Culture
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Despite Covid, Halloween can be spooktastic
Is it time to rethink Halloween? Its opponents are delighted that the pandemic has put a damper on this year’s fun. But fans of the festival are determined to find safe ways to celebrate.
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Paul McCartney: my lockdown ‘messing around’
Is he the greatest songwriter of all time? Paul McCartney has announced a new solo album, nearly six decades on from the height of Beatlemania. It is already being tipped as a Christmas hit.
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Excuse me for pressing you on this, but…
Have we lost the art of the interview? A series of classic conversations with 20th-century icons has just been reissued by the BBC. It reveals the surprising power of old-fashioned TV.
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The man taking the fashion world by storm
Can fashion influence politics? As part of our series on modern role models to mark Black History Month, we look at the stellar career of the ground-breaking magazine editor Edward Enninful.
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Seeing the world through an animal’s eyes
Are animals the best teachers? Two annual photography awards, and an extraordinary new documentary, highlight how much we can learn from other creatures about the workings of our planet.
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New book reveals unsolved ghost mysteries
Could ghosts really exist? A new book tells the true story of a suburban housewife in the 1930s whose extraordinary experiences obsessed the public – and baffled expert ghost-hunters.
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Louise Glück wins Nobel prize for Literature
Does literature still matter? The American poet Louise Gluck won the Nobel Prize yesterday for her “universal” work – but some think literature is no longer a major part of modern culture.
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The school that set its sights on Hollywood
Can we all achieve our dreams? Today sees the premiere of a full-length film made by a London state school that will be streamed all over the world – making stars of its teenage actors.
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Zephaniah: the poet who set the world on fire
Does inspiration come from within? To mark Black History Month, The Day is launching a series of stories about modern black role models. Our first is the hugely popular Benjamin Zephaniah.
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BBC rival ‘good for democracy’ says TV star
Should news really be impartial? British households may soon be able to tune into a new opinion-led TV news channel, but critics worry that it will further widen political divisions.
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The historic sites built with slave money
Does it matter if historical monuments have links with slavery? Some claim that we are dwelling too much on the past, but others think that we should be ashamed of our colonial history.
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Respect manual work more, says top author
Do we give too much status to the clever? The sudden rise of populism in Europe and America baffled politicians and experts. Now, one leading author has proposed a surprising new theory.
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Celebrities boycott social media for a day
Are celebrities right to boycott social media? Some big names turned off Facebook and Instagram yesterday to protest against fake news, but many say they are hitting the wrong target.
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‘It doesn’t matter about your sexuality’
Is Strictly Come Dancing a force for good? Some see its same-sex announcement as profit-driven publicity-seeking, while others celebrate it as a positive step towards social change.
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The Disney film whipping up a desert storm
Should entertainers steer clear of politics? The makers of Mulan hope it will draw audiences back to cinemas. But critics say that it and its star are endorsing a brutal Chinese regime.