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Artwork for In Our Time: Culture

In Our Time: Culture

BBC Radio 4
Vincent Van Gogh
Robert Graves
The Waltz
Nizami Ganjavi
Bertolt Brecht
The Kalevala
Lysistrata
Molière
Shakespeare
Literature
Poetry
Literary Influence
Tom Jones
Finnish Culture
Aristophanes
Starry Night
Vienna Secession
Epic Theatre
Marxism
Mother Courage

Popular culture, poetry, music and visual arts and the roles they play in our society.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes290Founded15 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
History

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Artwork for In Our Time: Culture

Latest Episodes

Misha Glenny and his guests discuss the most famous oratorio of George Frideric Handel (1685-1759) and his librettist Charles Jennens (1700-1773). For his libretto, Jennens drew from Old and New Testament texts: prophecies about the coming of Jesus, ... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the provocative artistic phenomenon that first startled audiences in 1916 in Zurich. There, at the Cabaret Voltaire at the Holländische Meierei on the Spiegelgasse, Emmy Hennings and Hugo Ball and others gathered on a ... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss the short life and lasting works of Keats (1795-1821), who in one year wrote some of the most loved poems in English. Among these are Ode to a Nightingale, Ode on a Grecian Urn and Ode on Melancholy. That most producti... more

Misha Glenny and guests discuss one of the most successful of Shakespeare's plays in his own time. Written with no Part 2 in mind as 'Henry the Fourth', the play explores ideas about who can be a legitimate ruler and why, and how anyone can rightly s... more

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Recent Guests

Ruth Smith
Trustee and council member of the Handel Institute
Handel Institute
Episode: Handel's Messiah
Donald Burrows
Emeritus professor of music
The Open University
Episode: Handel's Messiah
Larry Zazzo
Countertenor and senior lecturer in music
Newcastle University
Episode: Handel's Messiah
Dawn Ades
Emeritus Professor of Art History and Theory
University of Essex
Episode: Dadaism
Ruth Hemus
Professor of French and Visual Culture
Royal Holloway, University of London
Episode: Dadaism
Stephen Forcer
Professor of French
University of Glasgow
Episode: Dadaism
Fiona Stafford
Professor of English Language and Literature and Tutorial Fellow at Somerville College, Oxford
Somerville College, University of Oxford
Episode: John Keats
Mako O'Halloran
Senior Lecturer in Romantic Literature
University of Newcastle
Episode: John Keats
Nicholas Roe
Wardlaw Professor of English Literature
University of St Andrews
Episode: John Keats

Hosts

Misha Glenny
Host of In Our Time
Melvyn Bragg
Host of In Our Time

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Somewhat informative

    But mainly destroying your inspirations one podcast at a time.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Koogan123
    United States3 months ago
  • In Our Time

    While I recognise that my hearing is not improving with age, I find Melvyn Bragg’s dialogue difficult to understand and his manner increasingly irritating.

    He does not articulate at all well, often speaking in a lazy, nonchalant and off-handed way - not uncommon to his ilk. His questions are sometimes barely intelligible (his guests speak clearly) and his style inappropriate for an international audience. Your podcast is listened to outside the UK.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Bragg by name……
    Australia10 months ago
  • Bravo!

    Wonderful high-quality program... Bravo!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Herodotus484
    Canadaa year ago
  • Shame about the host as could be a good listen

    There are some great profiles, but the host's (Bragg) behaviour makes it unlistenable. The constant interruptions and offhand manner, often cutting off guest speakers mid-sentence, made me stop listening. Please consider changing the host.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Steer pike
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • American in England

    These podcasts are like getting free college courses!

    With top-notch professors from Cambridge, Exeter, Holy Cross, and Oxford-your mind will soar! Melvyn Bragg is the consummate host, giving each speaker, thought provoking questions, and ample time for each response. I enjoy listening and learning about new subjects on the daily !

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    $bigjude62$
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, the show is viewed as a premier source for university-level culture discussions.
Some listeners feel the host's delivery can be challenging to follow at times but acknowledge the show's intellectual rigor.
High regard for the quality of guests and range of topics, with strong appeal for culture and history lovers.
Listeners value the breadth and depth of scholarly guests.
Criticism often targets the host for interruptions; guests generally praise the expertise.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#241
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#105
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#226
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#64
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#161
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#24
Hong Kong/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Handel's Messiah
Q: Why did Messiah become associated with Christmas despite its origins and timing?
Its December Dublin charity performances and the shepherds' imagery gave it a Christmas association, even though the work was originally tied to Lenten and other devotional contexts; over time it became a Christmas staple through public performances and cultural adoption.
Handel's Messiah
Q: Why did Handel use a predominantly English text with Old and New Testament content, and how did audiences react?
The English text, grounded in Biblical themes, aimed to connect with English audiences while allowing the sacred message to speak through universal imagery; reactions ranged from skepticism about the sacred-venue clash to praise for its emotional and spiritual impact.
Handel's Messiah
Q: What was the librettist Charles Jennens's relationship with Handel, personally and professionally?
Jennens was a devoted but somewhat isolated patron; he funded and supported Handel, collected his music, and provided the libretto that framed Messiah as a spiritual work, though he was personally depressed and politically out of step with his times.
Handel's Messiah
Q: Donald, can you tell us exactly what an oratorio is?
An oratorio is a large musical work performed in a concert-like setting, typically sacred but staged without acting or scenery, and structured around biblical or religious themes, rather than a narrative drama.
Dadaism
Q: What exactly is the relationship between Dada and its methods of language and sound, if not traditional poetry?
Dada treats language as material, often overlapping voices and sounds to generate emotion and new meanings rather than clear narratives.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About In Our Time: Culture

What is In Our Time: Culture about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A humanities-focused discussion program that features panels of scholarly guests to unpack topics in history, literature, philosophy, and the arts. Episodes commonly explore the life and work of poets and playwrights, literary movements, historical figures, and cultural movements, often weaving in reception, biographical context, and performance history. Listeners are likely drawn to rigorous analysis, broad cultural trivia, and thoughtful debates, with a bias toward academics and students who enjoy deep dives into ideas and their social implications. A noteworthy pattern is the consistent involvement of prominent university-affiliated experts, producing rich context and cross-disciplinary connections for a well-educated audience.

Notewort... more

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Which podcasts are similar to In Our Time: Culture?

These podcasts share a similar audience with In Our Time: Culture:

1. In Our Time
2. Great Lives
3. Arts & Ideas
4. HistoryExtra podcast
5. Close Readings

How many episodes of In Our Time: Culture are there?

In Our Time: Culture launched 15 years ago and published 290 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on In Our Time: Culture?

Recent guests on In Our Time: Culture include:

1. Ruth Smith
2. Donald Burrows
3. Larry Zazzo
4. Dawn Ades
5. Ruth Hemus
6. Stephen Forcer
7. Fiona Stafford
8. Mako O'Halloran

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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