The race to save the world's filmstrips
One of the 20th century’s biggest media formats was often thrown out in the rush to embrace VHS. But preservationists say a vital piece of history is being lost.
Christian Kriticos
Journalist and author covering music, literature, TV, film and more
Based in London, UK
Get in touch: christian.kriticos (at) gmail (dot) com
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Bonnie Dobson: the forgotten folk hero of the sixties
Bonnie Dobson wrote one of the most enduring protest songs of the 1960s. But when the rights were stolen by another artist, it took decades for her to reclaim the credit.
The 1926 documentary that inspired a Disney blockbuster
This week, Disney will release a live-action remake of its animated hit Moana. But 100 years ago, cinemagoers got an earlier glimpse of Polynesian life in a largely forgotten film of the same name.
Hard-Fi return with their first album in 15 years
Like many bands of the period, Hard-Fi burned brightly but briefly. But this week the alt-rock quartet are making a comeback with the release of their first album in 15 years.
The female filmmaker who beat Disney by a decade
Released a century ago in 1926, The Adventures of Prince Achmed is recognised as the world's oldest surviving animated feature film – despite what Walt Disney's publicists might prefer you to think.
The synthesiser genius behind Stevie Wonder's classic period
Robert Margouleff brought new sounds to some of Wonder's best songs, including 'Superstition' and 'Living for the City'. “We were changing the world,” he says. “We changed the way people listened to music.”
The enchanting history of Oxford's 750-year-old library
Predating the Aztec Empire, Merton College Library in Oxford has been used by everyone from celebrated 14th-Century mathematicians to Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien.
Jethro Tull’s Ian Anderson reflects on 60 years of rock 'n' roll
As the 60th anniversary of Jethro Tull approaches, frontman Ian Anderson is living proof of one of their most famous lyrics: “You’re never too old to rock and roll, if you’re too young die.”
A Long, Strange Literary Tradition
In the wake of Bob Weir’s death, a new book explores the Grateful Dead’s overlooked engagement with literary cultures: from the gothic tradition to the modernist movement and the Beat Generation.
Greenland’s Biggest Band Is Thrust Into an Uneasy Spotlight
They've toured by dog sled and fallen through ice on video shoots. Now, as their country dominates global headlines, more curious listeners are discovering Greenlandic rock group Nanook.
The quiet dismantling of a major historical archive
For decades, researchers have used the archive to uncover stories on countless aspects of British history. But their work would no longer be possible today.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Christmas Movie
A handful of studies have noted that Psycho is technically a Christmas movie, taking place during the advent season. But none have examined what significance this has for the film’s meaning.
Isengard in Oxford: Tolkien’s satire of a motorized world
Tolkien is often at his funniest when filled with rage, and The Bovadium Fragments is a work brimming with his fury—specifically, ire over mankind’s obsession with motor vehicles.
Malcolm in the Middle: The Best Episodes Ever, Ranked
As Malcolm in the Middle returns for a new miniseries next year, here are the best episodes of the original show to help keep you occupied during the final countdown to the revival.
The incredible disappearance of Licorice McKechnie
At the height of her fame, Licorice McKechnie played everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to Woodstock. But in 1990, she mysteriously disappeared. No one has heard from her since.
The forgotten knowledge trapped on floppy disks
When most people think of archives, they picture old bits of paper. But as the earliest digital generations start to donate their collections, more archivists are having to deal with materials trapped on floppy disks.
A conversation with Donovan
Donovan helped create the sound of the 1960s. But his spirit belongs to a more distant past. “People have said to me, ‘You feel you’re a minstrel from an ancient time.' And yes, I’ve always felt part of that tradition.”
Snap, crackle and pop music
Decades ago, singles by everyone from The Monkees to The Jackson 5 were printed on cereal boxes as cutout prizes. Now, a dedicated few are working to save these cardboard treasures from extinction.
Louis Sachar's fantasy novel for adults
If Sachar’s children’s novels give us answers, then The Magician of Tiger Castle leaves us with questions. Living today, in what we call an age of reason, can we truly say that magic doesn’t exist?
The Censorship of John and Yoko
John Lennon was always the most controversial Beatle. Now, 45 years after his death, Lennon is at the centre of new debate, as one of his most politically direct songs is edited out of an album reissue.
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