1. The strange death of British satire
In this essay from our Autumn issue, Mark Fisher argues that satire today is dominated by a narrow elite. No longer a threat to authority, it is a means for the establishment to protect itself.
2. Mad Max and the function of cinematic dystopia
Dystopian films reflect the anxieties of their times, says Brogan Morris; but the best ones sneak the message in through the back door.
In this archive piece from 2011, John Burnside writes that even if we don’t need religion, mystical traditions still have a lot to teach us.
4. Red alert
Is it a symbol of submission or of authority? Of glamour, lust or danger? In this 2009 article, Sally Feldman uncovers the myriad shades of lipstick.
5. On the importance of the right to offend
In this 2014 article, Kenan Malik sets out some basic points about liberalism, free speech and the giving of offence.
