In essence the novel, Catch-22, is a satire based on the simple principle that war is absurd in every respect. The protagonist, John Yossarion, aka Yo-Yo, spends his whole time trying not be killed, and arguing with his colleagues and friends that everyone is out to kill him, a fact that they do not have a problem with because in war that is exactly what happens.
films
Why Does Popular Media Falsify History?
The wilful misrepresentation of that history, either to fulfil a current social-political agenda, or simply to make a media production more appealing to a mixed race audience for commercial reasons, is damaging
The Batman (2012)
After the glitz and glamour of the Dark Knight, The Batman returns to the shadows, where he truly belongs, and seems all the more interesting for doing so.
Fact over Fiction Again
It is not a question of race; it is a question of accuracy in a genre where accuracy should matter.
Euthanasia – The Novel
Euthanasia is going to be the main theme of my next novel. Now that is decided the time has come to plan the book and begin the writing
Why Race in a Historical Context is Important
Back in November 2019 I wrote a piece on now racism in Historical Dramas appears to be in the process of being erased from both cinema and television screens <link>. I recently got into an argument about this very subject again. I made a comment about Armando Iannucci’s latest version of Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield. … Continue reading Why Race in a Historical Context is Important
Favourite Books – Alexander Dumas’ ‘The Three Musketeers’
As a rule I do not have a list of favourites, I find them limiting myself and I am interested in so many different things. However, when occasionally pushed to it I can narrow my choices down a little and come to a selection, not that such a list will ever prove to be set … Continue reading Favourite Books – Alexander Dumas’ ‘The Three Musketeers’
The Tempest (2010)
This is one of my favourite plays by William Shakespeare so when I saw this film version listed in my television schedule I set it to record so that I could enjoy watching it at a time when I knew I would not be disturbed. Directed by Julie Taymor from her own screenplay adaptation it … Continue reading The Tempest (2010)
Peter C Whitaker 