Society & Culture > Media, arts & sport
Günter Grass and the German neurosis
19 Apr 2012
Maciej Zurowski looks at a literary scandal and the bourgeoisie's attempt to cope with its past
Guilty on all charges
01 Oct 2026
Man City systematically inflated revenues and reduced costs to hide the owner spending some £830 million to buy success on the field. What does this say about top-flight football? Carl Collins gives some compelling answers
Politics of apolitical culture
24 Sep 2026
Saying sorry over Gaza and pleasing no-one. Behind Ed Sheeran’s unconvincing apologies there lies a complex network of commercial interests, political pressures and institutional power, writes Carl Collins
Charles vs Charles
24 Sep 2026
Today’s royal family is a load-bearing institution of the capitalist state, its fate inseparable from the continuity of that state. It will not be brought down by this or that scandal, let alone an embittered former brother-in-law bent on revenge, says Paul Demarty
Not all about profit
17 Sep 2026
Football attracts millions of devoted followers. Yet, when it comes to the bottom line, many clubs show regular losses. Despite that, narrow-minded left commentators regularly complain that money and the pursuit of profit is ruining the beautiful game. It is more complex than that, writes Carl Collins
War is always hell
17 Sep 2026
Mike Belbin reviews Christopher Nolan (writer and director) The Odyssey 2026, general release
Infantino’s botched coup
06 Aug 2026
FIFA’s president has survived for the moment, but his attempt to sell off the World Cup spectacularly backfired. Carl Collins says communists can organise supporters to take control of the beautiful game
Nothing is fixed or finished
30 Jul 2026
We are seeking to establish a collective of artists, musicians, scientists, academics and activists who can work together across a range of performative platforms. Tam Dean Burn looks forward to the evening culture sessions at this year’s CU
Capitalism’s compressed game
30 Jul 2026
Cricket was born in rural England and spread globally alongside British colonialism. Nowadays, however, India is the dominant force and, as shown by The Hundred, commercial considerations rule, says Carl Collins
Most profitable yet
23 Jul 2026
Crass commercialisation, a source of huge FIFA revenues, crude political interference by Donald Trump, but also moments of pure football joy. Carl Collins weighs up the pros and cons
Anyone but England?
16 Jul 2026
Despite going down to Argentina, there is still England vs France. Should we apply Lenin’s revolutionary defeatism to this and other matches? Can such an approach win the masses to revolution, or does it leave revolutionaries isolated from the masses? Carl Collins looks at football culture
End dictatorial control
16 Jul 2026
Whether it is Spain or Argentina, the lasting legacy of the 2026 World Cup will be the open violation of football’s integrity by its own governing body. The game cannot be left in the hands of FIFA, insists Paul Demarty
Existential eco threat
25 Jun 2026
London’s Raindance is the largest independent film festival in the UK. Launched in 1993, its 34th festival featured 197 films from around the world, including many by first-time film makers. Jim Moody looks at three which highlight the ecological impact of capitalism
Popular and respected
18 Jun 2026
He loved many things: cigarettes, good-looking young men, restaurants, opera and Picasso ... but above all he loved his art. Mike Belbin remembers David Hockney July 9 1937-June 11 2026
Beautiful game, ugly bans
11 Jun 2026
It is clear that America is in charge. Fans and officials from more than a quarter of the countries participating in the World Cup face ticket cancellations, visa rejections and debilitating restrictions. So much for the internationalism of FIFA and the sporting spirit, writes Carl Collins
Not only a field of play
04 Jun 2026
With the Mexico versus South Africa opening match of the 2026 World Cup just days away, Carl Collins examines the background and inherent contradictions of the beautiful game. It is not just about money, money, money