Culture
Welcome to our Culture section. Here we explore vibrant and inspiring work from across the globe and examine issues such as identity, cultural appropriation, the role of art, globalization, sponsorship and the impact of digital technology on cultural practices.
We talk to leading cultural figures, exploring their politics, inspirations, and visions for the future.
We cover a range of topics including: art books film music media photography.
In our reviews, we analyse and critique both mainstream and independent book, film, and music, to help you discover thought-provoking movies, new sounds and page-turners that are too often ignored by mainstream media.
You’ll find coverage of events and festivals that showcase the diversity of cultural practices and traditions, highlighting the power of art to bring people together and promote social change. We also explore the ways in which power dynamics and colonial legacies continue to shape our cultural experiences.
Our aim is to foster a greater understanding of our complex world through the lens of culture, which is not just a passive reflection of our world, but an active participant in its transformation.
The Unreported Year 2016
Stories and photos you may have missed in the last 12 months. Compiled by Jo Lateu.
FiSahara: the world's most remote film festival
The festival offers refugees and international guests excitement and windows into forgotten worlds, writes Stefan Simanowitz.
Did the British Museum sell ‘Day of the Dead’ to BP?
New documents tell a damning story of an iconic museum, its oil sponsor and a rights-violating government. Chris Garrard reports.
Ken Loach on 'I, Daniel Blake': what happens when people leave the cinema?
The media present poverty as the fault of the poor, Ken Loach tells Malcolm Lewis in this interview.
Ghosts
The suicide of a Cuban immigrant to Florida calls up all kinds of phantoms for Anna, herself a migrant from the Czech Republic. By Ana Menéndez.
Fat
A young South Korean‘s attempts to avoid conscription by becoming obese cause uproar in his family. Written by Krys Lee.
What exactly is ‘world fiction’?
Chris Brazier interviews Elleke Boehmer, Professor of World Literature in English at Oxford University.
The Zapatista's CompArte art festival in images
Over a thousand artists gathered in Chiapas, Mexico for an art festival for humanity. Ryan Mallett-Outtrim reports, in this photo essay.
Culture of the heart: from China to the West
A great-grandfather’s autobiographical account reveals a window into the past and present, writes Peter Kenworthy.
Why Brazil’s art scene is fighting the impeachment
The country's artists are in motion, reports Kimberley Brown.
Mostafa's story
One man's inspiring but disturbing journey to become a rickshaw rider in Bangladesh. Photos by Ana Norman Bermudez.
‘I’m talking about disruption’
Rapper and poet Saul Williams talks to Chris Garrard about politics, prisoners and the power of imprecision.
The face behind the PKK story
Every journalist who's visited the PKK's mountain stronghold in recent years knows Zagros Hiwa, reports Karlos Zurutuza.
Freer than the wind – the art of Ai Weiwei
Hannah Garrard visits the Chinese dissident artist’s exhibition at London’s Royal Academy.
What can Mad Max tell us about water scarcity?
Beulah Devaney finds an unexpected message in the Hollywood blockbuster.
‘Lithuanian, Romanian, what’s the difference?’
Paul Wojnicki laments the acceptance of casual racism in British society.
Clickbait and stereotypes: media coverage of the DR Congo
Virgil Hawkins decries the media’s ease of conscience when it comes to attracting readers.
‘Our language is our soul’: saving Aymara
Alexia Kalaitzi on the fight to digitally preserve this indigenous American tongue.
Sign language is our rightful mother tongue
Jill Jones explains why signing is particularly vulnerable to dying out – and why this basic human right must be protected.
Should we fight the system or be the change?
Mark Engler and Paul Engler on the strengths and limitations of prefigurative politics.
We need to look past, not at, disability
People living with disability face fear, prejudice and awkwardness in their interactions with others, says Koren Helbig.
The BBC having Clegg and Farage debate immigration is a bad-taste joke
It’s like asking whether you should beat your wife weekly or daily,
complains Kate Smurthwaite.
‘You need a thick skin to cope with disability’
Other people’s comments can be devastating – but a Twitter campaign is exposing the ‘able’ world’s prejudices and ignorance. Koren Helbig explains.
Benjamin Zephaniah: ‘It is my duty to help and inspire’
Mischa Wilmers talks to the poet turned professor about mentoring, Mandela and making a difference.
Confronting the seven myths of Israel’s history
Israeli filmmaker Lia Tarachansky tells Frank Barat about the challenges and rewards of making On The Side of the Road.
Ken Loach: why I support a cultural boycott of Israel
The acclaimed film director talks to Frank Barat about Palestine, politics, and why he wants to keep causing trouble.
Living on One – the reality of a dollar-a-day existence
Struggling to understand the meaning of poverty, four students took on a challenge, with unforeseen consequences, writes Anna Bevan.
Emmanuel Jal: ‘Our freedom fighters have become dictators’
The musician, activist and former child soldier gives a sombre assessment of life in South Sudan two years after independence.
A word with Mark Thomas
As he gears up for the Edinburgh Fringe, the political comedian spills a few beans to Jo Lateu.
A word with comic Keith Farnan
The Irish comedian tells Jo Lateu that Father Ted is a hero, but that Bono should be banished.
A word with US comedian Lee Camp
The stand-up comic, writer, activist and actor tells Jo Lateu who makes him laugh… and who definitely does not.
Aimé Césaire: a leader of the (cultural) struggle
Philip Crispin celebrates the centenary of the Martinican poet, playwright and politician who showed that Empire ‘writes back.’
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The Palestinian boy who remains 10 years old
Noreen Sadik tells the story of Handala, a young refugee created by cartoonist Naji al-Ali. A child that won’t age until he can return home. 
Why do some conflicts get more media coverage than others?
Nick Harvey considers the role – and the agenda – of the global media in making the news.
'At home in this universe': Alice Walker in her own words
The award-winning author, poet and activist considers herself above all a daughter of the Earth, as she explains to Frank Barat.
