Red Library: Science Fiction
There has always been an affinity between socialism and science fiction, a genre that makes clear it is still possible to imagine new societies — however much our miserable politics might claim otherwise.
86 Articles by:
Owen Hatherley
Owen Hatherley is a writer and editor, whose latest book Walking the Streets/Walking the Projects: Adventures in Social Democracy in NYC and DC is out now.
Against the Edgelords
Today’s far-right has been shaped by an online landscape of edgy content. But the solution isn’t to lament the internet – it’s to find a way to build antifascism in its image.
The Left Must Stand Against Putin’s War
The first task for socialists in the appalling war being inflicted in Ukraine is to provide unconditional solidarity with its victims.
The Battle for the Barbican
London’s Barbican and the adjacent Golden Lane estate are symbols of the two souls of post-war social democracy, and how it built for both the intelligentsia and the working class.
Busáras: Dublin’s Modernist Icon
Despite many decades of neglect, Busáras remains one of Dublin’s iconic modernist buildings – and its original design as an ambitious civic centre can offer inspiration to those trying to reclaim the city today.
The Many Loves of Reyner Banham
From modern architecture to American mass culture, writer Reyner Banham championed the progress of his 20th century world – but always with an eye to the interaction between class and design.
Remembering Richard Rogers
The architect and Labour peer Richard Rogers, who passed away this weekend, was a great spokesman for the social possibilities of architecture – but his work also revealed its limits.
The Art Books of Yevgeniy Fiks
Conceptual artist Yevgeny Fiks explores the relationship between the Communist world and the West, hoping to shed light on what was suppressed in each Cold War system.
Cancelling Coventry’s Future
In the post-war era, Coventry was rebuilt as an optimistic, modernist city. But the selling off of the city centre since the 1980s has made this year’s City of Culture feel more like a City for Developers.
How Semiotext(e) Made Theory Cool
Independent press Semiotext(e) helped to break theory out of the confines of academia – and make it a tool for everyday people to deepen their understanding of popular culture.
Yugoslavia’s Socialist Experiment
Forged in the Partisan struggle against fascism, post-war Yugoslavia sought to build an alternative to capitalism outside the Cold War bind – and, for some decades, it succeeded.
Glasgow Is Integrating its Public Transport System – for the Elite Only
There is no fully integrated public transport system in any British city outside of London – but Glasgow has created one for a fortnight, for diplomats only, during COP26.
The Left and the Margins
The Left is haunted by the prospect of becoming a subculture divorced from mass politics – but the history of our movement shows that marginal spaces play a critical role in liberating society.
The Original Sound of Sheffield: Remembering Richard H. Kirk
Sheffield-born musician Richard H. Kirk passed away last month. His music, in Cabaret Voltaire and after, told a story of darkness and paranoia growing into a utopian, expansive vision of the future.
Going Back to NAM
From the late 70s to the early 90s, the New Architecture Movement proposed a form of building that centred the needs of people, not property developers – an idea that remains just as relevant today.
Justice for Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry
Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who died last week at the age of 85, wasn’t just a sonic genius – he was also a politicised producer whose work was full of demands for justice.
People’s Plans in the Baltic
A series of new books on urban activism in the Baltic States depicts how dilapidated or disused public spaces have become the focus for activists and artists.
Alexei Sayle’s Radical Cycling
Comedian Alexei Sayle has spent his lockdowns making Cyclogeography – a delightful and quietly radical series of videos which celebrate the boredom and strangeness of our urban landscapes.
The Cultural Industry of China
The cross-currents of politics and creative culture in China over the decades have had a major effect on both – influencing how culture is produced, and how politics is understood.
A People’s Architecture
Elain Harwood’s forthcoming book Mid-Century Britain focuses on a time when the architecture of the welfare state was decorative and cheery, rather than monumental and avant-garde.