
Culture


Britain’s Dreaming: Jon Savage on the future of youth
We speak to the author of Teenage: The Creation of Youth, England’s Dreaming: The Sex Pistols and Punk Rock and 1966 about subcultures, politics and counterculture.

Michaela Coel’s next show could take place in the I May Destroy You universe
Given the quality and cultural significance of Coel’s previous work, we should be in for a treat.

Johnny Costi: “Stepping into art school was more intimidating than prison”
In prison at 18 and facing a 10-year sentence, artist Johnny Costi decided to turn his life around. Here, Jackson Payne and Jack Layfield’s film, Bapou, traces his journey up until now.

Sunil Gupta and Maria Kapajeva’s moving documentation takes the crown
...at this year’s Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award. Over the years, the joint-winners have explored the global queer scene, the AIDS epidemic, Estonia’s independence and femininity.

The world’s first robot artist reopens The Design Museum
The London tech gallery reopened today with Ai-Da: the world’s first robot artist who draws, paints, and can engage in actual chit-chat. Creepy.

The radical artist channelling Donna Haraway and psychosexuality through painting
Amanda Ba paints larger-than-life, energetic characters that inhabit a hypothetical world – conceived entirely in her mind.

The video game using your tweets to create a safe mental health space
Thomas Webb, the creator of Dua Lipa’s AR Instagram filters, released Depressed Twitter today. Going against social media algorithms the game looks at making us feel less alone.

The rise and rise of Mikey Alfred, North Hollywood’s favourite skate mogul
He’s got his own skate brand, once toured with Tyler, The Creator and co-produced Jonah Hill’s Mid90s. Today marks the release of North Hollywood, the Illegal Civilization boss’ directorial debut – and the first film about being a pro skater.

The self-inflicted torture of watching eight Saw films in 24 hours
Today, the sequel no one asked for, Spiral: From The Book Of Saw, is released. To commemorate the ninth instalment, we watched all the films in succession to see what it’d do to our heads.

Brits 2021: a proper overdue knees-up
With performances from Arlo Parks, Dua Lipa and Olivia Rodrigo, it even had a (currently bleary–eyed) TJ Sidhu forgiving the one-too-many video performances...

The pandemic digitised culture, can it democratise the arts?
From Fortnite exhibitions to virtual museums, the art world is innovating online. It’s a change of pace that’s bringing in swaths of new audiences.

Brontez Purnell on the realities of modern gay sex
In his book, 100 Boyfriends, the radical punk writer offers an antidote to hot-shot gay romance through a foulmouthed journey of Satan worshippers, alcoholics and blowies.

Es Devlin talks Rihanna, pop rebellion and creatively directing the BRITs
The world’s most renowned stage designer has teamed up with artist Yinka Ilori for this year's hopeful, star-studded award ceremony.

Tiger King’s Carole Baskin gets in on crypto-mania with $CAT
You read that right: $CAT is the latest to join a string of animal-themed cryptocurrencies. Perks include Big Cat Rescue NFTs and personal conversations with Baskin herself.

Blokes: “Every man must make the transition from boy to bloke”
Thought blokes were a dying breed? Think again, sunshine. This London skate collective makes Jackass look like BBC fodder. Come meet ’em.

Photographer Richard Mosse opens debut retrospective
From Friday, Bologna’s Fondazione MAST gallery will host Mosse’s documentary work, which has taken him everywhere from the Amazon Rainforest to the Gaza Strip and Greece’s Moria refugee camp.

Harry Styles goes full copper in new film role
Styles is playing the lead role in upcoming gay drama My Policeman alongside Emma Corrin in the screen adaptation of Bethan Roberts’ 2012 book.

The zine memorialising Peep Show’s most iconic scenes
With contributions from Dobby Club and Blondey, Mancunian photographer Oliver Jackson’s ode to one of his favourite shows is testament to its cultural appeal – and reveals a lot about the British psyche.

Buy a print to help India’s Covid-19 relief
Photographer Vivek Vadoliya has rallied together a cohort of celebrated photographers, selling their prints to raise urgent funds to support Mission Oxygen India.

Britain’s beloved festivals take a big ol’ blow
It’s been announced by the Association of Independent Festivals that a quarter of independent festivals have been cancelled over Covid insurance fears. Booooo!

Melbourne’s drag scene is having a post-lockdown boom
Masks off, heels on, struts at the ready: Australia’s drag shows are back. RuPaul’s Drag Race Down Under, however, is raising a few eyebrows.

A celebration of Black British culture in the North of England
Young Mancunian photographer Jordan Afi Lambert stumbled upon some old family photo albums on his return from university. For him, it was a reconnection to his Black British heritage.

My Media Diet: Torrey Peters, author of the intoxicating Detransition, Baby
Hot gossip, hotter sex, meditations on domesticity, family and relationships… This novel has it all. Here’s what its bestselling author gets up to off the page.