An anthology of Mike Marqusee's selected articles discussing Bob Dylan, the game of cricket, American Civil rights, Jewish identity, William Blake’s art, nationalism, Big Pharma, Labour Party politics, the films of John Ford, Flamenco music, the poetry of Mahmoud Darwish, the BDS campaign, Muhammad Ali and Italian Renaissance painting amongst many other topics explored with Marqusee's acute, erude and kaleidoscopic writings.
Jul 4, 2006
Comment is Free, The Guardian, 4 July Now that England are out and the World Cup is nearing its climax, perhaps there’ll be a re-focusing on what is supposed to be the country’s traditional summer pastime. In recent weeks the media has been so preoccupied with the football that when the cricket season’s prime attraction,… Read more
Jun 27, 2006
The Guardian, 27 June [NB. Postscript below] As has been widely noted, this World Cup has witnessed an unprecedented display of England flags. Less noted is the fact that this display is far more extensive than in other countries. There’s no parallel, for example, in Holland and Italy, though both boast fanatical football cultures. We’re… Read more
Jun 18, 2006
Palestine News, July 2006 Presumably because I’m Jewish and write about India, I received an invitation to a ‘Jewish-Indian Reception’ held earlier this year at Columbia University in New York. “Did you know that Jews have lived in India for over 2000 years without any signs of Anti-Semitism?” the invitation began. “Did you know that… Read more
Jun 6, 2006
A dialogue between Mark Perryman and Mike Marqusee Red Pepper, June 2006 Mark Perryman puts the case for flying the St George cross at the World Cup, while Mike Marqusee explains why he’ll be rooting for anyone but England to win it. Mark Perryman kicks off the discussion: The beginning of June must be a… Read more
May 30, 2006
The Guardian, 30 May The World Cup is an engrossing display of skill, ingenuity, fallibility. It is also a huge economic enterprise. This year’s matches will be televised in 189 countries. The final will be watched by more people than any other sporting contest in history. In an era of media fragmentation, the FIFA spectacle… Read more
May 18, 2006
Comment is free, The Guardian, 17 May In breach of international law, Ehud Olmert has declared that Israel will redraw its boundaries unilaterally, incorporating the major West Bank settlements and maintaining a military presence adjacent to the Jordan. Meanwhile, the EU and the US have suspended aid to the democratically elected Palestinian authority, threatening Palestinians with a collapse of public… Read more
May 15, 2006
Do you have to be religious to understand sacred music? Comment is free, The Guardian, 15 May I was with a group of westerners attending a a concert of Carnatic music – south India’s classical music – in Chennai. An affluent looking middle aged man in the row in front of us turned and smiled. He… Read more
