Culture

• Fountains and fireworks March 1 2007
  Lawrence Parker reviews Raphael Samuel's The lost world of British communism (Verso, 2006, pp244)
• Roots of modern morality March 1 2007
  Born into a wealthy family in Florence on May 3 1469, Niccolò Machiavelli was educated in the classical tradition of his class. Later he developed close relations with the ruling elites both in Italy and other parts of Europe. He gained a profound insight into statecraft: how rulers rule. After the Medici family regained power in Florence in 1512, Machiavelli retired from political life and took up the pen. Most famous of all his books was The prince (Il principe) which was published five years after his death in 1527. It caused outrage amongst church circles and brought ‘Machiavellian’ into the popular lexicon - a pejorative term for one who deceives and manipulates others for personal gain. Gerry Downing seeks to put the record straight
• Soundtracks for the new American century February 15 2007
  Gordon Downie listened to BBC Radio's Three Composer of the week (John Adams), February 9
• Behind the red flag November 2 2006
  Lawrence Parker takes a closer look at the artist Ken Loach
• Primitive painters: the left and art April 27 2006
  The left needs to win artists, cultural producers and critics to its cause, says Lawrence Parker
• Music for change? April 27 2006
  Gordon Downie reviews the Reith Lectures 2006, BBC Radio 4, Friday 9am, April 7 - May 5
• Why we pay our taxes August 11
  Mark Fischer talks to ex-MI5 spy David Shayler and reviews Annie Machon's Spies, lies and whistleblowers: MI5, MI6 and the Shayler affair
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Representing our lives June 9 2005
  The sceptical NUM branch secretary Dave Douglass is blown away by Billy Elliott, the musical
• Who educates the edukators? April 21 2005
  The new German film The Edukators is an excellent portrayal of the socalled anti-globalisation movement - with all its potential and all its faults, says Tina Becker
• Scumbags and reactionary bigots February 17 2005
  Eddie Ford reports on the aftermath of Ken Livingstone's 'controversial' comments in the Evening Standard newspaper
  
• E=MC2 and socialism February 17 2005
  July 2005 will mark the 100th anniversary of the penning of Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. Mary Godwin examines the prolific scientist's theories and outlook
• Silent on Springer January 20 2005
  Amidst a gay depiction of Jesus, dancing Klu Kulx Klan members and various other so-called 'blasphemies', Eddie Ford examines the hullaballoo surrounding the BBC's broadcasting of Jerry Springer: The Opera
• Power to change the real world December 18 2003
  Science fiction can become social fact, writes Jem Jones