|
|
|
|
Easter weekend is a joyful time for many, whether they partake in the religious elements of the festival or not. What’s not to love about a four-day weekend spent ploughing through a metric tonne of chocolate eggs, after all?
A historian revealed to us this week that medieval Christians also saw this as a time for fun and laughter. In fact, stemming from their idea that the resurrection of Christ was the original practical joke, played on the devil by God, priests from the past often leant very heavily on humour during their Easter sermons. They could often be found at this time of year telling bawdy jokes and entertaining the congregation with slapstick routines from the pulpit. Some
people didn’t approve, however, and responded to the frivolity with an early form of cancel culture.
If you’re tempted to slip your dog a nibble of hot cross bun under the table at any point this weekend, keep in mind that vets are warning of an obesity epidemic among our pets. We’re allowing our felines to get flabby and pooches podgy. Indoor cats, as opposed to those who roam outside, are apparently particularly susceptible to the midlife spread. These animal biologists have put together a four-point guide to help your rotund companions get back into
shape.
This week marked 110 years since the sinking of the Titanic. Mentioning the disaster to most people under the age of 40 will immediately conjure images of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet making out on the deck of the doomed vessel. A lecturer in film studies is frustrated that this schmaltzy love story has come to dominate our cultural memory of the famous disaster. She asks us all to try watching a long forgotten silver screen portrayal called A Night to
Remember instead, arguing it’s a much better telling of the story – without a hint of Celine Dion’s ballad.
Also this week, significant political developments as Boris Johnson pays a police fine, Marine Le pen moves a step closer to the French presidency, and Kazakhstan sees a backlash against support for Russia.
|
|
Laura Hood
Politics Editor, Assistant Editor
|
|
Seb Coxon, UCL
Religion has been a laughing matter since the middle ages.
|
Anne Carter, Nottingham Trent University; Jacqueline Boyd, Nottingham Trent University
Pet obesity is a growing problem – and even a little extra body weight on a dog or cat can lead to health problems.
|
Gill Jamieson, University of the West of Scotland
The film based on Walter Lord’s 1955 account is much more accurate than James Cameron’s epic.
|
|
|
-
Matthew Flinders, University of Sheffield
The British prime minister, his wife and the chancellor of the exchequer are all in legal trouble over lockdown gatherings.
-
Nicole Nyamwiza, Kingston University
My profiling experience left me questioning how I am viewed in wider society.
-
Chris Taylor, Cardiff University
Challenges in evidence, long-term planning and public understanding mean that universal basic income has become easier said than done.
-
Paul Smith, University of Nottingham
Jean-Luc Mélenchon was the great success story of the first round. The question now becomes – who gets his votes in the second?
-
Bhavna Dave, SOAS, University of London
Pressure is mounting on Kazakhstan’s president, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, to distance the country from Putin’s Russia.
-
Will Curtis, University of Warwick
Education can improve wellbeing – and job prospects.
-
David Barns, University of Leeds
Shared ground heat exchanges could provide low-carbon heating for up to 80% of homes in the UK, research suggests.
-
Joe Wills, University of Leicester
Slow progress may be better than none at all for animals living in the UK.
|
|
|
|
| |
Featured events
|
|
— CUBRIC, Maindy Road, Cathays, Cardiff, Cardiff [Caerdydd GB-CRD], CF24 4HQ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Cardiff University
|
|
— The Whitworth, Oxford Road, Manchester, Manchester, M139PL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Manchester
|
|
— Kingston Ln, London, Uxbridge, London, London, City of, UB8 3PH, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — Brunel University London
|
|
|
— The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester, Manchester, M139PL, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Manchester
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
