What makes art? A listener posed this question to our tour guide as we stood looking at two art gallery walls covered with self-portraits of a bag lady, taken in various public photo booths. And this was the question I pondered as I , with my two teenage children, looked round an exhibition of wondersContinue reading “Passion, Obsession and Curiosity at the Alternative Guide to the Universe, Hayward Gallery, London”
Category Archives: culture
Shakespeare’s Wronged Women: A Reflection In The Light Of International Women’s Day
The other day I went to a see a production given by Playbox Theatre, held at their local headquarters, Dream Factory, Warwick. There we saw members of the Shakespeare Young Company present to us “Shakespeare’s Wronged Women”. In the words of Stewart McGill & Mary King, the Artistic Directors of this company, “Having explored withContinue reading “Shakespeare’s Wronged Women: A Reflection In The Light Of International Women’s Day”
Men Into Monsters – Spidermen, Octopuses, Lizards and Aliens – Why Do We Love Them in Books, TV Dramas and Movies?
Who’s the most compelling character in a Spiderman movie? For me, it’s Dr Otto Octavius (Doc Ock) and Dr Curt Connors. As I watched “The Amazing Spiderman” DVD again the other day, it was Rhys Ifans in the role of Dr Curt Connors, that my eyes were on. Rhys Ifans is an actor I loveContinue reading “Men Into Monsters – Spidermen, Octopuses, Lizards and Aliens – Why Do We Love Them in Books, TV Dramas and Movies?”
M & S; Big Versus Small and the Innate British Sense of Belonging
What is national identity? How do we define it? In our British culture there are a number of different touchstones of our national identity – and here’s one of them. M & S. This is not so removed from the subject of my fiction – as I believe that Marks & Spencer has something toContinue reading “M & S; Big Versus Small and the Innate British Sense of Belonging”
People of Inspiration Part 5 – Frankie Howerd, My All-Time Favourite Comedian
A recent TV programme on Channel 4 inspired me: “Frankie Howerd: The Lost Tapes.” Frankie Howerd is my all-time favourite comedian. In my recent “Next Big Thing” blog I noted that, as an author, I owe part of my inspiration to characters I’ve loved on TV and movies. Frankie Howerd is up there with theContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 5 – Frankie Howerd, My All-Time Favourite Comedian”
Searching for Love… And Craving Celebrity
In my last post, on the case of Jimmy Savile, I wrote about the dark side of celebrity. We live in a society obsessed with celebrities – the gods of this secular age. And we try to convince ourselves that fame would guarantee entry into a perfect region of love, wealth and success. Yet theContinue reading “Searching for Love… And Craving Celebrity”
Childhood Imaginary Worlds
When I was a little girl, my friend Alison and I created imaginary worlds. One of these was the land we named “Coneland”. We wrote stories about the royal family of this land; at the bottom righthand corner of the map is the palace and the royal park, situated of course in the capital city,Continue reading “Childhood Imaginary Worlds”
Special Time, Ordinary Time, and the Time the Weeping Angels Snatch
Who’d have thought there’s a connection between emigrating to a far country, and being snatched by one of Doctor Who’s greatest foes: the Weeping Angels? But I believe there is. The Weeping Angels played a vital role in the plot of the latest Doctor Who Episode, “The Angels Take Manhattan”, during which we, and theContinue reading “Special Time, Ordinary Time, and the Time the Weeping Angels Snatch”
Offerings to the Water Spirit
“If there is magic on the planet it is contained in the water” (Loren Eiseley – American anthropologist, philosopher & natural science writer). I’m led to reflect on this every time I come upon a pool of water in a public place – whether that be the pool in the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew,Continue reading “Offerings to the Water Spirit”
People of Inspiration Part 3 – Susan Boyle, Who Made a Choice to Use the Gift God Had Given Her
As the third personality in my mini-series on People of Inspiration, step forward Susan Boyle. In the musical “I Dreamed a Dream” , which I saw at the Birmingham Hippodrome, I learned much about this gifted singer and deepened my knowledge of her life-experiences and background. The show starred Elaine C. Smith in the role ofContinue reading “People of Inspiration Part 3 – Susan Boyle, Who Made a Choice to Use the Gift God Had Given Her”
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