Category: English

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Stephen Roberts, Honorary Lecturer in Theology, Cardiff University

Lady Gaga is leading the nominations for this year’s MTV Video Music Awards – merely her latest accolade.

Since she burst onto the scene with The Fame album in 2008, Gaga has become one of the world’s most recognisable pop stars. Her hit Born This Way even topped Billboard’s list of the 100 greatest LGBTQIA+ anthems of all time. The track defines her commitment to celebrating diversity in all its forms.

While she is known for filling dance floors and dominating pop culture, she has also sparked serious academic interest. Scholars have explored her influence on music, fashion, gender and sexuality. Yet her use of religious imagery remains relatively under-examined. As a theologian, I have studied Gaga’s music and its rich religious symbolism.

Gaga’s most overtly political and theological album was Born This Way, released in 2011. It also inspired the Born This Way Foundation, which she founded with her mother to “empower and inspire young people to build a kinder, braver world that supports their mental health”.

I argue Gaga’s work makes her a kind of “musical public theologian”. In other words, an artist who brings theological arguments into public debate, particularly around LGBTQIA+ inclusion, often in tension with religious communities.

Born This Way

Take the title track. Here she tackles the theological opposition to LGBTQIA+ inclusion head on, in what might seem a fairly obvious and unsophisticated way: “No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgender life, I’m on the right track, baby, I was born to survive … I’m beautiful in my way ’cause God makes no mistakes, I’m on the right track, baby, I was born this way.”

In a world where some claim that God’s design allows only for heterosexuality, Gaga turns this argument upside down. If God makes no mistakes, she insists, then diversity itself is divinely intended.

So far, so simple. But there is a more complicated story to be told about Gaga’s theological affirmation of difference. Some queer theorists are uneasy with the idea of being “born this way”, and the notion that identity is fixed by biology alone.

This is where deeper analysis of Born This Way pays dividends. The video offers a more fluid understanding of identity as something that can be performed.

It opens with a surreal sci-fi creation myth, scored with the theme from Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo (1958), a film in which identity is not straightforwardly “given”. The dancers adopt multiple postures resembling ovaries and wombs – a visual metaphor for the possibility of new births – suggestive of our ability to take on fresh identities for ourselves.

Gaga doesn’t do the work of connecting the lyrics and the visuals. That goes on in the world of queer theology, which is an approach that places LGBTQIA+ people at the centre of faith. But Gaga makes a significant public theological statement by holding them together in this song and its accompanying video.

Central to Gaga’s creative vision and resistance to dominant narratives telling people who and how they should be, is the theme of monstrosity. She calls herself “Mother Monster” and her fans “little monsters”, reclaiming a word often used to exclude or belittle those who are different.

The “Manifesto of Mother Monster”, at the beginning of the Born This Way video, presents a mythic creation story where freedom and difference are celebrated. It builds on the ambiguous place of monsters in religion.

Garden of Eden

Although her later albums are less overtly theological, Gaga has continued to weave religious themes into her music, including those of monstrosity. On her latest album Mayhem, for example, which was released earlier this year, the song Garden of Eden plays with the biblical story of the fall of Adam and Eve.

At one level, the theological motif of taking a bite from the apple in Eden can be seen simply as a metaphor for indulging in a short-lived relationship that, for that very reason, disobeys more conservative expectations of sexual relationships. But here, too, Gaga’s lyrics can be read at a deeper level. The story of Adam and Eve is fundamental to Christian theology, and it can be used to enforce certain ways of being.

Instead, Gaga’s reinterpretation of Eden offers a liberating vision. There’s an invitation to rethink a story that has been used to divide the world neatly into good and evil. Instead of using scripture to police behaviour, she reimagines it as a story that opens up possibilities. This reflects the experiences of many of her fans, who may have felt excluded by dominant religious narratives.

Read more:
How Lady Gaga acts as a custodian of hope

Through her music and imagery, Gaga invites us to embrace difference and to question stories that oppress. She queers tradition, offering an alternative theology rooted in inclusivity and creativity. Her work demonstrates that theology does not belong only in churches or seminaries. It can be found in music videos, stadium tours and dance anthems.

In studying Gaga’s work, I have come to see her as a theologian in her own right. She transforms pop music into a space where faith, identity and power are re-imagined. That, to me, is why she is worth celebrating, not just as a pop icon, but as someone who has turned theology into art for a wider audience.

Stephen Roberts does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. The gospel according to Lady Gaga: why pop’s Mother Monster is also a theologian – https://theconversation.com/the-gospel-according-to-lady-gaga-why-pops-mother-monster-is-also-a-theologian-264151

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Dan Baumgardt, Senior Lecturer, School of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Bristol

Over 60% of us will suffer from lower back pain at some point in our lives. Without question, it’s the leading cause of disability across the globe.

Your spine is comprised of 33 bones known as vertebrae, which are stacked one on top of the other. The resulting column is divided into five segments: cervical (in the neck), thoracic (at the same level as the chest), lumbar (at the level of the abdomen) and sacral (connecting with the pelvis). The fifth, the coccyx, is located at the very bottom of the spine (the tailbone) – and is very painful when injured.

The vertebrae are connected by multiple joints, including discs which allow the spine to move in multiple directions. Though we might think the spine should appear straight, it naturally curves forward and backwards so it can perform all of its important functions.

But many conditions can cause the spine to curve more than it should. This can not only lead to pain, but potentially a whole host of other health troubles too.

Dowager’s hump

The spine also supports the weight of the body, protects the spinal cord and helps the body to bend, flex and twist. The thoracic region attaches to the ribs and naturally curves backwards – this curve is known as the thoracic kyphosis.

But sometimes, the curve of the thoracic kyphosis becomes more accentuated and visible – often as a result of osteoporosis (where bones become weaker), age-related changes to the back muscles and vertebrae, or long-term poor posture.

The medical name for this condition is hyperkyphosis, though it’s sometimes referred to as “dowagers hump” as it’s around two to four times more common in women.

A stooped posture with rounded shoulders (or “hunchback” appearance) is typically a sign of hyperkyphosis. In some cases, it may become so extreme as to impact breathing since the chest can’t inflate properly. It can also affect swallowing since the neck becomes more horizontal and the gullet potentially narrowed.

And of course pain and stiffness typically arise. This is a common theme for most patients with abnormal curvature of the spine, as the vertebrae lose their ability to move, and nerves arising from the spinal cord can become compressed.

Scoliosis

Another type of deformity that can occur in the spinal column affects not only how it bends forward and backwards, but also side-to-side.

Scoliosis occurs when the vertebrae either curve sideways, rotate in relation to each other, or collapse. This produces a variety of different deformities, ranging in size and severity.

The underlying causes of scoliosis are widespread. Sometimes bones can become deformed as a result of trauma, cancer or an infection (such as tuberculosis). Scoliosis can also be present from birth, or arise from neurological disorders in early years – such as cerebral palsy.

As well as back pain, patients may also notice postural signs as scoliosis evolves. Their shoulder blades or ribcage can stick out more, and clothes may fit differently on their body.

Slipped and fused spines

Individual vertebrae in any part of the spine can sometimes also become displaced as a result of trauma, wear and tear, or certain health conditions (such as osteoporosis). This means that instead of standing in a regular stack, a vertebra slips forward, and out of line. This condition is given the long and practically unpronounceable name, spondylolisthesis.

In doing so, this displacement can trigger nerve compression. If the sciatic nerve – the largest in the human body – gets compressed, it can lead to symptoms of sciatica. These are namely pain, pins and needles, or numbness in the back of the leg or buttock.

The vertebrae in the lower back can sometimes also fuse abnormally together. A condition called ankylosing spondylitis can trigger inflammation in the spinal joints and discs, which then harden over time. Another name for the condition is bamboo spine, since the now rigid and inflexible column resembles a tough stalk of bamboo.

Managing back pain

Managing these conditions – and the pain they cause – will depend largely on the size of the deformity and what has caused it in the first place. Even a small spinal deformity can be significant.

For scoliosis for instance, braces to correct the spine as it grows may work to manage small defects in younger patients. But corrective surgery is often required to fix larger deformities and those which don’t respond to bracing.

Taking account of posture and bone health can also help prevent developing a spinal problem later in life. Using exercise to build a strong back and shoulders and avoiding slouching are solid measures, too. Managing associated conditions such osteoporosis with diet, medication and resistance training can also help.

Surgical intervention may be required in other situations – for instance, to decompress nerves that have become trapped or squashed.

Your spine is truly an architectural wonder. It’s far from a straight and rigid column – and capable of more than you’d ever expect. But this unique structure can lend itself to problems, especially when natural curves become deformities. The age-old adage “strengthen your back, strengthen your life” is a motto we should all be regularly reminded of, and to seek medical advice accordingly should back pain arise.

Dan Baumgardt does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How the curves in your spine could be causing you pain – https://theconversation.com/how-the-curves-in-your-spine-could-be-causing-you-pain-262815

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Simon Cooper, Professor in Physical Activity and Health, Nottingham Trent University

There were 45,000 fewer hours of physical education (PE) delivered in UK schools during the last academic year compared to 15 years ago. This is concerning, given how important PE and physical activity are not only for children’s physical health, but their cognitive health too. As the new school year begins, it’s essential that PE hours in UK schools aren’t further cut given its importance for academic success.

A large body of evidence shows that physical education has many benefits for kids’ brains – including for their concentration and learning in the classroom.

For instance, research conducted by me and my colleagues has shown that in year seven and eight pupils, PE lessons are more beneficial for cognitive performance than an academic, classroom-based lesson is. We specifically compared the effects of a games-based PE lesson (where the students played football) with a normal classroom lesson that covered a subjects including maths and geography.

Cognitive performance was assessed via a test called the Sternberg paradigm. This tests short-term memory by asking participants to remember up to five random letters (called “target” letters), and then indicate whether letters they are presented with are one of their target letters or not. Cognitive performance was tested 30 minutes before the lesson, immediately after the lesson and then 45 minutes post-lesson.

Cognitive performance was better following the PE lesson compared to the normal classroom lesson on both of the post-lesson tests. This shows that PE is particularly beneficial for working memory, an aspect of cognition important for reasoning, learning and problem solving.

However, the important factor here was the intensity of the physical activity. The cognitive benefits of PE were far more pronounced in the children who did more moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the lesson than in those who did low-intensity physical activity.

Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was defined as time spent with a heart rate greater than 64% of the child’s maximum. So in 11-12 year olds, a heart rate of greater than around 135 beats per minute. These effects were once again most pronounced for working memory.

Similarly, research has shown that when more intense physical activity is encouraged in PE lessons, children see greater cognitive benefits than they do during standard PE lessons.

These findings suggest that not only is PE important, but the intensity of that activity is important too.

Further evidence also suggests that when students are encouraged to participate more often during PE, it positively benefits both cognition and academic performance. These benefits were particularly seen in their maths-related skills.

Where physical education takes place is also important. Research by me and my colleagues compared an identical 60-minute basketball session performed indoors and outdoors in secondary school children. Cognitive performance was again tested before the lesson, just after the lesson and 45 minutes post-lesson.

The outdoor physical activity produced greater effects on cognition compared to indoor activity. This was true for a number of aspects of cognition, including attention, working memory and executive function (higher level, complex thinking which is positively associated with academic outcomes). This suggest that, where possible, PE should be conducted outdoors to maximise cognitive benefits.

Read more:
Physical activity is good for your concentration – here’s why

Numerous studies have also shown that a bout of physical activity has an immediate, positive effect on cognitive performance. And, this effect even translates to better academic performance in maths.

Long-term effects

When we consider the longer-term effects of physical activity, our research has also shown that children who are fitter display better cognitive performance compared to children who are less fit. This is true across all aspects of cognition.

Children who are more physically active daily also have better cognitive performance. Kids who completed a daily mile (15 minutes of outdoor walking, jogging or running) everyday for five weeks not only got fitter, but they also saw improved executive function. This daily mile was done on top of their regular PE classes, while the control group continued with their usual daily activities. This suggests that additional physical activity can enhance cognitive performance.

Despite the clear benefits that physical activity has on academic success, the number of PE hours delivered in schools has reportedly been falling since 2012. Physical education in schools ultimately helps children learn. Its place and importance in the curriculum must be valued – and further cuts must be avoided.

Simon Cooper receives funding from the Waterloo Foundation, Rosetrees Trust, Stoneygate Trust and Education Endowment Foundation.

– ref. Physical education is important for academic success – here’s how it benefits kids’ cognition – https://theconversation.com/physical-education-is-important-for-academic-success-heres-how-it-benefits-kids-cognition-260872

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Rebecca Starr, Lecturer in History of Art, University of Leeds

What do you expect to see when visiting the National Gallery in London? A neatly curated collection of landscape painting? Or a selection of the gallery’s must-see highlights – a veritable who’s-who of art history?

Both are reasonable expectations – but why? What does this tell us about the purpose and priorities of the National Gallery? This is a question underpinning NG Citizens, a recently announced initiative which sees the National Gallery promising to put people from across the UK “at the heart of its decision-making”.

This article is part of our State of the Arts series. These articles tackle the challenges of the arts and heritage industry – and celebrate the wins, too.

Launching this autumn, NG Citizens will form a citizens’ assembly of 50 participants chosen by a civic lottery. Building on the gallery’s previous efforts co-creating projects with its target audiences, NG Citizens is “a culture-shaping step” designed to ensure the gallery remains “relevant, inclusive and genuinely reflective of the public we serve”, according to Jane Knowles, the gallery’s director of public engagement.

So why now? The National Gallery is not struggling to attract people. Its latest figures show that last year, there were more than 4.7 million visitors to the London gallery and its touring displays – an increase of almost 10% from 2023.

Having recently celebrated its bicentenary, the National Gallery is keen to secure its position in the UK’s cultural landscape for another 200 years. With this in mind, NG Citizens is central to the gallery’s plans for the future.

These emphasise the need to demonstrate that it is a “national institution at the heart of national life”. This aspiration is supported by the creation of a new national learning service which aims to share the gallery’s collection with as wide an audience as possible.

Given the increasing international erosion of equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI)-related work, NG Citizens is a response to the UK museum sector’s wider commitment to access and inclusion. Museums and galleries are responding to this in several ways, from showcasing the work of marginalised, often-overlooked communities to amplifying the voices and experiences of staff, and publicising strategies for accountability.

Paving the way

This, however, isn’t the first time galleries and museums have sought public input – regional institutions have already been paving the way for NG Citizens.

In 2024, Nottingham’s New Art Exchange launched the Voice Assembly. Tasked with “shaping the future of art and culture in a meaningful, citizen-led manner”, Voice became the first initiative of its kind in which a cultural institution integrated a citizen assembly as part of its permanent leadership.

NG Citizens also draws inspiration from the timely work of Birmingham Museums Citizens’ Jury. Last year, this pioneering project saw Birmingham Museums invite 30 of the city’s residents to engage directly with the decision-making processes that will help to reshape the future of the group’s activities.

Over a series of six sessions, participants worked together to reimagine how the city’s cultural institutions can play a sustainable and meaningful role in public life. All those involved agreed that museums should provide experiences that are educational and improve knowledge. There was overwhelming agreement, too, that the city’s museums should welcome and inspire people of all ages and backgrounds, not just be spaces for an educated elite.

Yet these points have already raised concerns, including questions surrounding the intention of NG Citizens. While initially praising the scheme, UK museums consultant Maurice Davies has questioned whether the gallery is actually changing the way things are run, or if NG Citizens is simply a more sophisticated form of audience research.

Further concerns have been raised by critics worried over the extent to which the initiative will affect the content and purpose of the National Gallery’s collections and displays. For example, Evening Standard columnist Melanie McDonagh has questioned whether NG Citizens undermines the gallery’s reputation, describing it as “an awful idea” while arguing that “the point of the gallery is not to solicit the opinions of an uninformed public”.

Such concerns prompted swift responses from the National Gallery, reassuring critics that NG Citizens will not be directly involved with the selection of artworks and curation of exhibitions.

Why NG Citizens will be consulted on the gallery’s future purpose but not involved in curatorial decisions remains unclear. Perhaps reimagining the curatorial model of “experts” selecting works for public display, based on connoisseurship and notions of taste, will be the task for future groups of NG Citizens.

Is it the case, then, that the National Gallery is playing catch-up with both regional museums and industry research? For those engaged with museum and heritage studies, the question of audience engagement and participation is nothing new.

Research groups and institutions across the UK are continually exploring methods of collaboration to assess how co-production can improve public engagement.

There is still work to be done to ensure that UK museums and galleries offer fair and equal access to all members of society. However, I believe NG Citizens presents an exciting opportunity to put the public at the centre of the National Gallery’s approach to future working practices.

The gallery’s initial aim is to ask NG Citizens to reconsider its role in public life. Through opening this revered institution to more democratic modes of thinking and audience collaboration, perhaps soon a reasonable question to ask people will be: “What would you like to see at the National Gallery?”

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Rebecca Starr does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Why the National Gallery is creating a public panel to help shape its future – https://theconversation.com/why-the-national-gallery-is-creating-a-public-panel-to-help-shape-its-future-264210

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Sarah Njeri, Lecturer in Humanitarian and Development Studies, SOAS, University of London

There are a record number of conflicts raging around the world – from Ukraine and Gaza to Sudan and Myanmar. Alongside their devastating human toll, these conflicts are all wreaking havoc on the environment.

One of the key ways war leads to environmental harm is by leaving behind unexploded weaponry. Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraine has become the most landmine-contaminated country in the world. By January 2024, roughly 25,000 sq km of agricultural land there was estimated to have been contaminated with landmines and other so-called explosive remnants of war.

The contamination of Ukrainian farmland – alongside the physical damage from exploded mines – has contributed to a sharp decrease in agricultural activity, with wheat production in Ukraine falling by 41% between 2021 and the end of 2024. Ukraine has historically been one of the world’s largest agricultural exporters.

The damage wars are causing to land is also occurring at a time when climate change is driving land degradation. Rising temperatures, increased aridity and the intensification of extreme weather events are leading to reduced soil fertility and desertification. This often compounds the impact of unexploded mines and bombs on the land.

Wars and climate change are inextricably linked. Climate change can increase the likelihood of violent conflict by intensifying resource scarcity and displacement, while conflict itself accelerates environmental damage. This article is part of a series, War on climate, which explores the relationship between climate issues and global conflicts.

The human toll from explosive remnants of war is quite visible, as the number of deaths resulting from unexploded mines and bombs can be traced. In April 2024, for example, the Ukrainian government reported that landmines and other unexploded ordnance had accounted for more than 1,000 civilian casualties since the start of Russia’s invasion.

But the impact of explosive remnants on the land is less immediately apparent. Research in Cambodia, which was bombed extensively by the US military during the Vietnam war (1955-1975), suggests that unexploded ordnance continues to harm agricultural productivity there today.

Many of the bombs that landed on soft and highly fertile land failed to detonate. They continue to render the land hazardous. Due to the danger of unexploded bombs, many Cambodian farmers avoid using tractors and other agricultural techniques that could increase agricultural production.

Studies also show that explosive remnants of war affect soil quality. Unexploded bombs and landmines can leak heavy metals and toxic waste into the soil, polluting land and water. In rare cases, contaminants from a landmine have been detected up to 6km away from the initial explosion site.

The methods for clearing unexploded ordnance can contribute to land degradation, too. Heavy demining equipment can damage fertile top soil and contribute to erosion. Some methods of disposal, such as controlled detonations, can also release contaminants into the soil.

Research on soil quality in the Halgurd-Sakran National Park in north-eastern Iraq, a region that has seen decades of armed conflict, show evidence of the release of hazardous metals such as lead, cadmium and arsenic into the soil following demining activities.

These contaminants pose significant risks both to local ecosystems and human health through direct contact and the contamination of water sources and food chains. There are also risks of contamination through inhaling or ingesting dust.

Climate change complications

Climate hazards such as droughts, floods and wildfires can exacerbate the impact of explosive remnants of war. Floods and heavy rainfall can unearth landmines and other unexploded ordnance, sometimes displacing them into areas previously considered safe.

High temperatures from heatwaves can also cause abandoned munitions to explode. Six different munition sites exploded across Iraq during scorching hot summers in 2018 and 2019, when temperatures regularly topped 45°C. Heatwaves were blamed for a similar arms dump explosion in Jordan in 2020.

At the same time, the presence of explosive remnants in the environment can hamper responses to climate events. In eastern Ukraine, for example, the heavy contamination of forests with landmines and tripwires prevented fire crews from responding effectively to wildfires in 2020. The fires damaged houses and killed seven people.

Similarly, unexploded bombs from the second world war have been detonated recently by wildfires in the North York Moors, UK. This increases the unpredictability of the fires, inevitably endangering the the lives of fire crews.

In Libya, Storm Daniel destroyed two dams in 2023 and subsequently caused flooding in large parts of the eastern city of Derna. The displacement of unexploded ordnance and ammunition stores caused by the flooding complicated recovery efforts.

Explosives experts also had to be deployed during the destructive floods in South Sudan in 2024 to assess whether land was safe for the relocation of displaced people.

Read more:
South Sudan floods: the first example of a mass population permanently displaced by climate change?

Climate disasters and environmental change can also prevent communities from benefiting from land that has been cleared of explosive remnants after the end of war.

In Angola, where there was a civil war between 1975 and 2002, drought has prevented farmers from planting crops in recently cleared fields. Increasing soil salinisation in Sri Lanka due to rising sea-levels has also affected the ability of farmers to plant rice in areas cleared of unexploded munitions.

Explosive remnants of war have a lasting impact, not only on human life but also the environment. Climate change is only making the threat more unpredictable and challenging to address.

It’s more important than ever that measures to restore land, tackle climate change and manage the impact of armed conflict – including explosive remnants of war – are addressed together rather than in isolation.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. How unexploded bombs cause environmental damage – and why climate change exacerbates the problem – https://theconversation.com/how-unexploded-bombs-cause-environmental-damage-and-why-climate-change-exacerbates-the-problem-242535