Arts & Ideas
BBC Radio 4
Leading thinkers discuss the ideas shaping our lives – looking back at the news and making links between past and present. Broadcast as Free Thinking, Fridays at 9pm on BBC Radio 4. Presented by Matthew Sweet, Shahidha Bari and Anne McElvoy.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 2, 2015 • 44min
Free Thinking - Museum of the Year 2015: 02 July 15
Anne McElvoy at Tate Modern with the Museum of the Year finalists.
Jul 1, 2015 • 45min
The power of dance and the meaning of 'public'.
The links between dance, art and the brain and the meaning of "the public"
Jun 30, 2015 • 44min
Free Thinking - Worrying - Joseph Cornell - Spy Fiction - First film: 30 June 15
Matthew Sweet on worrying - Joseph Cornell - Spy Fiction and the First film.
Jun 25, 2015 • 43min
Free Thinking - Tales of Scotland: A Nation and its Literature: 25 June 15
Anne McElvoy discusses the ways Scottish writers negotiate what it means to be Scottish with Janice Galloway, Kathleen Jamie, Peter Mackay and Murray Pittock.
Jun 24, 2015 • 45min
Free Thinking - Community. The Amber Collective. Poet Claudia Rankine: 24 June 15
Philip Dodd discusses community and talks a poet Claudia Rankine.
Jun 23, 2015 • 44min
Free Thinking - Political and Bardic Traditions in Wales: 23 June 15
Matthew Sweet is in Cardiff to examine the role of the Left in Welsh politics and its bearing on today's debate about nationalism hearing from In Cardiff Matthew Sweet is joined by Professor Daniel Williams and Sir Deian Hopkin to discuss the role of the Left in Welsh politics and its bearing on today's debate about nationalism. He also talks about the Bardic tradition with the writers, Gwyneth Lewis and Iain Sinclair. And, takes a trip to Llandrindod Wells to sample the latest instalment in the National Theatre of Wales’ Big Democracy Project.
Jun 18, 2015 • 44min
Free Thinking - Muriel Spark, Digital Life, Diversity in British Poetry: 18 June 15
Rana Mitter talks to Laurence Scott about living in a digital world Channel 4's Humans and explores the writing of Muriel Spark with Dr Sarah Dillon as Spark's novel The Driver's Seat is adapted by Laurie Sansom for The National Theatre of Scotland. 2015 New Generation Thinker Sandeep Parmar discusses diversity in contemporary British poetry and the shortlists for this year's Forward Prizes. Painter Chris Gollon is touring British cathedrals with an exhibition of religious art.
Jun 17, 2015 • 46min
Free Thinking - Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: 17 June 15
Geoff Dyer reviews Milan Kundera's first novel in 12 years The Festival of Insignificance. Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks talks to Philip Dodd about confronting religious violence
Jun 16, 2015 • 44min
Free Thinking - John Boorman; 16 June 2015
Director John Boorman talks to Matthew Sweet about his new film Queen and Country and its place in a career that includes Deliverance and Excalibur as well as Hope and Glory
Jun 11, 2015 • 46min
Free Thinking - Othello, Hans Magnus Enzensberger
Poet Hans Magnus Enzensberger reflects on his writing, and German history, in his latest book New Selected Poems. New Generation Thinker Danielle Thom and the historian and columnist Tim Stanley, join Anne McElvoy to discuss Tate Britain’s exhibition of history painting from the eighteenth century to present day. Plus writer Lindsay Johns reviews the first night of a new RSC production of Othello staring Hugh Quarshie and Lucien Msamati.
