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The Hollywood Pop Star Paradox For anyone with even the slightest interest in Hollywood, it is not entirely surprising that Anne Hathaway recently appeared on Popcast, the New York Times critics' podcast that has become a premier destination for music promotion. After all, the actor – whose last appearance in a musical bagged her an Academy Award – is a major part of one of the best recent movies to show pop stardom on screen. The Challenge of Creating Fictional Pop Icons The Idea of You successfully conveyed the idea that Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) was the breakout star of a crushable 2010s boyband with a feral fanbase called August Moon. And by "successfully conveyed", I mean the film remixed a string of One Direction-esque iconography – the jaunty rock-lite choruses, fizzy cheerfulness and class clown antics – into actual music videos and convincingly banal bops. The bar is low; many, many films have created bespoke pop stars and/or music for alternate cultural histories, but vanishingly few transcend pastiche. When High Ambition Meets Disappointment I found myself missing the catchy yet entirely forgettable output of August Moon while watching the much more highbrow-aiming Mother Mary, which similarly tries very hard to conjure the magic of a generational pop icon by remixing the recognizable. Diva signatures abound – Mother Mary struts like Taylor Swift, stuns in goddess repose a la Beyoncé and bears the ornate hand tattoos of Ariana Grande. She shares with Lady Gaga an imperial remove, haute styling and maternal forbearance (as well as some biography – Lowery seems more than a little inspired by Gaga's mid-career falling out with Laurieann Gibson, the creative director behind her first two albums.) The Elusive Quality of Authentic Stardom It's certainly not for lack of trying, nor caring. By all accounts, the pop elements of Mother Mary, meant to color a character whose relationship to fandom serves as an overarching metaphor, were made with great reverence for an artform often easily dismissed as, well, easy. On the Popcast, Hathaway waxes poetic about studying pop music like an academic, and Mother Mary certainly appears erudite – speaking nonsense, sure, but well-versed in the precise choreography, deific grace and outsized persona of an archetypical pop star. But the effect is not, as FKA twigs put it in the same interview, "total feeling" despite imperfect approximation. The Real Thing vs. Fictional Creation It helps to bank on the real thing. Though Bradley Cooper's A Star Is Born was ultimately about a fading male rock star, it is Lady Gaga's meta-transformation, from high camp into stripped-down singer-songwriter with glinting ambition, that powered the anthemic Shallow into a crossover hit. The imagination of an alternate, artistically compromised Brat Summer in Charli xcx's satirical mockumentary The Moment was ultimately listless, but the film at least had some of her volatile star power to burn. That prospect of verisimilitude to the real, established thing propels our evergreen fascination with the much more successful genre of musical biopics, from Michael to Rocketman, Bohemian Rhapsody to Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere. When Pop Stardom Works as Backdrop A handful of recent movies have fared better when using pop stardom as a backdrop to the action, rather than thematic engine. The horror films Trap and Smile 2, released in 2024, both staked arena shows for youth-skewing female stars as the focal point for genre conventions, built out with music videos, Drew Barrymore crossover appearances celeb cameos and original music befitting a mid-tier musician. The recessive output of Skye Riley (Naomi Scott) or Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan, daughter of director M Night) works, in that it appears as generic to some (say, Josh Hartnett's girl dad / serial killer) as it is indispensable to young fans. The Most Compelling Pop Star Portrayals Each of these carve some vague path through the vast morass of modern celebrity; far fewer have the nerve to actually commit to a corner. Alex Russell's criminally underseen Lurker, released last year, strategically deploys atmospheric, entrancing music, with just enough snippets of video, to pad a portrait of toxic adjacency, in which an obsessive fan wheedles his way into a singer's entourage that got too comfortable laundering trust and envy. But it's Vox Lux, Brady Corbet's 2018 precursor to The Brutalist, that remains the most divisive and compelling pop star movie in recent memory for its pitch-black view of pop music as fundamentally empty, stardom a Faustian bargain. The Future of Pop Stardom on Screen Vox Lux, at least, expressed some irreducible confidence nowhere to be found in Mother Mary's diva-off. For all its posturing, and for Hathaway and Michaela Coel's sincere commitment to chewing scenery, the film is surprisingly weightless – untethered from the real humiliations, the grueling labor, the compromised artistry that makes pop stardom such a potent subject in the first place. Hollywood may continue to try its hand at creating pop stars, but until it understands that the magic cannot simply be manufactured, these portrayals will remain echoes rather than icons.

Heartbreaking Announcement: Ted the Fishing Companion Passes AwayBBC announced that Ted, the four‑legged star of Mortimer & Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, has died at 13 years old, prompting an outpouring of grief from fans and co‑hosts alike.Ted’s Journey from Surrey Rescue to Television StarRescued from a dog’s home in Surrey in 2013 when he was just six months old, Ted quickly became a regular on the river‑based adventures of Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. Over six seasons he turned from a family pet into a beloved on‑screen companion, known for stealing Jammie Dodgers and bait.Book Success: “A Pawtobiography” Becomes a Sunday Times BestsellerIn 2024, Ted released A Pawtobiography, which climbed the Sunday Times bestseller list, cementing his cultural impact beyond television.What Ted’s Loss Means for ‘Gone Fishing’ and Its AudienceThe canine’s departure leaves a noticeable gap in the show’s dynamic. Both Mortimer and Whitehouse paid heartfelt tributes, highlighting how Ted was more than a pet – he was a “species all of his own.” Viewers are expected to feel a deeper emotional connection to the upcoming episodes.Looking Ahead: The Ninth Series and Ted’s Enduring LegacyAlthough Ted will appear for the final time in the forthcoming ninth series slated for later this year, his legacy will likely influence future storytelling, merchandise, and perhaps a commemorative segment honoring his contribution to the show’s charm.

The 2022 World Cup Final: Messi's CoronationIt's hard not to start with the most recent World Cup final, which for entertainment is surely the finest in the tournament's 96-year history. Two protagonists, each the heartbeat of their sides, stole the show: Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, the former scoring twice and dictating play after he singlehandedly dragged Argentina to the final. Mbappé netted a hat-trick (including two inside 95 seconds) to haul France back into the game. A word, too, for the magnificent Ángel Di María and Emi Martínez, who made a save for the ages in extra time to deny Randal Kolo Muani and a stop in the penalty shootout against Kingsley Coman. But this will forever be known as Messi's World Cup, and the moment where he finally stepped out of Diego Maradona's shadow in the hearts of all Argentinians.The Miracle of Istanbul: Liverpool's Unforgettable ComebackThe Miracle of Istanbul: how can a comeback of that magnitude be condensed into a single paragraph? It can't, of course, but Rafa Benítez's half-time tinkering (and his introduction of Dietmar Hamann) and Steven Gerrard's heroics changed the game as Liverpool roared back from 3-0 down to force extra time. Jerzy Dudek's double save to deny Andriy Shevchenko at the last was vital, and at 12.29am local time, he denied the Ukrainian once more in the shootout to clinch a spectacular triumph against the odds. As Djimi Traoré, Vladimir Smicer and co partied into the night, Carlo Ancelotti's superstars struggled to comprehend events. "I'll never fully shake that sense of absolute impotence when destiny is at work – the feeling will cling to my feet forever, trying to pull me down," Andrea Pirlo wrote in his autobiography.Neymar vs. Ronaldinho: Brazilian Football at Its BestBrazil is the cradle of football and rarely was jogo bonito more evident than in Santos in 2011. Again two main characters: an impudent, precocious Santos teenager called Neymar against an old master back from Europe, Ronaldinho, who rolled back the years to inspire Flamengo to a famous victory from 3-0 down. The match was bedlam, with Flamengo's goalkeeper, Felipe, taunting Elano with kick-ups after saving his Panenka penalty. Neymar was sensational, scoring two goals, one a mind-boggling solo effort that earned him the Puskas award, as well as winning a penalty and providing a bicycle-kick assist. Ronaldinho responded with a free-kick under the Santos wall before scoring a late winner. The master beat the apprentice but Neymar was catapulted into the stratosphere by the game – and his special goal – before his move to Barcelona.The Match of the Century: Italy vs. West Germany"The Match of the Century" was such a classic that a plaque was soon placed on the outside of the Estadio Azteca with that very description, commemorating a semi-final in which five of the seven goals were scored in extra time – remarkable for a game taking place in Mexico's mid-afternoon at a venue 2,200 metres above sea level. After Roberto Boninsegna had given Italy an early lead, West Germany equalised in second-half stoppage time through Karl-Heinz Schnellinger despite Franz Beckenbauer dislocating his shoulder in the second half. He had to play on with his arm in a sling and his side's two substitutions already used. Gerd Müller nabbed two trademark poacher's finishes in extra time but twice the Italians rallied to square the game, before Gianni Rivera slotted a late winner. Had the Azzurri substitute not struck, the World Cup semi-final would have been decided by a coin toss.La Remontada: Barcelona's Historic Champions League ComebackLa Remontada. Even with Barcelona's attacking trident of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez and Neymar (MSN) and even with PSG's penchant for bottling it in Europe, this was the biggest comeback in Champions League history. Down 4-0 from the first leg and despite PSG scoring a crucial away goal at the Camp Nou on the hour mark, Barça somehow scored three goals in the final seven minutes. "Inqualifiable" ("Unspeakable") L'Équipe exclaimed the next day and, while it is true that PSG froze (Unai Emery's side completed just four passes after the 88th minute), Barcelona were magnificent: Neymar's postage-stamp free-kick set up a grandstand finish, Luis Suárez won a controversial penalty (shock), converted by Messi, before the Argentinian set up Sergi Roberto for the winner with PSG just 30 seconds from victory by away goals. "There will be a lot of love made tonight," quipped Barcelona's Gerard Piqué.The Mighty Magyars: England's Humbling Defeat"Probably the finest exhibition of attacking play that has been seen in an international match in Britain," wrote the Guardian's Pat Ward-Thomas in his match report. The match saw Hungary, led by the legendary Ferenc Puskás, defeat England 6-3 at Wembley, ending England's 90-year unbeaten record at home and shattering the myth of English football superiority. This match marked the beginning of Hungary's dominance in international football during the early 1950s, as they went on to reach the 1954 World Cup final, showcasing a fluid, attacking style that revolutionized the game.

Review Overview: A Grounded Portrait of Emily BrontëThe Guardian’s review highlights how Lutz’s biography replaces the long‑standing image of a "deranged" Brontë with a steady, sensible woman whose craft was honed in the texture of everyday life.Lutz’s Narrative Technique: Objects, Tactile Writing, and Everyday LifeLutz anchors her story in concrete details—a too‑short bed, pocket‑full of pencils, and a peat‑fire‑lit kitchen—showing how Emily wrote while baking, walking, or stitching. By treating early samplers and one‑page diaries as precursors to modernist stream‑of‑consciousness, Lutz argues that Brontë’s creativity was both methodical and avant‑garde.Publication Facts and PricingThis Dark Night: The Life of Emily Brontë published by BloomsburyRelease price: £20Available through the Guardian Bookshop linkReassessing Brontë’s Legacy in Contemporary CultureBy situating Emily within the “texture of her everyday,” Lutz invites readers to view Wuthering Heights not as a wild gothic outburst but as a meticulously crafted debut. The biography also challenges sensationalist biographical myths—rabid‑dog bites, secret affairs—favoring evidence‑based interpretation.Future Interest: Potential Discoveries and Ongoing ScholarshipLutz speculates that Brontë may have been working on a second novel, possibly hidden in a wall or buried on the moors, sparking renewed scholarly hunts. The book’s fresh perspective is likely to inspire further academic and popular explorations of Brontë’s life and work.

The LeadIn a revealing account from his autobiography 'Saved', legendary goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon has opened up about a career-threatening panic attack that struck him during a Juventus match in 2004. The incident, which occurred during a challenging period for both the player and the club, forced Buffon to confront mental health issues that few professional athletes of his era dared to acknowledge.The Panic AttackThe incident occurred before a Juventus-Reggina match in February 2004, a particularly difficult period when the team was six points off the top of the table. During the warm-up, Buffon experienced breathing difficulties, dizziness, and a tightness in his diaphragm that made him feel as if he had been hit. 'I felt slightly dizzy. What scared me, however, was the tightness I felt in my diaphragm, between chest and stomach, as if I had been hit,' Buffon recalls.His goalkeeping coach Ivano Bordon immediately recognized something was wrong. 'When you have a panic attack, you don't know you're having a panic attack. When you have a panic attack you think you're going to die,' Buffon explains. The coach's simple words—'You aren't obliged to play'—provided the psychological release Buffon needed to manage the situation.The Mental StruggleIn the aftermath of the incident, Buffon faced months of uncertainty and anxiety. He experienced sleep disturbances, negative thoughts about disappointing his fans and family, and a growing sense of fear that extended beyond football. 'I was afraid to go out, to talk to the people who loved me. I woke up groggy with a tiredness that affected my body, my legs were lacking in energy and I began to lose a sense of certainty in my movements,' he writes.The legendary goalkeeper initially struggled to understand what was happening to him, interpreting his feelings as a lack of courage rather than recognizing them as symptoms of a panic disorder. The stigma surrounding mental health in professional sports made it difficult for him to seek help or even acknowledge his condition to teammates.The Turning PointBuffon's journey to recovery began when he confided in Juventus team doctor Riccardo Agricola. During one of their conversations, the doctor suggested what Buffon had been unwilling to admit: 'Gigi, it could be depression.' This moment of clarity marked the beginning of his acceptance and eventual management of his condition.Despite the ongoing challenges, Buffon found ways to continue his career, learning to manage his anxiety while maintaining his legendary status as one of football's greatest goalkeepers. His experience highlights the importance of mental health awareness in professional sports and the courage required to confront such issues publicly.The LegacyBy sharing his experience in his autobiography, Buffon has joined a growing movement of athletes breaking the silence around mental health. His story serves as an inspiration to others facing similar challenges and contributes to the broader conversation about psychological wellbeing in high-pressure professional environments.The incident, which could have ended his career, ultimately became a pivotal moment in Buffon's life and career. 'I talked about this with my closest friends, and then with Juve's doctor,' he writes, demonstrating the importance of seeking help and support when facing mental health challenges.

Andrew Durbin’s new double biography, The Wonderful World that Almost Was, brings back to life the intertwined careers and love of painter‑sculptor Paul Thek and photographer Peter Hujar, two once‑celebrated figures of New York’s 1960s‑70s art scene. Key Developments Chronology spans 1954 (their early years as soul‑searching twentysomethings) to 1975 (a decade before both died of AIDS). Durbin interweaves personal letters, notebooks, and archival photographs to reconstruct the night in 1960 when Thek and Hujar first met. Thek’s “meat pieces” and beeswax body replicas, which shocked the mid‑1960s art world, are detailed alongside Hujar’s iconic images such as Orgasmic Man (1969). The book emphasizes their open, unapologetic gay relationship, contrasting it with the era’s more hidden queer lives. Published by Granta at £25, the volume arrives alongside a recent photo‑letter collection and a biopic starring Ben Whishaw. Why This Matters Restores visibility to two artists whose contributions shaped New York’s “cool” aesthetic but were erased from mainstream art histories. Offers a rare pre‑AIDS narrative that focuses on creative agency rather than disease, enriching LGBTQ cultural memory. Provides contemporary artists and scholars with concrete examples of how authenticity of vision can outweigh commercial success. Encourages publishers and museums to revisit other marginalized figures, potentially diversifying exhibition programmes. Expert Insight Durbin, himself a novelist, uses a lyrical yet investigative style that fills gaps where letters are missing, allowing readers to feel the immediacy of a 1960s bar encounter. By juxtaposing Thek’s “cuddly and sensual” demeanor with Hujar’s “dignified and remote” presence, the biography illustrates how contrasting personalities can fuel mutual artistic growth. Crucially, the book resists framing the duo solely as tragic AIDS victims; instead, it celebrates their relentless pursuit of artistic integrity—evident when they would “go hungry rather than compromise.” This reframing aligns with a broader scholarly shift toward viewing queer artists as agents of cultural change rather than passive victims. What Happens Next Anticipated museum retrospectives of Thek’s sculptural work and Hujar’s photography may be scheduled, leveraging the renewed public interest generated by the book. Academic courses on queer art history are likely to incorporate Durbin’s research, prompting further scholarship on overlooked mid‑century creators. The biopic’s modest box‑office performance could spark discussions about the market viability of LGBTQ‑focused art films. Granta may commission similar double biographies, signaling a publishing trend toward paired artist narratives.

The Economist as Saviour: A Life in the CrossfireLord Robert Skidelsky, who died aged 86, was not merely a historian but a prophet of economic reality. His passing marks the end of an era for British intellectual life, leaving a void where a rigorous challenge to free-market orthodoxy once stood. Skidelsky’s career was defined by his monumental biography of John Maynard Keynes, a project that consumed two decades of his life.The Return of the Master: Keynesianism in the 21st CenturyThe defining moment of Skidelsky’s later career came on 15 September 2008, with the collapse of Lehman Brothers. This event rendered his decades of research suddenly relevant. While the global establishment was caught unawares by the crisis, Skidelsky felt a duty to "return to the fray."2008 Crisis: The plunge of the global financial system forced policymakers to dust down Keynes's General Theory.2009 Publication: Skidelsky released Keynes: The Return of the Master, validating the need for stimulus over austerity.Policy Shift: Governments briefly embraced stimulus, cutting rates and printing money to stave off a second Great Depression.The Austerity Critique: A Lost Decade for the UK EconomySkidelsky’s most significant impact lies in his prescient critique of the 2010-2015 austerity measures imposed by the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition. While he was part of an "embattled minority," his warnings proved prophetic.The immediate post-crisis recovery was halted by premature fiscal tightening. Skidelsky argued that the UK economy has yet to fully recover from the events of 2008, largely due to the failure to embrace Keynesian ideas long enough. His criticism of George Osborne and the subsequent Rachel Reeves budget highlights his enduring belief that the UK is shackled by "mistaken academic orthodoxy."A Legacy of Maverick OrthodoxySkidelsky was a political maverick, moving from Labour to the SDP to the Conservatives before becoming a crossbench peer. His career was characterized by swimming against the tide, whether supporting Jeremy Corbyn or advocating for a negotiated peace in Ukraine.His final work, Keynes for Our Times, due for release next month, suggests that his battle is not over. As the world grapples with economic stagnation and geopolitical instability, Skidelsky’s insistence that economics must serve human well-being rather than abstract growth remains a vital, if unheeded, prescription for the future.

It's been 20 years since the passing of Muriel Spark, a celebrated Scottish novelist, short story writer, poet, and essayist. With a career spanning over two decades, Spark left an indelible mark on literature with her 22 novels, which are characterized by their uncanny, astute, and witty storytelling. James Bailey, author of the biography Like a Cat Loves a Bird: The Nine Lives of Muriel Spark, provides a guide to Spark's oeuvre, highlighting her unique narrative style. A typical Spark novel begins by introducing an enclosed community, such as nuns, schoolgirls, or desert island castaways, filled with gossip, deceptions, and conflicts. This setup is then disrupted by a dramatic event, like a murder or scandal, allowing Spark to explore the consequences. For readers new to Spark's work, Memento Mori (1959) is a great starting point. This darkly comic novel follows a cast of bickering pensioners who receive anonymous phone calls with the ominous message: 'Remember you must die.' The novel raises questions about mortality, fear, and the human condition. Spark's debut novel, The Comforters (1957), is a remarkable example of her innovative storytelling. The protagonist, Caroline Rose, believes she can hear the clanking typewriter keys of an entity she calls the Typing Ghost, which dictates the events of her life. This novel showcases Spark's ability to blend diabolism, diamond-smuggling, and supernatural elements. One of Spark's most famous novels, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, is known for its quotable lines, such as 'Give me a girl at an impressionable age and she is mine for life.' This novel explores themes of favouritism, fascism, and the seductive power of belonging. Spark considered The Driver's Seat (1970) her finest achievement, describing it as her creepiest work. This novel follows Lise, a protagonist whose holiday romance takes a dark and unexpected turn. Spark's works often explored the contrast between public personas and private lives. Her 1968 novel, The Public Image, is a prime example, delving into the world of a film star struggling to maintain her reputation amidst paparazzi and self-absorbed relationships. Spark's short stories, collected in her Complete Short Stories, offer a glimpse into her versatility as a writer. These tales often feature unquiet spirits and explore themes of mortality, guilt, and redemption.

The vastness of space has always been a profound source of inspiration and terror for humanity. The recent launch of the Artemis II space mission brought this into sharp focus, as the tiny Orion craft and its four-person crew drifted silently through the void, further and further from home. This sense of cosmic isolation is a feeling that video games have long sought to capture.In his autobiography, Apollo astronaut Michael Collins described the experience of being left alone in the command module while Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walked on the moon: 'I am alone now, truly alone, and absolutely isolated from any known life. I am it. If a count were taken, the score would be three billion plus two over on the other side of the moon, and one plus God knows what on this side.'Games like Elite, No Man's Sky, and Outer Wilds have attempted to evoke this sense of solitude and vulnerability. Outer Wilds thrusts players into a time loop on a doomed planetary system, while Xenonauts 2 challenges players to manage Earth's defenses against alien invaders. These games, and others like them, concentrate not on generational starships or laser wars, but on small crews in tiny pods, the weight of the universe stacked against them in the dark.Other notable mentions include Alien: Isolation, Freelancer, Homeworld, and Out There, which all capture the minimalist elements of space travel – often just isolated noises and details. As Tracey McGarrigan noted, even classic games like Solaris on the Atari 2600 managed to evoke a sense of loneliness and awe.For those interested in exploring these themes further, the article recommends checking out Xenonauts 2, available on PC, with an estimated playtime of over 30 hours.