Under capitalism everything tends to be reduced to something that is bought and sold. Sport and other aspects of popular entertainment and culture are no exception. Once they were simply people enjoying themselves. Now they have become products to be paid for and consumed passively, provided by profit-seeking businesses.

Speaker: Adam Buick

These days, the gap between news and entertainment is becoming narrower. World events are packaged for us in brief, shallow soundbites. Our view of capitalism is shaped by the dictates of the media giants. How fair and balanced is the news they present to us when we’re blinded by spin, and corporate vested interests limit the information they allow us to have?

Speaker: Steve Trott

Who would have predicted the popularity of Michael Moore’s film ‘Fahrenheit 9/11’? Or Naomi Klein’s book ‘No Logo’? It seems that more and more people are interested in critiques of capitalism. So, to a certain extent, anti-capitalism has found a place within the mainstream media. And this means that, ironically, anti-capitalist ideas have become another source of profits. But what does this trend say about support for governments and big business? And how does this affect the socialist movement?

Speaker: Brian Gardner

Whether it’s a pint in a pub, a joint at home, or ecstasy in a nightclub, many of us use drugs to unwind or enhance our experiences. However, heroin and alcohol addiction are causing countless damaged lives. There’s often a fine line between using drugs for enjoyment and using drugs to escape the pressures of society. Mike discusses the reasons behind the apparent rise of drug use, and how the laws intended to restrict drug use only compound its problems.

Speaker: Mike Foster

From punk to protest songs, from rap to reggae, music has been a varied outlet for discontent for the last fifty years. And before then, peoples’ lives and struggles were expressed in popular ballads and folk songs. Paddy gives us a history of how the working class voice has been heard through music.

Speaker: Paddy Shannon

Work in socialism would be radically different from employment in capitalism. But how would we entertain ourselves in a socialist society? What films would we make? What books would we write? What sports would we take part in? What music would we play?

Speaker: Stan Parker
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