Culture
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Lipman attacks ‘silly’ Rylance for BP protest
Are celebrity resignations a waste of time? Oscar-winning Mark Rylance has left the Royal Shakespeare Company over BP funding. Maureen Lipman says he will live to “kick his own britches”.
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Toy Story 4 explores what it means to be alive
Why are we alive? This is the surprisingly existential question posed by a new character in Toy Story 4, released today. The new film tells the story of a plastic spork that comes to life.
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Anne Frank: Portrait of an icon as a young woman
Should we all keep a diary? An important part of Anne Frank’s writing is that she captures so much of what it is to be a teenager, even with secret pages musing on puberty and prostitutes.
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1984 at 70: Still relevant says Orwell’s son
Even after a lifetime, can a classic still have a message? Few novels have had such an effect, with ‘Big Brother’, ‘newspeak’ and ‘thoughtcrime’ now firmly embedded in the English language.
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Sun, sea and scandal over Love Island return
Should we feel guilty about watching Love Island? The show has been under fire for lack of diversity and exploiting some participants. But millions find it offers harmless fun and escapism.
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Climate change, #MeToo and Game of Thrones
Blood. Ice. Death. Fire. Revenge. Last night, after eight years on our screens, the epic fantasy series finally reached its end. But what was Game of Thrones really about?
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Music, peace and a flicker of hope in Israel
Can Eurovision help solve the Israel-Palestine conflict? An absurd suggestion, perhaps. But, this weekend, all eyes are on Tel Aviv as it hosts the world’s biggest, glitziest talent contest.
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‘Idiot’ pro players accused of ruining Fortnite
Season nine is here, with new challenges to explore. However, some players say the game is being ruined by professionals who no longer play fair. Is there any point still trying to win?
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Reality TV probe as Kyle show is cancelled
MPs are to probe the reality TV industry after the suspected suicide of a guest who was publicly humiliated for lying on the Jeremy Kyle Show. A judge has called it “human bear-baiting”.
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Killing Eve’s murderous women break TV taboo
Today, female characters can be bold, brave and strong — but what about violent? Killing Eve, which dominated the BAFTAs, is a story of complex women who are as bloodthirsty as any man.
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UK’s Tutankhamun found behind Essex Aldi
The discovery of a “King of Bling” buried with his harp is testament to the riches of Saxon civilisation. Saxons permeated society at every level. Could we call this early pop culture?
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Leonardo: artist, scientist, hipster, genius
This week, 500 years after his death, we honour Leonardo da Vinci, the man who created flying machines, scuba gear and a tennis racket — as well as the most beautiful artworks in history.
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Superhero mania as Avengers: Endgame released
After 11 years and 22 films in the Marvel universe, Avengers: Endgame is finally here. It could be one of the most successful films ever. Why do we love superhero movies so much?
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Human conversation is dying, research shows
It’s not just that we spend more time on FaceTime, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Skype. Evidence suggests that many of us choose digital communication over face-to-face. Is this a tipping point?
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Hope rises from the ashes of Notre Dame
The extraordinary global reaction to the huge fire in one of the world’s greatest cathedrals has prompted a profound debate about civilisation, spirituality and the failings of modernity.