Culture The five most creative cities in the world?BBC Culture - By Libby BanksThe most buzzy, artistic places on the planet are not the ones you might expect – Libby Banks explores what actually makes a cultural hub. There is an assumption that creativity is all about individual
Film (UK) Film review: The Lion KingBBC Culture - By Caryn JamesDisney’s latest photo-realistic remake “is full of adventure and is just as sweetly engaging,” writes Caryn James. With its mythic story of life and death, not to mention a cast of lions and hyenas, The
Culture The brutal death that politicised New York’s art worldBBC Culture - By Matt BarkerIn the early 1980s, the death of a young graffiti artist in police custody shocked and enraged the likes of Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring – and changed the city’s creative community for ever, Matt
Film (UK) Why When Harry met Sally is the greatest romcom of all timeBBC Culture - By Nicholas BarberThirty years on from its release in 1989, Nicholas Barber rewatches Rob Reiner and Nora Ephron’s film and discovers the genius innovation that made it so successful. By the time Harry Connick Jr is crooning
Culture The books that turned a life aroundBBC CultureWhile serving time in prison, Alex Wheatle took to reading. In this clip, he explains how it helped him feel less alone. The author Alex Wheatle grew up in a children’s home and went to prison after taking
Culture The dazzling fine jewellery of the EastBBC Culture - By Lindsay BakerHaving inspired European styles in the 1920s, Asian jewellery design is finally being recognised globally in its own right. Global interest in fine jewellery by a handful of Asian designers, particularly
Culture Michael Rakowitz: The artist recreating looted treasuresBBC Culture - By Cameron LauxMichael Rakowitz’s work makes the invisible visible – whether it’s the victims of war or those made homeless by the economic downturn. Michael Rakowitz is a connoisseur of ghosts. He is also a teacher,
Amy Winehouse Back to Black: ‘The millennial I Will Survive’?BBC Culture - By Amy CharlesAmy Winehouse’s anguished ballad has become a torch song for the broken hearted. For many, it has become a canvas on which to paint their own stories, writes Amy Charles. It starts startlingly simply,
Culture The beautiful ancient house discovered in the ashesBBC Culture - By Daisy DunnThe luxurious Villa of the Papyri was revealed by excavators in the 18th Century – and its many treasures are now on display in Los Angeles. Daisy Dunn takes a look. When Vesuvius erupted in AD 79, hundreds
Culture Is failure the new literary success?BBC Culture - By Lindsay BakerFrom memoir and self-care books to comic novels, writing about our flaws and imperfections has never been so popular. But can failing ever be a success, asks Lindsay Baker? “Fail again. Fail better,” Samuel
Culture Independent Venue Week US 2019: Full line-up and datesBBC CultureIndependent Venue Week begins its second year of events across the US from 8-14 July. More than 50 cities across 28 states will host over 200 performances from a range of artists including Soccer Mommy,
Miniskirts The return of the mighty miniBBC Culture - By Libby BanksThe mini-dress has a new lease of life – but why now? Libby Banks explores the micro and the macro. It's an old cliché that when the stock market goes up, so do hemlines. So why, given 2019’s tempestuous
Culture Fantastic Negrito: Why I believe in independent venuesBBC CultureAs Independent Venue Week kicks off in the US, this year’s ambassador Fantastic Negrito tells BBC Music how important the spirit of independence is to him and the industry. It’s fair to say that Fantastic
Culture Why do we need to find wilderness?BBC Culture - By Cameron LauxAs a new book looks at one man’s journey along the Pacific Crest Trail in the US, Cameron Laux explores how writers, artists and thinkers have viewed our place in the natural world. Reading through Tim
Culture Stranger Things 3 review: Five starsBBC Culture - By Hugh MontgomeryAfter a summer of lacklustre blockbusters, the returning Netflix sci-fi/horror series shows cinema how popcorn entertainment is truly done, writes Hugh Montgomery. Mainstream cinema has been having a of
Culture Faith Ringgold: The artist who captured the soul of the USBBC Culture - By Arwa HaiderAs a new exhibition of art by Faith Ringgold opens in London, the 88-year-old talks to Arwa Haider about her early life and how she created subversive works with postage stamps and story quilts. “As an
Midsommar Midsommar and the blinding terror of ‘daylight horror’BBC Culture - By David OpieThis summer’s scariest film is all the more disturbing for taking place in brilliant sunshine – and, in that, it’s part of a subversive horror tradition, writes David Opie. As children, we come to believe
Culture Best songs of 2019 so farBBC CultureIf there has been a defining sound of 2019 so far, it’s that there is not one single defining sound. But that doesn’t mean we’ve had a weak year as far as music goes, it’s been stronger than ever. Half-way
Peter Parker Spider-Man: Far From Home reviewBBC Culture - By Nicholas BarberSpider-Man is on a European holiday in the “lightest and silliest of Marvel’s films,” writes Nicholas Barber. After all the mass destruction and cosmic resurrection in Avengers: Endgame, it’s about time
Glastonbury Glastonbury has its big female breakthrough momentBBC Culture - By Eve BarlowThe festival’s final day was all about envelope-pushing pop divas, raising questions about what gender really means with regards to performance Ahead of this year’s 49th Glastonbury festival, co-organiser
Liam Gallagher Glastonbury 2019: Why Liam Gallagher is a British heroBBC Culture - By Eve BarlowThe former Oasis frontman’s Glastonbury set proves that he epitomises both a particular strain of Britishness and a universal figure of pure entertainment. What is it like to be an American watching Liam
Glastonbury Why Glastonbury is crucial for young US bandsBBC Culture - By Eve BarlowWhat makes Glastonbury so special? Eve Barlow talked to Julia Cumming from Sunflower Bean, who are playing at the festival for the first time, to find out. On the first full glorious day of Glastonbury
Glastonbury Glastonbury 2019: The best pictures from the festivalBBC CultureGlastonbury is now over, with some of the biggest artists on the planet having made their way to Worthy Farm in Somerset. Around 175,000 people attended the festival over the weekend, and enjoyed scorching
Glastonbury Live Lounge Glastonbury 2019 specialBBC CultureThis weekend is Glastonbury, the world’s largest greenfield festival. Around 175,000 people are expected to attend the festival over the next three days, seeing headliners like Stormzy, The Killers and
Roger Ailes The Loudest Voice reviewBBC Culture - By Caryn JamesA show about former Fox News bully Roger Ailes is notable for featuring Russell Crowe under layers of prosthetics. But even he can’t save a bland drama, writes Caryn James. Roger Ailes’s physical presence
Culture Ten films to watch this JulyBBC Culture - By Nicholas BarberFrom a seriously creepy daytime horror to the Lion King remake, Nicholas Barber chooses the films not to miss this month. Marvel’s latest run of superhero films didn’t quite end with Avengers: Endgame.
Chuck D Fight the Power: The most provocative song everBBC Culture - By Dorian LynskeyThirty years after it was released, Public Enemy’s Fight the Power is still a call to action around the globe. Dorian Lynskey explores how the iconic anthem of rage was created – and what it means today.
Festivals The people fighting the war on waste at music festivalsBBC Culture - By Richard GrayWaste is one of the biggest problems plaguing music festivals, but now people are taking decisive action. It looks like any other field – rolling green hummocks bordered by woodland and a handful of rural
Glastonbury Most controversial appearances at GlastonburyBBC Culture - By Stephen DowlingUK grime star Stormzy can at least take solace in one thing this week: he’s in an exclusive club. Ahead of this year’s Friday night headlining set at Glastonbury, Stormzy has already had to deal with than
