Some criteria for “worst films”

I’m not a fan of the film critic Joe Queenan – a man for whom the word “meretricious” might have … More

Picasso’s paradox

A quote from Picasso: “Art is a lie that tells the truth”.

I’ve just turned up some notes from a visit to last year’s exhibition about the inspirational black American singer and … More

This quote from the film-maker Claude Lanzmann, who made Shoah, among other documentaries: “Museums and monuments institute oblivion as well … More

Edward Elgar said that Pomp and Circumstance was “A tune that comes once in a lifetime”. But he knew how … More

Sean O’Brien has an article in The Guardian’s Review today in which he suggests that poetry is difficult for readers … More

I work in futures (of the strategy and scenarios kind, not the financial speculation) which is how I first came … More

I’m moving my workspace at home at the moment, and keep turning up notebooks or scraps of paper on which … More

I watched Preston Sturges’ 1941 film Sullivan’s Travels again at the weekend. Without rehashing the plot, Sullivan, celebrated (and rich) … More