Should ‘the arts’ be used as a way of constructing - or reconstructing - a sense of who we are as individuals, as society, or as a nation? To what extent does this sort of thinking undermine any notion of universalism in the arts, or does the shift mean we must reconstitute an idea of what universalism means?

The arts have long been used as a way of exploring self-understanding, but as the idea of making clear critical judgments about artworks comes under fire, does the current focus on respecting cultural differences reflect a deeper lack of critical authority? And to what extent does it ‘dumb down’ people’s ability to appreciate and enjoy culture more generally?

Experiencing Eminem

A New Labour man contemplates one of the weirdest events of his life

Have you ever wondered what your reaction would be if you met someone whose views or actions you strongly objected to?

Gender and Genre in Impressionist Portraiture

National Gallery, 16th January 2001

In the nineteenth century, the portrait form explored and celebrated the individual as a unique and dynamic identity.

The Politics of Art

Gustav Metzger and Mark Wallinger at the ICA, London, 8 February 2001

Society cannot function without visual art, said Gustav Metzger, after spending an hour and a half apparently arguing for the extermination of humanity.