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

Humour me
'It is the interaction between the stage and the audience that makes theatre the perfect medium for political debate, discussion and ideas'
Michael Wynne, The Guardian, 2 May 2003

The Eclipse of Art: tackling the crisis in art today
One of the art world's most outspoken critics explores the modern public's alienation from contemporary art, and makes a powerful plea for the revival of communication, accessibility, and traditional skills in this field.
Julian Spalding, Prestel, 16 April 2003

International Dimensions
Each section of the report is richly illustrated with practical examples of the National Museums' contribution to agendas of fundamental global importance: from the dialogue between cultures to the preservation of the world's natural assets. The work reaches well beyond the fields of operation traditionally associated with museums.
National Museums Directors' Conference, 6 June 2002

How do you judge art?
If I write a five-star review of an artist's work, while another critic finds it worthy of only one star - who is right?
Jonathan Jones, Guardian, 9 October 2001

Hengeworld
This story of the discovery of a lost civilisation that spanned five centuries, a civilisation that now lies mostly beneath the fields of Southern England.

Mike Pitts, Arrow Books, 2 August 2001

The age of ignorance
Why bother with the classics today? Our lack of knowledge about ancient civilisation leaves us blind to a true understanding of the modern world
AC Grayling, New Statesman, 30 July 2001

What Is Literature?
'Since critics condemn me in the name of literature without ever saying what they mean by that, the best answer to give them is to examine the art of writing without prejudice. What is writing? Why does one write? For whom? The fact is, it seems that nobody has ever asked himself these questions.' - Jean-Paul Sartre

Jean-Paul Sartre, Routledge, 18 May 2001

In-yer-face Theatre: British drama today
The most controversial and newsworthy plays of British theatre are a rash of rude, vicious and provocative pieces by a brat pack of twentysomethings whose debuts startled critics and audiences with their heady mix of sex, violence and street-poetry.

Aleks Sierz, Faber & Faber, 5 March 2001

Documentary in crisis
We watch more factual television than any other nation. Reflecting on recent controversies, Malcolm Clark argues in defence of the genre
Malcolm Clark, New Statesman, 23 October 2000

Arts - what's in a word? Ethnic minorities and the arts
Includes key findings and recommendations for developing ethnic audiences for mainstream and culturally diverse arts, focusing on African, Caribbean, South Asian and Chinese
Helen Jermyn & Philly Desai, Arts Council England, 2000


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