Opinion – are reality shows becoming a reinvention of freak shows?
The one who doesn't know their history is condemned to repeat it. Echoes of the infamous freakshows can be seen in society’s clamour for reality TV fame. You walk into a completely dark room. In front of you, there is a necklace that when you put it on shows the...
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Charli XCX’s ‘Guess’ remix ft Billie Eilish sparks controversy
Billie’s recent collaboration with Charli is hugely popular worldwide. Its sapphic lyrics have drawn backlash, however, and the popstar is facing accusations of predatory behaviour –highlighting the complexities of celebrity sexuality and public perception. Billie Eilish, the Grammy-award-winning artist who’s best known for her haunting melodies and introspective lyrics,...
Can fans be mad at artists who delay releasing new material?
As fans of art (and creatives ourselves) we know the process of generating new material should never be rushed. Still, do we have a right to be annoyed when musicians constantly tease new work or disappear into the abyss without releasing anything new? Becoming a fan of musicians and artists...
Why is The 1975 facing a lawsuit?
The British rock band has been sued for $2.4 million by Good Vibes Festival in Malaysia over frontman Matty Healy’s protest against the country’s harsh anti-LGBTQ+ laws last July. The organiser of Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival has followed through with its threat to sue the 1975 and all its...
Meditating on our environment at ‘The River’
The latest in the Natural History Museum’s free contemporary art programme, The River – composed by acclaimed Norwegian sound artist Jana Winderen in collaboration with spatial audio expert Tony Myatt – explores the world below the surface of the Thames using underwater recordings, highlighting the importance of sound in...
Who will be ousted from the revolving door of celebrity next?
In the age of the internet, a celebrity can fall from fame just as fast as they rose towards it. But this strange phenomenon mainly happens to famous women, and it’s causing them to send fans one simple message: I am human. It seems like every week there’s a new...
Why are performers ditching Latitude Festival 2024?
Barclays has cut all ties with Live Nations events for 2024 including Latitude Festival. The bank’s financial interests in Israel’s weapons trade prompted a host of sponsors and performers to ditch the event. As boycotts go in the cultural scene, this is a big one. A host of talent across both music and comedy have decided to axe themselves from the lineup at Latitude Festival, which is fast approaching next...
Opinion – the Back to Black biopic deserves the backlash
Just over a decade since the tragic death of Amy Winehouse, a film promising to chart her ‘intense journey to fame’ was released. While some fans have delighted in seeing her legacy play out on screen, many have criticised director Sam Taylor-Johnson for exploiting female pain. I vividly remember the day that Amy Winehouse died. Growing up, she was by far my favourite singer and despite being only 14-years-old,...
AI-scripted film debut cancelled after widespread backlash
London’s Prince Charles cinema was set to debut the world’s first film with a fully AI-generated script, but the project was scrapped after more than 200 people filed complaints. Artificial Intelligence software such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and DALL-E has sparked worry amongst creatives since they first burst on the scene. Artists have raised concerns about whether AI-generated paintings, photography, or music would eventually compete with work created by humans. The ethical...
England players call out media treatment of Black footballers
The continued scapegoating of Black players has drawn backlash from sporting giants, and set a worrying precedent for a summer of football. Hopeful Brits will be firing up BBQs and filling pubs over the next few weeks, as the Euros kicks off another summer of football. Despite the general camaraderie that accompanies our nation’s favourite sport, this year’s games have already triggered the same vile media coverage that defined 2020’s Covid-delayed...
