BBC Radio 4 joins the BBC World Service. 
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JOHN AKOMFRAH
A new film by John Akomfrah explores themes of migration and memory. Akomfrah was inspired by the Greek Myth of Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory, who gave birth to the nine Muses. His film interweaves archive of migrants in 1950s Britain with abstract sequences of a figure wandering through a snowy landscape to raise questions about journeys, homelands and identity. John Akomfrah talks about his desire to find a new way of using archive material as art, rather than documentary.
John Akomfrah
Mnemosyne will be shown as part of a gallery-based exhibition at the British Film Institute from 10 July to 30 August. -
ROBERT McCRUM
‘Globish’ has been described as ‘the worldwide dialect of the third millennium’. The term was first used to describe a functional English, perfectly adapted as the global language of commerce, technology and education. In his history of this global phenomenon, Robert McCrum argues that while the British Empire is long dead, its language is now extending its influence further and further. But Globish has transcended the legacy of empire and is set to become the lingua franca of globalisation.
Globish
Globish: How the English Language Became the World’s Language is published by Viking. -
OSCAR GUARDIOLA-RIVERA
Many Europeans and Americans see the booming economies of China and India as a sign of the new world order, but where do the countries of Latin America stand in this changing world? In his new book, Oscar Guardiola-Rivera argues that Latin America is now a major player on the world stage, and its historical contribution to globalisation should be recognised. He examines the use of grass roots politics and alternative economic structures that have protected countries like Argentina and Brazil from the worst of the present economic crisis. With the rising cultural, economic and political influence of Latinos changing the landscape of the United States, Oscar Guardiola-Rivera asks What if Latin America Ruled the World?
What if Latin America Ruled the World?
What if Latin America Ruled the World? How the South Will Take the North into the 22nd Century is published by Bloomsbury. -
EMILY DOOLITTLE
Musicians throughout history have been enchanted and inspired by the sound of birdsong. Composer Emily Doolittle, who has incorporated the sound of birdsong into her work, asks why birds sing and whether we can describe their songs as “music”. Songbirds, humpback whales and dolphins are some of the few animals that learn their ‘songs’ by imitation, but Emily Doolittle asks whether they function in the same way as human music.
Emily Doolittle
Emily Doolittle is taking part in a discussion, Beautiful Noise: The science and evolution of music, as part of the Festival of Science and Arts at the Royal Festival Hall on 30 June.
Broadcasts
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BBC Radio 4Mon 28 Jun 2010 09:00 BBC Radio 4
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BBC Radio 4Mon 28 Jun 2010 21:30 BBC Radio 4
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