Can we ever know what will escape the oblivion of history?
We can never know why the modern reader prefers Jane Austen to Walter Scott, or if anyone will still be reading Hilary Mantel in a century’s…
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Oliver Farry
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Sinister structures or homely beacons: why lighthouses stand firm as a cultural symbol
Though they are rarely operational these days, lighthouses remain culturally powerful and maintain a strong hold on the imagination.
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Why do some directors repeatedly use the same actors in their films?
Looking behind the preferred casts of directors throughout the history of cinema who always use the same actors.
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Lyrics accompanying a city symphony: street names help us do more than just find our way
Street names tell of a city's character and story, rather than simply being a function to help us get…
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Is it possible to make a good film about writing?
Too often, films are very inarticulate when talking about books.
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How do you make a film about a dictator?
Beyond propaganda, trying to get under the skin of despots and dictators is a near-impossible task.
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The Irish identity crisis: why St Patrick’s Day is an odd holiday
For such a small country, there is far too great a divergence within it to attempt to define a…
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From brutalism to Borgen to blogging: how the language of cities has changed
Do you speak urbanism? The way we read and write in the language of cities has transformed.
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The crack of the spine: why do we find wear and tear in books so comforting?
Objects that feel lived in give us a comforting feeling of having come a long way, of having been…
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