arts byMark Fisher


Books > The Diaries of Anthony Hewitson, Provincial Journalist. Volume 1: 1865–1887 Edited by Andrew Hobbs Open Book Publishers The diaries of a Victorian journalist, edited by Andrew Hobb, give rare insights into the profession in his day. Anthony Hewitson went from printer’s apprentice to reporter before editing his own paper. Hobbs, a member of the NUJ’s West Lancashire branch and senior lecturer in journalism at the University of Central Lancashire, is working on volume two. https://tinyurl.com/2jnnzvc8


In depth > Lessons on fighting back


WHEN Boris Johnson declared a lockdown in March 2020, this did not apply to schools. The assumption was that teachers would put themselves at risk in the name of education. The National Education


Union (NEU) had other ideas. Concerned for its most vulnerable members,


it recommended they stay at home. “It didn’t go to ballot, it


didn’t look at legislation, it simply issued advice to all of its members who were either at risk or living with someone at risk,” says Gawain Little, a member of the NEU’s national executive. “There was a crisis and the union was


willing to act. That relied on 10 years of rebuilding the union in the workplace.” Within 48 hours, the


government had changed its policy. The union’s decisiveness won out. Its confidence was hard


earned, a message reflected in Lessons in Organising: What Trade Unionists Can Learn from the War on Teachers, a collection of activist, academic and union official perspectives that aims to set out “the case for a new transformative trade unionism for the 21st century”. It is written by Little,


with fellow trades unionists Ellie Sharp, a primary school teacher; Howard Stevenson, a professor of educational leadership and David


22 | theJournalist


Comedy> Frankie Boyle: Lap of Shame On tour until September 5 The star of New World Order has increasingly directed his trademark venom at political injustice. Despite a history of fuelling tabloid outrage, this master comedian offers more than shock tactics. https://tinyurl.com/ybkmc4ke


Naked Feminism: Breaking the Cult of Female Modesty Victoria Bateman Polity Books This is a plea to feminists to challenge the repression of the female body in a study that takes us from ancient Babylon to the purity pledges of today’s America. Victoria Bateman asks whether it is right that women’s bodies remain at the mercy of state, society and religion. A fellow in economics at the University of Cambridge, she has written for titles including The Guardian and The Telegraph. https://tinyurl.com/2jxp8rtq


Josie Long: Re-enchantment On tour until September 28 The co-founder of education charity Arts Emergency specialises in a DIY brand of stand-up, free of showbiz glitz and rich in homemade camaraderie. On her mind is a desire to reconnect with nature, the horrors of the government and a recent diagnosis of ADHD. https://tinyurl.com/2fge8pm2


Dance > Born to Exist: the Woman I Know On tour until March 25 The third in a trilogy of politically driven dance pieces by Joseph Toonga focuses on unseen women of colour. Using the


Wilson, NEU assistant general secretary. “It is a case study of the


NEU’s response to neoliberal education reform,” he says. “We draw out a number


of lessons for other unions in our experience of fighting back against what we refer to as the war on teachers – a phrase used by the government itself. Education unions have proved far more resilient than they might have thought.” At heart is a call for


workplace organising. “We’ve lost a lot of the


collective culture,” says Wilson. “Rebuilding that is a major challenge, but the shift to a high- inflation economy, where unions are fighting back, means people are seeing the relevance of unions to their daily lives.” Pluto Books, March,


https://tinyurl. com/25pd5kv3


Souls Grown Deep like the Rivers: Black Artists from the American South Royal Academy, London March 17-June 18 Most of this exhibition’s sculpture, paintings, reliefs, drawings and quilts are on show in the UK for the first time. They are some of the last century’s most neglected work, being by black artists and reflecting their experience of slavery, segregation and racism. https://tinyurl.com/2oyks7qs


Festivals > Edinburgh Science Festival Various venues, Edinburgh April 1-16 Talks include: The Long Shot, hosted by BBC health correspondent Laura Foster; The Keys to Kindness, by presenter Claudia Hammond; The You, the V and the W, hosted by journalist and author Zoe Cormier and Being You, hosted by health writer Jules Montague. https://tinyurl.com/2pp8vchg


techniques of hip hop, the all-female production reflects on immigration, resilience and self-sacrifice. https://tinyurl.com/2pbxjgkb


KARIN JONKER


Exhibitions > Alberta Whittle: Create Dangerously Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Edinburgh April 1-January 7 The Barbadian-Scottish artist’s solo show looks at the consequences of colonialism through sculpture, tapestry, digital collage, watercolour and film. https://tinyurl.com/2jubaqrb


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