Martin Murray
@drmartinmurray.bsky.social
I teach and write about music, literature, philosophy, psychoanalysis, politics and art: low, high, local, global, comprehensible, obscure, joyful and dark. Amateur musician. Original (i.e. South London) Arsenal fan.
‘In newspapers and on television, every reference to a council estate is prefixed with the word ‘tough’, as though bare knuckle boxing is the leisure activity of choice for every British person who doesn’t own their own home.’
November 17, 2025 at 6:41 AM
‘In newspapers and on television, every reference to a council estate is prefixed with the word ‘tough’, as though bare knuckle boxing is the leisure activity of choice for every British person who doesn’t own their own home.’
Well Boy George and Glenn Tilbrook attended and did pretty well, although of course they were both expelled.
November 10, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Well Boy George and Glenn Tilbrook attended and did pretty well, although of course they were both expelled.
Really? Are the guardian blatantly pitching for the teen readership now?
July 1, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Really? Are the guardian blatantly pitching for the teen readership now?
Glastonbury media coverage reveals more about media than Glastonbury.
June 29, 2025 at 7:17 AM
Glastonbury media coverage reveals more about media than Glastonbury.
‘It is in the nature of moral qualities that they are destroyed by deficiency or excess’
Aristotle, Ethics.
This seems as true to me now as the first time I read it.
Picture: Aristotle from the School of Athens fresco in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City, Rome.
Aristotle, Ethics.
This seems as true to me now as the first time I read it.
Picture: Aristotle from the School of Athens fresco in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City, Rome.
June 27, 2025 at 6:24 AM
‘It is in the nature of moral qualities that they are destroyed by deficiency or excess’
Aristotle, Ethics.
This seems as true to me now as the first time I read it.
Picture: Aristotle from the School of Athens fresco in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City, Rome.
Aristotle, Ethics.
This seems as true to me now as the first time I read it.
Picture: Aristotle from the School of Athens fresco in the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican City, Rome.
Nick Lowe and Rat Scabies at the Stiff Office, London 1977, by Vincent Mc Evoy. His advice to The Damned when producing their first album (*the* first London punk album) was ‘bash it out, we’ll tart it up later’. This, alongside his reputation for ‘bashing down’ drinks, explains his nickname Basher.
June 17, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Nick Lowe and Rat Scabies at the Stiff Office, London 1977, by Vincent Mc Evoy. His advice to The Damned when producing their first album (*the* first London punk album) was ‘bash it out, we’ll tart it up later’. This, alongside his reputation for ‘bashing down’ drinks, explains his nickname Basher.
These screenshots show US voters care about the economy, and that Trump ran on that ticket. Right now, the global economy - and hence the US economy - is heading towards recession. Another example of Trump offering a simple ‘solution’ to a complex problem where that has made the problem worse.
April 5, 2025 at 10:30 AM
These screenshots show US voters care about the economy, and that Trump ran on that ticket. Right now, the global economy - and hence the US economy - is heading towards recession. Another example of Trump offering a simple ‘solution’ to a complex problem where that has made the problem worse.
Enjoying the 1970s game show vibe. Authentic.
April 3, 2025 at 6:28 AM
Enjoying the 1970s game show vibe. Authentic.
…but unlike most high school graduates, it doesn’t seem to have occurred to her that the movies might have represented America as the good guy and that there might be some kind of problem with that.
March 4, 2025 at 11:47 AM
…but unlike most high school graduates, it doesn’t seem to have occurred to her that the movies might have represented America as the good guy and that there might be some kind of problem with that.
He just said this out loud when he should really have said it to a therapist (if he has one, which seems doubtful).
January 26, 2025 at 9:12 AM
He just said this out loud when he should really have said it to a therapist (if he has one, which seems doubtful).
I almost bought it for the title.
January 19, 2025 at 8:25 AM
I almost bought it for the title.
New gallery in Blackheath. IMO, the only thing more stupid than this piece of art is someone who’d buy it.
January 18, 2025 at 11:42 AM
New gallery in Blackheath. IMO, the only thing more stupid than this piece of art is someone who’d buy it.
Rock mythbuster: The Clash weren't from West London. Despite their love of The Westway, posing in Portobello and hanging around Hammersmith, they were from elsewhere. Three people below were from South London, one Surrey. Pop is artistry, however authentic.
The Clash, Westway (Adrain Boot, 1977).
The Clash, Westway (Adrain Boot, 1977).
January 16, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Rock mythbuster: The Clash weren't from West London. Despite their love of The Westway, posing in Portobello and hanging around Hammersmith, they were from elsewhere. Three people below were from South London, one Surrey. Pop is artistry, however authentic.
The Clash, Westway (Adrain Boot, 1977).
The Clash, Westway (Adrain Boot, 1977).
Near the Thames Barrier (but not the Thames Barrier) on Boxing Day.
December 27, 2024 at 9:45 AM
Near the Thames Barrier (but not the Thames Barrier) on Boxing Day.
This award (by Laura Freeman) for the Turkey of the Year in the art category in The Times pretty much captures my view of a lot of contemporary art, which isn’t really contemporary any more. It’s a 90s throwback executed with attention to liberal politics. FWIW, I agree that Johnson should have won.
December 20, 2024 at 7:13 AM
This award (by Laura Freeman) for the Turkey of the Year in the art category in The Times pretty much captures my view of a lot of contemporary art, which isn’t really contemporary any more. It’s a 90s throwback executed with attention to liberal politics. FWIW, I agree that Johnson should have won.
