barker, Guardian Theatre Blog, 5 June 2007
My theatre company was to have celebrated its 20th anniversary next year. The Arts Council has put paid to that, making us victims of censorship.
Howard Barker, Guardian Theatre Blog, 5 June 2007
What is China Thinking? - Alan Hudson
"I travel far to participate in the BOI; it’s a unique festival of free speech and debate that consistently combines energy, fearlessness and provocation with thoughtful, informed consideration of contemporary politics and culture."
Wendy Kaminer, US-based writer on law, liberty, feminism, religion, and popular culture
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