Culture
Scottish identity: the play’s the thing
“The play is a powerful reminder to outsiders to listen first and speak cautiously about what they think they know: culture and identity are constantly evolving, however much it might be more comforting if they…
Digital driftwood in a sea of social media
“The only way to navigate the social media landscape is to make a personal commitment to always try and return to a place of acute awareness of its danger and absurdity.” Loki on the need…
Defining the centre of the world
The Olympics are not going to disappear anytime soon, but they risk becoming unsustainable in a world facing climate change, rising inequality, corporate corruption and growing anger among those left behind by globalisation. And until…
EIF: greatest arts show on earth
The Edinburgh Festival is upon us again, a three-week spectacular that turns the Scottish capital into the biggest arts destination on the planet. It is in fact a number of different festivals, with the leading…
Mr Demarco, networking genius, art supremo
(Richard) “Demarco has long seen it as his role to ensure Scotland maintained its connections with Europe, having originally been inspired by the divisions that scarred the continent following World War II…He sought to highlight…
The German (and European) violence challenge
The German chancellor has insisted there will be no change to her country’s policy towards immigration and refugees. “We can manage our historic task – and this is a historic test in times of globalisation…
Ooh la la! The myth of the sexy French
“Each country’s culture perpetuates myths about its closest rivals that often have no basis in reality and which puzzle those from elsewhere”, says the author as she examines the origins of why we always talk…
Roch Winds and the illusions of Civic Nationalism
A review of a fine new book by three young writers that offers a much needed razor-sharp critique of Scotland’s emerging political monoculture.
Truth about Culloden hidden for 300 years
“Culloden was the final significant defeat of a Scottish alternative to the British state. The irony is that a federal British Isles under a single crown, which had existed between 1603 and 1707 and is…
‘The idea of Europe’
If Britain does indeed vote ‘Leave’, and the gradual disintegration of the European Union were to gather pace, what would be left of ‘the idea of Europe’? Thoughts on the continued relevance of a classic…
The meaning of Jeremy Corbyn
In Richard Seymour the Corbyn phenomenon has found its ideal commentator: this is a powerful analysis that will frustrate both the new Labour leader’s opponents and supporters.
James Hutton and deep time poetry
James Hutton, the great Enlightenment scientist, was born 290 years ago today (June 3). Here Ron Butlin, former Edinburgh Makar, celebrates the work of the Father of Modern Geology.