Doing Feminism: Chatting About the Unspeakable With Laurie Penny

On vile internet comments, the pros of perversion, and the bullyboys of the British press.

At 27, Laurie Penny spent a massive amount of time thinking and writing about the reasons hatred towards people who don’t conform is tolerated in the UK. Her articles appear in the New Statesman, Guardian, Independent, and Vice; her blog Penny Red was short-listed for the Orwell Prize and she tweets to over 93,000 followers. In conversation, she’s a charismatic person with a great sense of humour and a wealth of knowledge about the complexities gender, class and race in modern Britain.

One Minute With Diego Quemada-Diez - Director of The Golden Dream

The Golden Dream is the debut feature from Diego Quemada-Diez, a documentary maker and former cinematographer for Ken Loach. A story of...

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Lost in Transmutation: Literature and film

University classes and glass-eyed professors have long pondered the significance and meaning of the word ‘literature’. The most forthcoming definition is that offered, as always, by the Oxford English Dictionary: “Written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit.” But what can this definition reveal to us about film, and how much the form of literature has changed, especially when looking at the inception of the auteur’s contribution? Could a film be termed literature? Perhaps but perhaps not.

It seems remarkable how many Londoners still drive to work

I’ve lived in London for 5 years and always travelled to work by tube. The vast majority of people I know get to work by tube, bus, or...

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Boris Johnson used to oppose the use of water cannon. What's changed?

London’s Police and Crime Commissioner Boris Johnson refused to comment today following reports that the Met have requested water cannon to use against protesters.

Tories urge Boris to allow police to use 'sound weapons'

Boris Johnson was today urged to allow the police to use sound weapons capable of emitting “harmful, pain-inducing sounds,” against Londoners.

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What does Boris Johnson really think of Nelson Mandela?

Boris Johnson has today been heaping praise on Nelson Mandela, who died yesterday.

He told the BBC that the...

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Londoners drop out of Boris's bike hire scheme

Cycle hire use in London has plunged since Transport for London doubled charges to use the bikes.

There were around 7.6 million hires...

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Anger at Chatsworth Rd market shows confusion about what, and who, London's street markets are for

Bargains have no place at weekend street markets

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Listen: Boris Johnson can't say how much a Tube fare costs

Is it a guinea?