Around the Cultural World in 80 Zooms: A Few of My Favourite Things....
- ArtsySuzie
- Jun 18, 2020
- 10 min read
Updated: Aug 21, 2021
Reasons to be cheerful during Lockdown and it's easing. If you're dependent on public transport, reluctant to venture out or can't travel, how do you get the culture travel bug out of your system? I' e been enjoying increasingly starry Zooms (and Crowdcasts!)
Hay Digital - I'd never thought of going to the Hay Literary Festival, tho I'd heard of it. Hay Digital was a revelation - such a positive event and a wide range of interviews. And it was free, although you can access this year and the whole back catalogue for a bargain £10!
And the starriness began. On a series of Crowdcast interviews, I hung out with:
William Dalrymple, author of The Anarchy, about the appalling corrupt and viciously money making corporate army that was the East India Company..from Delhi!
Michael Wood talked about China, mostly Chinese poets, which opened my eyes to centuries of creativity, leading into a fascinating interview with author Lan Yan. This has led to me reading Lan Yan's family autobiography, House of Lan. Nuanced and quite unique, her autobiography following several generations of a family through their involvement in the centre of Chinese politics and political system, and follows what happens when you're marked as being on the wrong side of the political system, even within your own family relationships. Courageously, she does try to evaluate her country's history and individual involvement within it. Written very delicately, I enjoyed it very much, and it's left me thinking how UK history in schools often leaves out all the interesting parts - the English Civil War and the Protectorate, the Stuarts in general, the fight for enfranchisement in the 18th and 19th centuries, the Cold War, the growth and decline of Empire, even the first Civil War between Stephen and Matilda, the Peasants' Revolt, Magna Carta - any of the political history really. Tho it may have changed, unless you seek it out yourself, it's easy to bounce between the Romans, Greeks, Vikings, Normans and then rush through the rest of history to the Tudors and Elizabethans, charge through the Industrial Revolution to Queen Victoria and Votes for Women, and then First World War, Second World War (run up to), American West and history of medicine. Maybe the Holocaust, maybe slavery are covered, but it's easy to miss all the exciting bits - not even the Reformation is covered really. And I wonder if this shows now - as a society, we have an increasingly global outlook; whilst our historical focus remains narrow and very English based, (and the funding for Arts subjects is being drained away).
House of Lan really struck me because at times China was very outward looking, with individuals being inspired by Protestant run YMCA's to promote education widely, amongst those who couldn't afford it, and training interpreters in Italian, German, Russian . At other times, politically China retreats into itself. From a UK Western perspective I tend to see China as quite isolationist - which is an untrue stereotype. I was fascinated by the 'sea turtles'; the nickname for students who study abroad and then return to make a difference to their communities. It's inspirational and was very popular. Really learnt both socially and culturally from the interview and this author.
The starryness completely went to my head with John Simpson interviewing Bettany Hughes, Paul Boateng and Edmund de Waal. about libraries in war and conflict, and how they often become a target for cultural destruction, such as in Syria.
Equally starry but less dramatic was Hilary Mantel talking (no video sadly) about the Mirror and the Light; and Helena Bonham Carter and Dominic West performing (mostly at a social distance) Shakespeare! Dominic West was fantastic; Helena Bonham Carter was surprisingly hammy. The garden setting was beautiful!
Chatterbox (Playbox Theatre) - The starryness has continued with interviews from Playbox Theatre. You can either sign up to Zoom or watch on YouTube (live or later on). Really well done interviews, I've Zoomed with Mrs Hughes (Phyllis Logan), Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean) and George Mackay from 1917. Sope Dirisu was charming and Aimee Lou Wood so thoughtful and considered. It's like my own Oscars ceremony!!! Free to sign up to or watch later.
Fangirling Lucy Worsley on Historic Royal Palaces Crowdcasts. So far Lucy's discussed Royal Fashion and Royal Image with examples from the Royal Collections. Best of all was the Ravenmaster, Christopher Skaife, from the Tower of London; somehow Lucy's connection died, he was impeccably professional and just kept chatting and presenting in a really relaxed way. Fascinating educational trip behind the scenes and a demonstration of uniforms, and some memories and demolition of myths about the ravens in the Tower... Next to the Field of the Cloth of Gold with Henry VIII without the 98,000 eggs, more than 2,000 sheep, 13 swans, 3 porpoises, nearly 200,000 litres of wine and 66,000 litres of beer...and then the fashion of Princess of Diana.
Free to sign up to, but worth donating to as they're done to fundraise for the Historic Royal Palaces. You can only watch them for 24 hours after the event, then you need to become a Historic Royal Palaces member to access the content again.
Depending on your time zone, you can join in Zooming with the National Arts Club Artist Fellows lectures. Not only does this help with the travel bug, but you can Zoom through historic Russian Palaces, the buildings of Edwin Lutyens, meet the designer behind Dancing with the Stars or learn about the fashion choices and inspiration of Queen Alexandra.
Some are better than others - Kate Strasdin's lecture on The Fashion of Queen Alexandra was really well presented, very clear and well illustrated. Thierry Morel seemed to have a huge presentation for the time slot and didn't really get to the end in the time allowed - although what he did have to say about one family and the Russian Imperial Palaces they experienced was really interesting. Thierry Morel and the whizz around Edwin Lutyens designs were both beset by tech issues - background noise, lost connections, so you have to bear with it. The Edwin Lutyens lecture was well illustrated with lots of photos but the content did feel a bit read to us rather than presented. The Dancing with the Stars designer was confident and relaxed and deeply enthusiastic about this subject - using photos to show how the designs either mirrored the set, or popped in contrast against them, or even sought to recreate Disney movies! Loved, loved, loved the interview with Dee Bradley Baker, voice actor - you'll know him from lots of animated things. Do see the Edith Head, movie fashion designer, interview. Absolutely brilliant and it wasn't until she mentioned giving her necklace to Elizabeth Taylor that I twigged that this was a dramatised interview. Nor did she mention her appearances in animated movie The Incredibles, which was a bit of a give away.
Vintage Black Fashion, (an array of really unique and different photos), was amazing as was Filipiniana Dress History and Ballerina: Fashion's Modern Muse.
Like a box of chocolates and the time zone differences, you never know what you're gonna get. However, they're on Eventbrite, free (or give a donation), Zoomable and you can watch them on the YouTube channel afterwards. Fun to try out different things and get a good boost of global arts and culture.
Courtauld Institute of Arts - Dr Sussan Babaie, Sensory Experience in Islamic Arts
This virual tour of a locked down exhibition was a delight; Dr Sussan Babaie was a very effective and professional presenter and guide. I didn't know anything about Islamic arts - wonderful to learn that the senses were important to the creation of objects in the Arabic world. Metal working was highly valued using shape and carving to endow the object with sensory value, and seemed to centre around Syria and Iraq as artistic centres.
On display were beautiful pomanders or hand warmers, which could be suspended from a string, carried in the hand or rolled from one guest to another. Exquisitely designed, science and art meet in one tiny object. There was also the very famous metal 'handbag'! More like a crossbody bag of ancient times, these popular items were used by women. The one on display is both gold and silver with some almost illuminated carved figures copied from elsewhere to personalise the item.
Even writing became art as to write a word was an artistic creation, bringing life in itself. A wonder animation shows the creative spark of an ancient pen set, still in their original portable case. This virtual tour managed to evoke an entire world.
Topically I enjoyed Zooming with Dan Hicks, Curator of #MuseumsUnlocked on Twitter, again relieving the travel bug by taking me and potentially a 1000 others each time through different Museums in the UK and the world, and by themed examples too. Great to see people sharing their loves, joys and enthusiams/specialisms in photos and objects. This was my first experience of an OUHN Virtual Tea!
If Museums Unlocked are not your thing, follow #CuratorBattle on Twitter, irreverent and funny, the Museum Curators battle it out to see who has the best and winning object or example, be it bling, cats, shoes or most disturbing! It's very amusing and as with MuseumsUnlocked, gives lots of ideas for visits as and when wider travel becomes possible again.
Very, very topical too given that Dan Hicks is Curator of the Pitt Rivers Museum and highly involved in the discussion of ideas around collection representation and identity, particularly now that RhodesWillFall.
@fidmmuseum - FIDM Museum on Instagram has some great interviews, but also regular 'unboxings'. Here parts of the museum's extensive fashion collection were explored; now with Working From Home, the curator 'unboxes' her own family's collection clothes and photographs.
@amberbutchart - Amber Butchart, fashion and dress historian, does a similar thing on Instagram with 'Dirty Laundry', in which she reviews her historical dress collection including beachwear and a Biba 1970s heirloom.
Venice in Peril - If the Walls Could Talk: Experiences of Quarantine and Plague in Early Modern Venice with Jane Stevens Crawshaw.
Venice from the comfort of your sofa! Fantastic art history lectures and you can travel to glorious Venice, without peril! Currently free and Zoomable, topically been to a lecture about the plague hospitals set up on islands outside of Venice. Learning how the archaeology reveals so much about the structure, life and investment into public health of the Venetian authorities during the epidemics of plague. Very well illustrated and clearly delivered. Thinking about how the ancient physicians thought that your emotions either encouraged or discouraged sickness, and therefore they set up public art and made sure that the chapel was highly visible to encourage the patients within its walls. Surely there is something in it tho....
RI Lectures - Getting my science on with a Royal Institution lecture. Very, very well done, professionally delivered and presented - this one was The rules of contagion by Adam Kucharski. Again so worthwhile to get the brain going, delivered in a webinar format for free or a donation, and you can turn the comments off or on as you wish!
Virtual Tours with GAdventures
Travel the world from your sofa/couch. Interesting memories from Peru - next the Inca Trail!
Female Quotient Equality Lounge - Women in the Business of Sports
An ongoing Wednesday discussion about women in Sport at all levels. Really intelligent and supportive set of discussions. I know nothing about sports but these women make me want to know more. Plus men welcome too, not just for women! 19th August is my favourite episode so far - Sage Steele and Laura Rutledge!!!!!
Access for free through their website and sign up to Zoom....
Online Literary and History Festivals
Edinburgh International Book Festival
Where else could you find #DrawWithRob Rob Biddulph, Julia Donaldson, Hilary Mantel, Inspector Rebus and Ian Rankin, Hallie Rubenhold, Philippe Sands, Elif Shafak, Shokoofeh Azar, Eliza Anyangwe and Emmanuel Iduma, James Naughtie, Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola and Rocket, Isabel Wilkerson, Michael Morpurgo, Joshua Wong, the New York Times Crossword, Alexander McCall Smith, William Dalyrymple, Andrew O'Hagan, Joseph Coelho, Oliver Jeffers and more all in one happy socially distanced, online venue together?
It was a chance to learn - about what it means to be working class now; to educate myself - encountering Uganda's best selling author - Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, to learn about Liberia with Wayétu Moore and the DRC with Alain Mabanckou. I was disappointed with Olivette Otele's interview - she's such a clever woman and has so many important things to say, and I love her Twitter; but instead the interview seemed to be reduced down to quoting buzzword phrases back and forth, so that both interviewee and interviewer seemed to say nothing at all. Such a shame. However, I really enjoyed Amelia Gentleman's expose of the Windrush Scandal, tho the end of the interview was quite harsh to her, almost bashing her for using her white privilege to get people justice and the truth revealed. This felt unkind and unnecessary given that she is an ally using her powers of journalism for the good of others and she is not alone in this; kind of felt like it was being said that she should step back and do nothing cos she's white. The story is the thing and she is one among many working to the same end. Loved the perky and informative interview from the creator of the New York Times crossword and the psychology behind it all - Joel Fagliano. Also the graciousness of Isabel Wilkerson and Elif Shafak and the enchantment of Shokoofeh Azar's Iranian magical realism confronting the pain of the Revolution. Loved too the enthusiasm of Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola, and having a new story read to me!
Still available now and free. Hay Online was more comprehensive but this is has a themed focus.
Petworth Festival
You can buy either individual tickets or different types of passes - to either watch live or later....
Featuring the wonderful London Mozart Players, Sheku and Isata Kanneh-Mason, Mitsuko Uchida, Milos, Tamsin Little, Patti Boulaye, Charles Owen and Katya Apekisheva on opposing pianos, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, and some of the usual literaray suspects...
Pay to view and performances are available for varying times...
Gloucester History Festival
Disappearing quickly, but great talks from Janina Ramirez on medieval women, Michael Scott, Catherine Hanley on Louis VIII, Henry III from David Carpenter, Mary Beard, Stephen Tomkins on the Mayflower Pilgrims, the 'Special Relationship' reviewed by Lord William Hague and the US Ambassador Woody Johnson, Bettany Hughes, Henry VII vs the Tudor Pretenders with Nathan Amin, and... David Olusoga and Neil Gaiman! Gutted to have missed Olivette Otele, Patrick Vernon and Michael Wood, but there's only so much screen time I can do!!! Worth catching for Hague's extraordinary accent...
Like Pokemon or Pringles, catch them before they're gone....
Free but on limited time to view - also varied compared to the usual suspects - no Hallie Rubenhold or William Dalrymple here!
Chelsea History Festival
A wonderful hybrid festival - online streaming via Crowdcast and socially distanced live audiences. Where else can you find William Dalyrymple and the East India Company, the Anders Army, the Indian Army in the First World War, the British Army in Germany since 1945, fake news and paranoia in the Third Reich, Don McCullin, Daniel Todman's fascinating research on World War Two's impact on us, the year 1000, the twilight of Democracy, John F Kennedy, Warsaw 1920 and Lenin, Aston Martins, Art that destroys tyrannies, a history of looting in wartime and whether we should give it back, what our street addresses reveal about us, Agincourt, the Polish Cyclometer (a pre-runner to Enigma), and Armenia after the genocide all mixed up together in one wonderful place.
Extremely varied, scholarly, accessible and intriguing, with a focus on military history...I didn't know about the Anders Army and the Polish contribution to our freedom, I only had an awareness of Polish airman - love the recreation of Polish Calvary in action.
Museum at FIT YouTubes
A great range of Fashion design and textile inspired programmes, from fashion in times of crisis to Prabal Gurung and other designers. Free or for a donation - you can sign up in advance and jump the UK/USA time zone to watch live or watch later on YouTube...
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