Writing
I write mainly on the areas of arts and culture, politics, news and social activism and usually for the publications featured below.
- Red Pepper, Commissioning Editor
Film review: Unwrapping the drugs debate (July 2011)
Review of Cocaine Unwrapped, a documentary on the global drug trade.
From kitchen sink to fish tank (June 2011)
A potted history of social realism in British cinema. Accompanies article on how the genre is starting to make a comeback, which is here.
Youth rises against bloodshed in Mexico, armed with poetry and art (April 2011)
Report on the growing protest backlash against the war on drugs in Mexico (follow-up to article below).
Mexico: The casualties of war (February / March 2011)
Behind the bloody headlines of Mexico’s war on drugs, creeping militarism and corruption is silencing public dissent. In-depth analysis of how government policy failures are leading to social breakdown.
Media empowerment September 2010
Interview with the Adbusters Media Foundation
From Barking to Venice (September 2010)
Interview with collaborative art and architecture practice muf
All together now (July 2010)
The feminist fightback against cuts needs to come from the grassroots, says Siobhan McGuirk
Putting the protest back in Pride (July 2010)
Siobhan McGuirk reports on the fight to reclaim Pride in Manchester and beyond
“Slash and Burn at the Beeb” (June/July 2010)
Rounding up alternative visions for the BBC in response to their controversial, budget slashing White Paper.
“Beating Burma’s blackout” (Dec 2009/Jan 2010)
Report on the making and marketing of Oscar-nominated documentary, Burma VJ.
“Feelbad Britain: Many Paths” (June/July 2009)
Response to the issue’s essay article, regarding the future of the left in Britain. See here for the original essay feature.
“Occupations against the Occupation” (April/May 2009)
Report on the Student Occupation for Gaza at the University of Manchester.
“Wake Up and Smell the Roses” (for the web April/May 2008)
Report on the exploitative traffic of roses from Kenya, written during the post-election riots and crackdowns in 2008.
“Letting People Speak” (Feb/March 2008)
Interview with documentarian Kim Longinotto.
- Lesbilicious, staff writer
Here I write regular short news pieces and occasional longer articles on culture, media and queer politics. It’s much more particularly focused and generally more light-hearted than my other work, which can make for a nice change at times.
Candy Bar Girls: London’s answer to The Real L Word? (July 2011)
Preview of the new Channel 5 reality TV series set in a London bar.
“Gay Pride vs Queer Pride: the battle for culture” (April 2010)
Looking forward to Queer Up North International Festival – as a antidote to the commercialised Pride event hosted in the same city.
“Lesbian TV Online” (Feb 2010)
A round up of online-only TV shows. The whole concept is more interesting than this article allows: TV democratised through user-generated content?
“Why are lesbian films so bad?” (December 2009)
Opinion piece that sparked an interested debate.
“Battle for the ‘Pink Vote’” (October 2009)
As the Conservative Party conference threw its first, cynical Pride event, it was picked by staunch Tories and queer protesters alike. Is the battle for the pink vote smoke and mirrors, or a sign times are changing?
- Manchester MULE, Culture Editor (2008 – 2010)
I was a member of the Editorial Collective at Manchester MULE, a local, independent quarterly newspaper and regularly updated website 2006-2010. I commission, edit and write about culture for MULE. Examples of articles from this year:
Coverage of local film cell, August 2010
“Theatre review: 1984“
At the Royal Exchange Theatre, March 2010.
“Preview: ¡Viva! Latin American Film Festival”
At Cornerhouse cinema, April 2010.
“Arts project: Contact with Moston”
Looking at the role Contact Theatre is playing in taking youth arts beyond the city centre.
“Council scores own goal by closing Urbis”
An assessment of the motives behind the decision to move the National Football Museum to the Urbis building, replacing the unique contemporary gallery housed there.
“Theatre review: Night on the Tiles”
At Contact Theatre, February 2010.
“Art review: Angels of Anarchy”
At Manchester Art Gallery, August 2009-January 2010.
“Cabaret preview: Mother’s Ruin”
At greenroom arts centre, December 2009.
…and plenty more, see the site if cultural archives are your thing.
