The Watt Blog - Soft Relaunch

I can’t believe it has been seven months since I attempted to start writing a blog nor can I believe that in that time I have failed to write anything! Now in my defence, it ended up being a very busy seven months (including one unsuccessful general election for those of us on the left) but still, I can’t claim that it has been a successful adventure in blogging. However, I can confirm that not only is this blog going to happen but due to the great diary clearing caused by the Global Pandemic I now have the time and creative energy to start updating it regularly.

So watch this space – it's (hopefully) going to be a wild ride!

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Fairies and Shamans in My Scotland? – The Secret Commonwealth by Robert Kirk

The Secret Commonwealth or A Treatise Displaying the Chief Curousities among the People of Scotland as they are in Use to This Day by the Reverand Robert Kirk is a famous study on 17 th century folk beliefs where Kirk sums up many of the beliefs around faeries and the second sight prevalent amongst his parishioners in 1690s Aberfoyle. It’s a book I remember hearing about during my undergraduate at Aberdeen, but at the time the only copy was in the Heavy Demand section, and so it was only this year that I finally managed to get a hold of a copy of the Folklore Society edition edited by Stewart Sanderson from my local university library in Glasgow. Or at least, I thought that I had taken out the Folklore Society version – what I had actually taken out was the edition by ceremonial magician and occultist R J Stewart . Realising I had made a mistake I did eventually take out the Folklore Society version as well, so in a rare treat the Alt Clud Review of Books is reviewing two books for...

They Were the Future Once – A Review of Militant Modernism by Owen Hatherley

So before we begin I have a confession which will shock no-one. You see I’m not really that much of a modernist, indeed when it comes to aesthetics I am far closer to the arts and crafts movement of William Morris, the socialist illustrations of Walter Crane or let’s be honest, the general aesthetic of 20 th century left-wing Anglo-Catholicism. (Today being Palm Sunday we walked around the church singing hymns, clergy carrying massive palm branches, the congregation our palm crosses – say what you like about the Scottish Episcopal Church but we know how to combine faith, fun and ritual.) So I’m probably not the natural audience for a treatise on why failed Modernism attempts in the interwar period point to new ways of socialist praxis that can inspire the future. However, I have another confession to make. I really rate Owen Hatherley’s work. His books that describe and critique modern architecture (such as A Guide to the New Ruins of Great Britain and A New Kind of Bleak ) w...

Revisiting the Disc – A Review of “Guards! Guards!” by Terry Pratchett

“There used to be some old prophecy or something, “ said Brother Plasterer. “ My grandad told me.” His eyes glazed with the effort of dramatic recall.” “Yea, the king will come bring Law and Justice, and know nothing but the Truth, and Protect and Serve the People withi his Sword.” You don’t all have to look at me like that, I didn’t make it up.” – p.24 One of the tamer Josh Kirby covers "“Throw the book at him, Carrot.” “Right, sir.” Vimes remembered too late. Dwarfs have trouble with metaphors. They also have a very good aim. The Laws and Ordinances of Ankh Morpork caught the secretary on the forehead. He blinked, staggered, and stepped backwards. It was the longest step he ever took. For one thing, it lasted the rest of his life.” – p.388 Guards! Guards! is the story about a moribund City Watch finding its purpose after dragon attacks become a nightly problem in Ankh-Morpork. It’s also the story of ordinary resentment (and petty evil) getting out of hand and I guess it’s also...

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