In recent years I have tried hard to stay away from the gut-driven urge to be an ideologue. Perhaps this is for reasons I am about to go into. However, what I see being offered by the UK Labour Party is more like the kind of opportunity offered by a counsellor; not a rigid doctrine,Continue reading ““Not now, Jeremy, we’ve gotta get on the with show””
Category Archives: Writing
Self-acceptance and politics
As you will notice from this painfully long blog I’ve kept here, there’s a lot of stuff about how bad capitalism is. No bones in my body wish to reverse this sentiment; it’s about five minutes to twelve in the life of capitalism, I’m not about to change my mind. However, I have come toContinue reading “Self-acceptance and politics”
Imposter syndrome: a brief history of sadness in a ‘cult of self-belief’
I have decided to share the dissertation I wrote for my recent Masters Degree. It’s admittedly chewy to begin with, as I’m trying to club together ideas I’m still working on, so bear that in mind. But it is kind of important to me (for purposes of personal closure) that the text doesn’t solely existContinue reading “Imposter syndrome: a brief history of sadness in a ‘cult of self-belief’”
The ‘Joker’, Garry Glitter and the shadow side in liberal universalism
I went to see the film ‘Joker’ this week. It was an unplanned visit. I went to see an exhibition at ‘Home’ an arts and film multiplex in ‘Tony Wilson Place’, perhaps the weirdest yet most apt expression of contemporary Manchester (but I’ll leave that to one side for the moment). The show wasn’t on,Continue reading “The ‘Joker’, Garry Glitter and the shadow side in liberal universalism”
Wrestling self-help language from Neoliberal-speak (self-help in a ‘cult of self-belief’)
This will be a clumsy post, a jumble of ad-libbing thoughts that have nonetheless been a concern at a deeply personal level over the past few years. I don’t think my politics has ever changed, really. The deep sense of bad and good (or healthy or unhealthy, through the language I so far identify asContinue reading “Wrestling self-help language from Neoliberal-speak (self-help in a ‘cult of self-belief’)”
Imposter syndrome: a brief history of sadness in ‘the cult of self’
Below is a small text I wish to give as a presentation during the Fine Art Masters Degree I am currently undertaking ….Or ‘Wall, i’ A paper that keeps becoming art/art that keeps becoming a paper I’m here to make a presentation about my ‘practice’. But what if this practice keeps on becoming something otherContinue reading “Imposter syndrome: a brief history of sadness in ‘the cult of self’”
My Shadow Dispatches for ‘The Public Secret’
The Public Secret is a project our artist-led collective the Retro Bar at the End of the Universe held, starting Friday 31st August, in a warehouse on the south west side of Leeds. For this we all contributed a dispatches – which you can find here. This is my long read which I have omittedContinue reading “My Shadow Dispatches for ‘The Public Secret’”
Can symbolic acts manifest themselves within lived experience?
2018 was the year when I had to ask the question the above title poses… Neoliberal Me (An Exorcism of) and #GE18 (The General Election of Governing Emotions) 2008 to 2009 – I learnt a harsh lesson: devoting a year to mapping one’s inner and external fortified walls into one symbolic gesture (one which wasContinue reading “Can symbolic acts manifest themselves within lived experience?”
Works of 2017
I’ve gone back to study this year. After years of wrangling over whether to go back or not, I finally decided that I had nothing to lose by doing so. Additionally, it has enabled me to have a bit more thinking space, away from working 5 days a week. Because no matter what job youContinue reading “Works of 2017”
An Hypothetical map for a Regional Identity Dilemma.
In the United Kingdom many areas believe they are marginalised and overlooked in favour London and the South East. Although I’d argue the primary cause for such grievance isn’t geographically located, but located inside of us, from being subjected to the kind of society created through 40 years of fidelity to the ideology of marketContinue reading “An Hypothetical map for a Regional Identity Dilemma.”
John B Ledger 