Over the past twenty-five years, pop culture has suffered from a perplexing lack of reinvention. We've entered a cultural 'blank space' - an era when reboots, rehashes, and fads flourish, while bold artistic experimentation struggles to gain recognition. Why is risk no longer rewarded, and how did playing it safe become the formula for success? Acclaimed cultural historian W. David Marx sets out to uncover the answers. In this ambitious cultural history, Marx guides us through the blur of the twenty-first century so far, from the Obama era to the rise of K-pop, from Paris Hilton to the Marvel cinematic universe, from Beyonce and Taylor Swift to... Beyonce and Taylor Swift, whose enduring influence highlights both their adaptability and the broader shifts in pop culture. Combining sociological, economic, and political insights with a deep dive into art, street culture, fashion, and technology, Blank Space dissects the rise of profit-driven, formulaic trends and the shifting cultural norms that often prioritize going viral over innovation. He reveals how backlash against indie snobbery and nineties counterculture gave rise to a 'counter-counterculture' - one marked by antiliberal sentiment, the celebration of business heroes, and the increasing influence of industry plants and the elite class. In a world of crypto bros, nepo babies, and AI-driven art, Marx offers readers a much-needed dose of clarity and context. Vibrantly narrated and sharply argued, Blank Space is an essential guide for anyone looking to understand the chaos of the twenty-first century, the trends, tastemakers, and icons who shaped it, and how we might push our culture forward over the next quarter century - through renewed emphasis on creativity, community, and the values that transcend mere profit. Lees meer
'Elms is one of the greatest chroniclers of our age. He was born to write this book.' Dylan Jones 'Fantastic! It is like time travel . . . [to] the most exciting, innovative, outrageous, wildest, most creative club ever.' Steve Dagger 'Elms was not only in the room where it happened, he was at the very heart of it.' Gary Kemp 'The perfect witness and commentator: open-minded, outward looking, and an expert and shrewd cultural analyst.' Lavinia Greenlaw 'Sharp, funny and caked in two-day old eyeliner.' Jodie Harsh
A history of the club that set the ‘80s alight, by the much-loved presenter, writer and Blitz attendee Robert Elms.
The short-lived Blitz club in London’s Covent Garden was more than somewhere to hang out or be seen: it was a catalyst for cultural explosion, a counter-culture blast against everything Thatcher's leadership had ushered in by the dawn of the 80s. Tuesday nights boasted a ferocious, fearless cast – from Boy George and Spandau Ballet to Grayson Perry and Peter Doig, to Michele Clapton, Sade and John Galliano. This was the vanguard of a different England; socially liberal, loud, proud and diverse, fiercely individualistic and determined to succeed. Britain was black and white; the Blitz Kids switched on the colour.
In Blitz, Elms reflects on a club night founded by working-class kids, one whose impact reverberated beyond its doors, through the worlds of Art, Literature, Fashion and Music, and into the present day.
Na 15 jaar strijd vertelt het feministische en antiracistische collectief BOEH! zélf zijn verhaal. Over niet-aflatend activisme tegen hoofddoekenverboden en de gestage normalisering van islamofobie. Lees meer
This unique, fun and informative introduction to the publishing world shows young readers how a book makes its journey from the writer’s notebook to the reader’s hands. Lees meer
'A must-read manifesto for border abolition' - gal-dem
Borders are more than geographical lines - they impact all our lives, whether it’s the inhumanity of deportations, or a rise in racist attacks in the wake of the EU referendum. Border Nation shows how oppressive borders must be resisted.
Laying bare the web of media myths that vilify migrants, Leah Cowan dives into the murky waters of corporate profiteering from borders by companies like G4S, and the ramping up of everyday borders through legislation. She looks at their colonial origins, and explores how a draconian approach to border crossings damages our communities.
As borders multiply, so too must resistance. From demonstrations inside detention centres to migrant-led campaigns and acts of cross-border solidarity, people are fighting back to stand up for everyone’s freedom to move.