Culture

The legacy of the caricature

That the ‘In Memoriam’ section of the 2026 Academy Awards is going to be a serious tear-jerker was solidified by the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry over two consecutive days.

The problem with Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

Nolan had all the tools for greatness. Instead, to my eternal frustration, his 'Odyssey' will always only be just alright.

‘One Night Only’ (2026) and the death of romance

Romance movies are, on the whole, my favourite movie genre. But good romance movies, like good romantic relationships, are hard to find, and easy to mess up.

Caught between grief and hope: ‘On Some Far Shore’ reviewed

Fresh off the back of 'Our House' and 'Macbeth', Cross Key Productions presents an original three-hander focused on the complexities of grief and young love.

JD Weaver: Changing perceptions

JD Weaver talks to Sophie Jordan about discrimination in the music industry

Is Pixar Just For Children?

Jack Schofield suggests Pixar is just as much for grown-ups

Review: Mystery Jets – Curve of the Earth

The indie stalwarts' latest release impresses Rushabh Haria

Wall Street Revisited

Tom Barrie feels more left-wing after watching 'The Big Short'

Daughter rocks to fuzzy guitar serenity

Ellen Peirson-Hagger watches the London indie trio descend into a hazy stage mist

Review: The Fastest Clock in the Universe

Beckie Rutherford finds this production a little too 'in-yer-face' for her taste

Review: Field Music – Commontime

Field Music move on to mature indie in their new album

Culture Corner: ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’

Bex Watson examines the exquisite artistry of ‘I Believe in a Thing Called Love’, by The Darkness

Maybe darkness ain’t too bad

Thomas Hornigold muses on the human obsession with escaping darkness

Preview: Heavy Petting (Oxford Revue)

Matt Roberts urges you to go and be heavily petted

Preview: Amour

The International Rameau Ensemble brings French Baroque to Oxford on 6th February

Spooky Sets and Stuffed Cats: Ben Travers’ Aldwych Farces

Jack Bradfield looks at the neglected playwright Ben Travers in the run up to the appearance of 'Thark' next week

Spotlight: lip service to modernity

Matt Roberts is frustrated by gimmicks and hashtags from a director who should know better

Constellations: Preview

Richard Birch hopes the stars align for this compelling adaptation

The Union’s Holy Trinity

A look ahead to the three stellar speakers at the Union next week

The Bible — an overlooked literary skeleton key

Harriette Drew explains why we need scripture to understand literature

Is This Art? My Carpet

With the definition of art increasingly unclear, the Cherwell Art and Books team are on a mission to decide what art is. This week Naomi Gee takes on her carpet

Poetry Bites – HT 1

This week Athol Williams thinks about theories

Berlin, Bowie, and the wall

Ben Ray talks memory and motivation with the author Rory MacLean

The Brand New Victorians

Olivia Sung discusses the current trends in BBC adaptations

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