Arts and Ideas

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  Weekly

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Recent episodes (10)

• Lawrence Durrell, Kate Grenville, Cullen Murphy, Gene Sharp

  Tue, 7 Feb 12

  Duration:
  49 mins

  Philip Dodd talks to Cullen Murphy about his new book, God's Jury. Matthew Sweet takes a new look at Lawrence Durrell. And Anne McElvoy talks to Kate Grenville about her books on Australian Colonialism and also interviews Gene Sharp about non-violent protests.

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• The Trial of Ubu, David Scheffer & The Hajj

  Wed, 1 Feb 12

  Duration:
  44 mins

  Matthew Sweet talks to David Scheffer, architect of the Modern War Crimes Tribunal and discusses the Hajj with film-maker Navid Ahktar and Venetia Porter curator at The British Museum. Also Anne McElvoy discusses the play, Trial of Ubu with theatre critic Susannah Clapp.

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• Coriolanus,WG Sebald,Protests, Environmental Politics

  Wed, 25 Jan 12

  Duration:
  45 mins

  Matthew Sweet talks to philosopher Roger Scruton about environmental politics and also discusses the writer WG Sebald with cultural historian Kevin Jackson and the writer and translator Amanda Hopkinson. Susannah Clapp and film historian Ian Christie came into the studio to talk about Coriolanus - the first big-screen adaptation of Shakespeare’s political power play. And Anne McElvoy talks to Paul Mason about his book ‘Why It’s Kicking Off Everywhere’.

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• Population Growth

  Thu, 22 Dec 11

  Duration:
  46 mins

  Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Anne McElvoy and guests discuss mega-cities, sustainability and the ethics of living together.

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• Scientific Breakthroughs

  Thu, 22 Dec 11

  Duration:
  45 mins

  Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Anne McElvoy asks to what extent are science and medicine shaping our lives and what breakthroughs are shaping the future?

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• Greed

  Thu, 22 Dec 11

  Duration:
  46 mins

  Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Philip Dodd and guests look at greed in its many forms, accompanied Peter Marinker reading Falstaff, Faustus and others.

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• Artistic Endeavours

  Thu, 22 Dec 11

  Duration:
  45 mins

  Throughout this week, Night Waves examines some of the major cultural forces shaping the 21st century. Matthew Sweet and guests attempt to define the zeitgeist via the cultural artefacts and moments of 2011.

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• Vaclav Havel, Christopher Hitchens

  Mon, 19 Dec 11

  Duration:
  36 mins

  In a special edition of the podcast, we mark the passing of both Christopher Hitchens and Vaclav Havel, with interviews, reviews and analysis from the Night Waves archives.

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• International Review:

  Mon, 12 Dec 11

  Duration:
  45 mins

  Matthew Sweet entertains guests from Ghana, Italy, India and Egypt to discuss Saladin, a new book by Anne-Marie Eddé, the legacy of the Crusades, Nanni Moretti's latest film We have a Pope and Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian recipient of the Nobel Prize.

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• Is Politics Dead?

  Mon, 12 Dec 11

  Duration:
  45 mins

  As Europe struggles to manage the current financial crisis we are seeing un-elected technocrats replace populist leaders and ratings agencies seemingly wielding increasing power. Philip Dodd and guests discuss whether the pursuit of economic stability is downgrading democracy.

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