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21st Century Mythologies

Peter Conrad dissects the popular culture of his era, as French semiotician Roland Barthes did 60 years earlier in his Mythologies.

Radio 4,16 episodes

Episodes

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Screw-Top Wine Bottle
Peter Conrad turns his mind to the screw-top wine bottle.
06 Oct 2014,11 mins
The Apple Icon
Peter Conrad turns his mind to one of the most powerful images of our era, the Apple icon.
07 Oct 2014,11 mins
Nando's
Peter Conrad looks at the ubiquitous home of peri-peri chicken, Nando's.
08 Oct 2014,11 mins
The Shard
Peter Conrad looks at a defining landmark of the London skyline, the Shard.
09 Oct 2014,11 mins
Oscar Pistorius
Peter Conrad dissects the popular culture of our era. In this episode, Oscar Pistorius.
16 Oct 2014,11 mins
The Kardashians
Peter Conrad explores the phenomenon of reality TV celebrities the Kardashians.
13 Oct 2014,11 mins
The Cronut
Peter Conrad focuses on the cronut, a cross between a croissant and a doughnut.
14 Oct 2014,11 mins
The E-Cigarette
Peter Conrad explores the rise of the electronic cigarette.
15 Oct 2014,11 mins
The Selfie
Peter Conrad analyses the selfie.
10 Oct 2014,11 mins
Flight MH370
Peter Conrad dissects popular culture including the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370
17 Oct 2014,11 mins
Her Majesty the Queen
Peter Conrad considers the long-reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
20 Oct 2014,11 mins
The Oyster Card
Peter Conrad looks at the electronic travel card used on public transport in London.
21 Oct 2014,11 mins
The E-Reader
Peter Conrad turns his attention to the e-reader.
23 Oct 2014,11 mins
The 9/11 Museum
Peter Conrad turns his attention to the 9/11 museum.
24 Oct 2014,11 mins
Omnibus, Part 1
Peter Conrad analyses 21st-century popular culture in the spirit of Roland Barthes.
26 Dec 2014,50 mins
Omnibus, Part 2
Peter Conrad dissects the popular culture of his era.
27 Dec 2014,60 mins