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I asked the market-wrecking AI to write an opinion column for me. So how did it do? The Chinese AI model DeepSeek has shaken the tech world, but will it shake a humble opinion columnist?

AI was supposed to be the shiny centrepiece of the new American tech revolution - until it wasn’t. This week US tech giants took an existential...

01.02.2025 2

Derek Mcarthur

This film veteran was stunned when he asked AI to give him ideas ‘Why should writers sit around for months searching for a good idea when AI can provide one in seconds?’ asked film icon Paul Schrader

Before Paul Schrader sat down to write the script for 1976’s seminal Taxi Driver, he made sure to reread one novel in particular. That was Nausea,...

24.01.2025 1

Derek Mcarthur

Nosferatu is a perfect film… so why is it actually an awful film?

The original template-setting Nosferatu could have never seen the light of day again. Marred by legal issues over its obvious unsolicited adaptation...

17.01.2025 3

Derek Mcarthur

If Northern Ireland is now culturally relevant, why isn’t Scotland? TV sitcom Derry Girls and rap group Kneecap have helped give Northern Ireland a new cultural relevance – but where is that relevancy for Scotland?

Is Scottish arts and culture self-contained, inside its walls, too busy staring down at its own navel for anyone else to notice? Northern Ireland is...

10.01.2025 5

Derek Mcarthur

Netflix and the films no one is actually watching Why is dialogue so obvious in Netflix films? Because no one is actually watching to know what's happening otherwise.

The omnipresent streaming giant Netflix and its competitors are certainly a different beast from any film or TV production and distribution company...

03.01.2025 6

Derek Mcarthur

The death of Pier Paolo Pasolini still haunts me so Pier Paolo Pasolini's murder is shrouded in a haunting mystery. Why did a groundbreaking filmmaker fall to what looks like political assassination?

2024 was a chaotic year, as always. Each year does seem to be adding a touch more chaos than the last recently. Strangely enough, it was nothing in...

27.12.2024 5

Derek Mcarthur

Five Unspuns you might have missed in 2024

There were over 250 editions of Unspun published in 2024, our newsletter where we analyse, dissect and discuss the political happenings of Scotland...

27.12.2024 3

Derek Mcarthur

War film glory is over and concerning – we still shouldn’t prejudge A24’s Warfare The Iraq War was a disaster but why should we judge a film for its crimes?

In the Errol Morris documentary American Dharma, Morris sits down with Donald Trump strategist Steve Bannon to discuss politics and films in an...

20.12.2024 9

Derek Mcarthur

Respected filmmakers directing mainstream slop is no win for the little guy

This month sees the release of Mufasa: The Lion King, another entry in Disney’s photorealistic revival of its older, much-loved animated...

13.12.2024 6

Derek Mcarthur

Using your phone in the cinema? Well, expect to be publicly shamed The film adaptation of Broadway musical Wicked has recently hit cinemas, igniting a furore over audience singalongs. Now another furore has taken centre stage: documenting the experience with phones.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about how audience behaviour in cinemas has been getting worse in recent years. Now with the film adaptation of Broadway...

26.11.2024 3

Derek Mcarthur

It's not just Edinburgh – Glasgow has its fair share of uni toffs too From the Russell Group’s Glasgow University to the well-renowned Glasgow School of Art, there is no respite from the Saltburn-esque toffs.

When Dani Garavelli wrote in this newspaper about the derision and condescension of working-class students by the private school-educated at...

21.11.2024 3

Derek Mcarthur

‘Think of all the great art we’ll get from a Trump win…’ Donald Trump's win in 2016 was supposed to unleash an artistic renaissance – where is that sentiment now?

One of the supposed silver linings of Donald Trump’s presidential win in 2016 was all the great art we would get. The flames of discontent were to...

14.11.2024 4

Derek Mcarthur

TikTokifying Billie Holiday surely must be against the law On social video app TikTok, speeding up and slowing down music is par for the course, a necessity in fitting tempo to different dance trends. Jazz singing legend Billie Holiday saw one of her several recordings of ‘Solitude’ reach their algorithm.

The art of speeding up and slowing down music is probably not new to anyone. Many first found such wonders mischievously playing around with the...

17.10.2024 4

Derek Mcarthur

Why is Chappell Roan even trying to be a famous pop star?

The biggest come-up of the year surely belongs to pop star Chappell Roan. The singer has seen a neck breaking rise in the past few months, becoming...

26.09.2024 4

Derek Mcarthur

Giving over your biggest hit for a few grand? No thanks, Grand Theft Auto Being asked for your song to be licensed for one of the biggest franchises ever would normally be a cause to celebrate, but for Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware, the offer was nothing short of appalling.

Being asked for your song to be licensed for one of the biggest franchises ever would normally be a cause to celebrate, but for Heaven 17’s Martyn...

09.09.2024 3

Derek Mcarthur

Arts funding in Scotland is drowning in a vast sea of neglect Publicly funded arts commonly play martyr in budgets, disposed of without a care by artless politicians who see the arts as a luxury, not a cultural necessity.

Scotland’s arts and culture sector is drowning, and there is no life raft. No skin comes off the backs of governments when cutting the arts is...

21.08.2024 8

Derek Mcarthur

Glasgow School of Art is right to leave X, it is no place for art or artists And so it’s written, Glasgow School of Art will no longer post on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, X. You don’t have to squint to see why.

And so it’s written, Glasgow School of Art will no longer post on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, X. You don’t have to squint...

15.08.2024 2

Derek Mcarthur

David Lynch won’t step foot on a film set again – time to give him his flowers It is unfortunate that Lynch will never grace a film set again to craft another dream or nightmare, but he doesn’t have to.

David Lynch says he will never retire – but he certainly won’t set foot on a film set again. That was the news when the 78-year-old surrealist cult...

08.08.2024 2

Derek Mcarthur

When you die, are you ‘unalived’? The strange world of social media algospeak

“And that’s when he unalived himself, as well as his wife and children,” says one true crime TikTok user as she demonstrates her new Wonderskin...

25.07.2024 2

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I asked the market-wrecking AI to write an opinion column for me. So how did it do? The Chinese AI model DeepSeek has shaken the tech world, but will it shake a humble opinion columnist?

Derek Mcarthur

This film veteran was stunned when he asked AI to give him ideas ‘Why should writers sit around for months searching for a good idea when AI can provide one in seconds?’ asked film icon Paul Schrader

Derek Mcarthur

Nosferatu is a perfect film… so why is it actually an awful film?

Derek Mcarthur

If Northern Ireland is now culturally relevant, why isn’t Scotland? TV sitcom Derry Girls and rap group Kneecap have helped give Northern Ireland a new cultural relevance – but where is that relevancy for Scotland?

Derek Mcarthur

Netflix and the films no one is actually watching Why is dialogue so obvious in Netflix films? Because no one is actually watching to know what's happening otherwise.

Derek Mcarthur

The death of Pier Paolo Pasolini still haunts me so Pier Paolo Pasolini's murder is shrouded in a haunting mystery. Why did a groundbreaking filmmaker fall to what looks like political assassination?

Derek Mcarthur

Five Unspuns you might have missed in 2024

Derek Mcarthur

War film glory is over and concerning – we still shouldn’t prejudge A24’s Warfare The Iraq War was a disaster but why should we judge a film for its crimes?

Derek Mcarthur

Respected filmmakers directing mainstream slop is no win for the little guy

Derek Mcarthur

Using your phone in the cinema? Well, expect to be publicly shamed The film adaptation of Broadway musical Wicked has recently hit cinemas, igniting a furore over audience singalongs. Now another furore has taken centre stage: documenting the experience with phones.

Derek Mcarthur

It's not just Edinburgh – Glasgow has its fair share of uni toffs too From the Russell Group’s Glasgow University to the well-renowned Glasgow School of Art, there is no respite from the Saltburn-esque toffs.

Derek Mcarthur

‘Think of all the great art we’ll get from a Trump win…’ Donald Trump's win in 2016 was supposed to unleash an artistic renaissance – where is that sentiment now?

Derek Mcarthur

Derek Mcarthur

Why is Chappell Roan even trying to be a famous pop star?

Derek Mcarthur

Giving over your biggest hit for a few grand? No thanks, Grand Theft Auto Being asked for your song to be licensed for one of the biggest franchises ever would normally be a cause to celebrate, but for Heaven 17’s Martyn Ware, the offer was nothing short of appalling.

Derek Mcarthur

Arts funding in Scotland is drowning in a vast sea of neglect Publicly funded arts commonly play martyr in budgets, disposed of without a care by artless politicians who see the arts as a luxury, not a cultural necessity.

Derek Mcarthur

Glasgow School of Art is right to leave X, it is no place for art or artists And so it’s written, Glasgow School of Art will no longer post on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, X. You don’t have to squint to see why.

Derek Mcarthur

David Lynch won’t step foot on a film set again – time to give him his flowers It is unfortunate that Lynch will never grace a film set again to craft another dream or nightmare, but he doesn’t have to.

Derek Mcarthur

When you die, are you ‘unalived’? The strange world of social media algospeak

Derek Mcarthur