Culture

The rise of the pop girlie: Marketing mediocrity or feminism in action?  

“GIRLS INVENTED PUNK ROCK, NOT ENGLAND”: so reads the iconic green T-shirt of Sonic Youth legend Kim Gordon. The slogan stands in defiance of an unfortunate truth in the music industry: femininity and credibility often exist in contention with one another.

World music after ‘world music’

On the face of it, the term ‘world music’ is perhaps one of the...

NAZA: The most important film of the year

The filmmakers of NAZA clearly know that beyond physical distance, emotional distance is what allows the violence in Gaza to continue, and shows us just how easy it is to ignore what is going on right under our noses.

In conversation with John Kennedy, “one of the most trusted voices in music”

In a media landscape often dominated by gossip, rumours, and sometimes pure hate, it’s undeniably refreshing to listen to John, a man who never lost sight of what really matters.

Review: Catching A Tiger

Sam Pilgrim reviews the latest "indie-folk-rock-soulful-heartfelt" release by Lissie

The Brain Behind the Penis

A review of Dr. Louann Brizendine’s new book, The Male Brain

I Scream

Owain Jevons traces the various musical uses of mankind's most primal sound

The Mummification of Classical Music

Has the Classical music world stopped composing and started decomposing?

Interview: Mark Norfolk

Film director Mark Norfolk talks about his life and lessons in independent filmmaking.

Reviewed: Bombay Bicycle Club

'Flaws' is a step up from its predecessor, to say the least

Headfoes: can you trust your own earpieces?

Sam Pilgrim bears good news for the otology business

Whoa! Lad at WOMAD

Joseph King cuts through the jungle of generic music festivals to find something rawer

The best of all the year’s festivals?

Alex Dudok de Wit chews, digests and regurgitates his Bestival experience

Review: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice

Glossy effects can't hide this clunky film's glaring flaws.

Review: Reading Festival

The Libertines, Arcade Fire, Foals all reviewed

‘Imperial Bedrooms’ by Bret Easton Ellis

Growing pains for the Brat Pack star as he returns to the cast of his first novel

Enter the Dragonette?

Cherwell invites synth-pop’s perennial underachievers to apply for Oxford

Film isn’t dead

Will Self argues that film is dead, and Ben Kirby couldn't disagree more.

Review: The Secret in Their Eyes

This powerfully moving and thoroughly absorbing film is one of the year's best.

Review: The Girl Who Played With Fire

A disappointingly bland and confused adaptation of Larsson's superior book.

DVD Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

A stylish adaptation that can't quite help losing some of the book's appeal.

Interview: Lola Perrin

The piano world's morning-star charms Cherwell

Review: Salt

Angelina Jolie's new vehicle is preposterous, convoluted and surprisingly entertaining.

Playwriting that pays the bills

An interview with playwright, Rachel Barnett on her new work, The Law of Inertia

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