New things to read: The Modernist

Susie Stubbs

We’re always on the look-out for cultural things to read. This month: The Modernist

You know how it is. Much as we love all things digital, sometimes nothing beats a great piece of print. And thus we have for a long time lusted over Manchester Modernist Society’s quarterly magazine. Though now onto its sixth issue, we have a soft spot for its Campus edition (we never did lose our love of academia, either).

Title: The Modernist

Publisher: The Modernist Society

Issue no. 5, “Campus”, £4.50

Stockists: Cornerhouse or via http://www.the-modernist-mag.co.uk

Jacket blurb: “a quarterly magazine about twentieth century design”

Why we like it: A beautifully designed homage to modern architecture; a quarterly magazine that comes with a killer combo of black humour and in-depth knowledge of its subject matter, and that puts it all to good use to celebrate the often unloved and ignored bits of our built environment (which, coincidentally, are often concrete kings). Issue 5 includes writing on art in the classroom, the Gulbenkian complex in the heart of Lisbon, Le Corbusier in Cambridge and “the finest women’s institute in this country”, an eclectic mish-mash of essays that loosely coalesce around the theme of the university/educational campus.

Sample quote: “Collision of the generations, as though the whole place is a wedding disco, where your gangly teenage cousin flattens grandma in an unrehearsed celebration of I Wanna Be Adored” – Phil Griffin

Spotlight on

Things to do in Blackpool

Fancy a day trip? Explore our guide to Blackpool and build yourself an itinerary featuring attractions, galleries, restaurants and more.

Take me there

Culture Guides

Poet Evan Jones
Literature Events in the North

Some of our favourite leftfield live literature regulars are back with their first events of the year – we’ve picked a weird and wonderful heap we think you’ll love.

Good Fridaze Family Social at Freight Island
Family things to do in the North

As we edge towards spring we take a look at the best events and activities for families, from theatre to festivals, dinosaur adventures to family raves.

NEXT: A Primer on Urban Painting production still
Cinema in the North

Street art, LGBTQ+ History Month, and the first film festivals of the year are amongst our cinema highlights this month.

A painting of a young child being bathed in a sink of a 197s style kitchen. Around the sink are a rubber duck, a bottle of  washing up liquid, a jug, a kettle and a mug.
Exhibitions in the North

Galleries are racing to announce new exhibitions so check out our top picks, from art films and nostalgic paintings to Hockney's collages.

Theatre in Manchester and the North
Theatre in the North

Feminist farce, a magical circus show and Oldham Coliseum return with a brand-new off-site show. All in our latest theatre guide.

FKA TWIGS
Music in the North

Masters of minimalism, leftfield electronica and cutting edge pop. We bring you the lot in our latest live music round up.