The British Library is marking the 20th anniversary of the publication of the first Harry Potter book with an exhibition of the real-life historical artefacts about magical beliefs that inspired JK Rowling, and never-before-revealed notes, plans and manuscripts from the author herself. Rowling included many references to real magical beliefs and historical characters like Nicolas … Continue reading “Harry Potter: A History of Magic”
The sixth edition of the This is England Festival will take place from 13-18 November. If you are in the Rouen area, sign your classes up now for screenings, and download the teaching packs for collège and lycée. Short films are a brilliant way to introduce British culture to language learners, as is an exhibition … Continue reading “This Is England Short Films Festival in Rouen”
Until January 21st, 2018, the American Pop Art movement has taken up residence in the Musée Maillol in Paris. For the first time in France, you can see more than sixty works from the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. This is a rare opportunity to discover key pieces of the … Continue reading “POP ART – Icons That Matter”
From 18 to 24 September, the 6th International Festival of Press and Political Cartoons will take place at l’Estaque near Marseilles. The festival will propose exhibitions, performances and exchanges with cartoonists from all over the world around the values of democracy and freedom of expression. This is a free event where cartoonists offer free portraits … Continue reading “Cartooning for Freedom”
2017 marks the centenary of the birth of Irving Penn (1917-2009), one of the greatest photographers of the 20th century. A new exhibition at the Grand Palais in Paris the first major retrospective of the American photographer’s work in France since his death. This exhibition, curated by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York in … Continue reading “Irving Penn, Master of Light”
The David Hockney exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris from 21 June to 23 October is a retrospective of the British pop artist’s work. Who better to acquaint your pupils with Hockney’s painting than the man himself in this excellent short video. Warning: There is a brief image of a naked man diving into … Continue reading “David Hockney Video”
The David Hockney exhibition that broke attendance records at the Tate Britain arrives as the Centre Pompidou in Paris. In London, almost half a million people saw the retrospective of Britain’s most famous pop artist, from his California swimming pool paintings to recent monumental landscapes and iPad art. Hockney was born in Yorkshire in 1937, … Continue reading “David Hockney: The Pompidou Goes Pop”
In June, the Barbican Centre in London will open a major science-fiction exhibition, “Into the Unknown: A Journey Through Science Fiction”. This unprecedented show encompasses literature, contemporary art, film, music, comic books and video games to present a new, global perspective on Science Fiction. Science fiction is responsible for some of the world’s most iconic … Continue reading “Into the Unknown: A Journey through Science Fiction”
Jamaica is famous for reggae, and in particular Bob Marley. But Jamaican music has a long and complex history, and is much more influential than seems credible for a nation with a population of less than 3 million. In music, as in athletics, Jamaica punches well above its weight. An exhibition at the Philharmonie demonstrates … Continue reading “Jamaican Rebel Music”
In this B1 article your students will learn about Jamaica, its history and its music as a new exhibition opens at the Philharmonie in Paris: Jamaica! Jamaica! Most students will have heard of Reggae and Bob Marley, and they may have studied the Triangle Trade in History. In any case, this is a good opportunity … Continue reading “The Sound of Jamaica”
