Civilisation- Page 71

Art, books, music, theatre and criticism from Standpoint. Criticism as argument, not consumer advice.

Bad Beyond Imagination

Bernhard Schlink's novel, The Reader, is both artistically and morally fraudulent. The oscar-winning film that sprung from it is no better

February 16, 2009

Critique·Film·Germany·History·Literature

Mumbai: On the ‘Slumdog’ Trail

Standpoint‘s Writer-At-Large visits the slums of Mumbai to assess the Oscar-winning film The Mumbai slums where Danny Boyle shot Slumdog Millionaire are a world of surprises. There are the gaggles of uniformed

February 13, 2009

Developing World·Dispatches·Economy·Film·India·Social Affairs

Park City, Utah: Movie that Pulls Aside the Veil

A new documentary made in Afghanistan has won two awards at the the Sundance Film Festival. Afghan Star could help the cause of feminism there and encourage a desperately-needed sense of national

February 12, 2009

Afghanistan·Developing World·Dispatches·Faith·Film·Foreign Aid·Gender·Human Rights·Islam·Military·Music·Social Affairs·War on Terror

Faces that Don’t Quite Fit

When it came to painting portraits, Constable struggled to emulate his mastery of landscape

February 12, 2009

Architecture·Art·Iran

I Think, Therefore I Am – An Individual

How the modern ideal of individuality can leave us adrift in a value-free world

January 28, 2009

Academia·Critique·Faith·Philosophy

Annie v. Elvis

When celebrities get involved in politics, they should look to Elvis rather than Annie Lennox In January, Annie Lennox released a statement on the Gaza conflict, saying that as a mother and

January 28, 2009

Counterpoints·Foreign Aid·Media·Modern Life·Music·Philanthropy·Political Correctness·Politics

Desperation’s Noticeboard

Classified: The Secret History of the Personal Column by H.G. Cocks

January 28, 2009

Books·Gender·History·Media·Modern Life·Publishing

Birds of a Feather

Plumes: Ostrich Feathers, Jews, and a Lost World of Global Commerce by Sarah A. Stein The ostrich is an exceedingly ugly bird with beautiful feathers – so beautiful that for four decades

January 28, 2009

Agriculture·Books·History·International·Judaism

Nothing Left But the Credits

Philip French, who has died aged 82, was the doyen of British film criticism. In 2009, in the run-up to the Oscars, he discusses the demise of cinema as an art form

January 26, 2009

Dialogue·Film·Media·Modern Life·Theatre