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Arts & Ideas

Decadence

Arts & Ideas

BBC

Society & Culture

4.2598 Ratings

🗓️ 25 April 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Some people think we live in an age of decline. Matthew Sweet investigates, with guests including political journalist Tim Stanley, art critic Louisa Buck, Professor Jane Desmarais who is head of the decadence research centre at Goldsmiths, University of London, and Neville Morley, Professor of Classics and Ancient History at the University of Exeter. Plus, Matthew will talk to satirical artist Cold War Steve about his depictions of decadence in contemporary Britain.

Producer: Luke Mulhall

Transcript

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0:00.0

Can I just say?

0:01.5

You're about to listen to a BBC podcast.

0:04.0

It's such a wonderful listen.

0:05.6

So nice.

0:06.5

There are loads more like it on BBC sounds.

0:08.8

Different paces, different heights.

0:10.6

The roof is buckling.

0:11.9

Where you can also listen to live sports commentary.

0:14.2

It's right foot goes for goal.

0:16.7

And then enjoy even more podcasts full of analysis and reaction to the big stories.

0:21.7

The stat that is astonishing is they ended with the lowest amount of possession.

0:25.2

And she's had to live with that.

0:26.8

So if you love sport, a passion, it's almost like a religion.

0:29.7

Listen on BBC Sounds.

0:31.7

Sort of expecting that every week now.

0:35.8

BBC Sounds, music, Radio, Podcasts.

0:39.7

This is the Arts and Ideas podcast with me, Matthew Sweet.

0:43.0

First of all, are you okay?

0:45.3

How are things going?

0:46.7

And when I say things, I mean, well, Western culture, the polity and civilization in which you may consider yourself to live.

0:55.2

Is it in good health or is it in decline?

0:58.6

Why do I ask?

...

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