Winter is starting to creep in amidst the leaderless tent village of St Paul’s. Many of the unhappy campers wear the smiling face of a seventeenth century Catholic [freedom fighter] [martyr] [terrorist] Guy Fawkes as a mask. They are inspired by the futuristic film V for Vendetta, in which a masked genius attempts to dislodgeContinue reading “Conceal me what I am”
Category Archives: Religion & politics
Athens: Days Six, Seven, Eight
In the aftermath of Wednesday’s troubles, the organiser of Dasein Festival hastily assembled a press release to announce an event with Netalie Braun exploring the themes of Violence and Silence. The event comprised the screenings of two films, followed by a Q&A. I would like to draw your attention especially to Netalie’s hour-long film Metamorphosis (2006), which employs Ovid’s mythsContinue reading “Athens: Days Six, Seven, Eight”
Athens: Day Five
I’m writing this from my hotel room in Exarchia district of Athens, where very recently a number of anarchist strongholds have been raided by police, as well as cafes and bars. I witnessed one raid myself – in the next street. An enormous number of police on motorbikes stormed a house. There were several loud explosionsContinue reading “Athens: Day Five”
Athens: Days Two, Three, Four
Yeah, so, surprise surprise I haven’t blogged every day from Athens. Hey ho… I have better things to do, such as visiting the Acropolis snapping more Athenian graffiti (oooh they do love their graffiti….) and hanging out with the artists participating in the festival. A few notes. I climbed the Acropolis with Netalie Braun, aContinue reading “Athens: Days Two, Three, Four”
Athens: Day One
There’s a first time for everything. Today was the first time I’d experienced the effects, albeit mildly, of tear gas. A sudden burning in the eyes, throat and lungs. At least I think it was tear gas – it could just as easily have been the acrid smoke rising from the smouldering remains of upturned municipal dustbins.Continue reading “Athens: Day One”
Pontificating
As a Catholic, reading about Pope Benedict’s recent comments on homosexuality makes me ashamed and embarassed. That said, I wish I had access to the full transcript; Reuter’s report is selected commentary only. I would like to gauge the tone myself, as that’s all-important. The Church’s view on homosexuality doesn’t shock me, and in fact I wouldn’tContinue reading “Pontificating”
Gas mark 10
According to BBC online here, British Gas owners Centrica have just revealed an annual profit of £1 billion (that’s £5 million per day, folks) the day after British Gas announced a 35% rise in gas prices. Potential recession looming and – yup, you guessed it – ordinary people (‘consumers’ I believe we’re called) take the hit forContinue reading “Gas mark 10”
Tall Buildings
Last night I attended a talk at Bishopsgate Institute entitled ‘A Brief History of Building Tall in London’, given by Susie Barson of English Heritage (I missed the second half, which was given by Rosemarie MacQueen). Barson’s talk was an engaging, if necessarily brief, overview of building tall from medieval to modern London. She spoke well on the Tower,Continue reading “Tall Buildings”
Kenneth: “Oops I’ve done it again”
I’m hardly a fan, but by process of elimination Ken gets (has got) my vote. Sorry, Boris; I just don’t believe you’d be up to the task. Fingers crossed for status quo. I am, as ever, the political conservative (note capitalisation). And, like Ken, a card-carrying Londoner. Besides, Ken’s a Tulse Hill lad.
Horse logic
What is it about horses? They’re everywhere, it seems. What set it off for me was Paul Muldoon’s latest poetry collection Horse Latitudes. Then came Bat for Lashes’ haunting song ‘Horse and I’, from her Mercury Prize nominated album Fur and Gold. Next, I was hosting a reading in Whitechapel and introducedContinue reading “Horse logic”
Tom Chivers 