There is an uncomfortable moment in Ganesh Versus the Third Reich when the actors pause. The play, ostensibly about the Hindu deity travelling to Germany to reclaim the swastika, an ancient Sanskrit symbol, from the Nazis, comes to a halt as they remove their costumes—an elephant head and a SS armband—turn to face the audience, and ask: “Do we have the right to perform this?” None of the actors are Hindu or Jewish. Many have physical and mental disabilities but act the roles of Hitler and Josef Mengele, who tried to exterminate those similarly handicapped. Later, an actor drops out of character again, to accuse the crowd: “You’ve come to see some freak porn.
The Rise and
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Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams
Is it worth traveling 300 miles to another country at the height of summer to see an exhibition of old clothes? Yes, if it’s in Paris — and Christian Dior, the designer. Christian Dior: Designer …
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Debating the value of culture, Radio 4
Radio 4 debate on the value of culture Melvyn Bragg, Sir Christopher Frayling, Dr Tiffany Jenkins, and Matt Ridley discuss the meaning and value of culture in the twenty-first century. In a programme recorded in …
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Why we are digging up old bones, Front Row, Radio 4
The remains of Cervantes have been discovered. Art history sleuth Silvani Vicenti thinks he has identified the remains of the woman we know as the Mona Lisa. The Archbishop of Canterbury has just conducted the funeral of …
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Start the Week, on Radio 4, on maths, big data and measurement.
Start the Week, Radio 4. In this programme, Lisa Jardine discusses how complex maths has broken free of the laboratory and now influences every aspect of our lives.Tiffany Jenkins sounds a note of caution about …
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Beauty and the Brain, Radio 4
What makes an artwork beautiful? Radio 4 programme – Beauty and the Brain – Presented by Tiffany Jenkins. In this programme, I investigate what studying our brains can tell us about art. Can there ever …
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Judgement At Last, Four Thought, Radio 4
In this programme for Four Thought on Radio 4, I argue that we need more judgement about quality in art, culture and life. Judgement about quality is unfashionable in today’s art world, and this is …
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Can Culture Save Cities? BBC Culture
The idea of reviving a city’s fortunes through investment in the arts and culture draws a lot of headlines. But does it actually work? Article on BBC Culture (outside UK only) Britain’s seaside towns are …
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No more should be asked of public art than it beautify our shared space
Article in The Scotsman We are all familiar with ugly public space, the shabby streets, parks and squares that we walk past every day, the kind that could do with some care and attention to …
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Jeremy Bentham on Contesting Human Remains in Museum Collections
I am honoured that Jeremy Bentham has found the time to read and review my book Contesting Human Remains in Museum Collections. His comments are helpful and certainly highlight the key points. It is pleasing …