Thoughtland

PK column in The National: What can we learn from hipsters and gentrification? Perhaps to live a little better

By Pat Kane. First published on OCTOBER 28TH, 2017

YOU know a city’s changing when its moves and rhythms suddenly surprise you.

So I’m standing at the start of Finnieston in Glasgow, on the split between Argyle Street and St Vincent Street, with a dangerously bulging Tesco bag of messages. Mild drizzle, looming headache, imminent trudge to upper-level station: Tuesday early evening at its most spectacular.

In front of me, three black cabs swish to the pavement, almost choreographed. From the doors – perfume and cologne first – emerge some leading citizens of Glasvegas.

PK column in The National: Tough questions #MeToo must force all men to confront

By Pat Kane. First published on OCTOBER 21ST, 2017

IT’S bewilderment, initially. That’s my reaction to a week of revelations about sexual harassment (and potentially worse) by the film mogul Harvey Weinstein. And to all that female testimony about male behaviour, swirling around the #MeToo hashtag on social media.

Who are these creeps? The recording of the sting operation on Weinstein is extremely hard to listen to. His rat-a-tat conversation aims to leave the woman no space to think or respond (that’s the media-magnate too, sucking most of the air out of the room, so that people breath according to his whim).

PK column in The National: Localism? The English left are late to a party that’s been in full swing in Scotland for years

By Pat Kane. First published on OCTOBER 14TH, 2017

GEORGE Monbiot’s new book, Out of The Wreckage: A New Politics For An Age of Crisis, should be of great interest to anyone with political ambitions to change their country – whatever country that is.

His core idea is that human beings crave powerful stories to make sense of their lives. No matter the facts they corral, any effective politics must have such a story. Monbiot says the most shaping ones are “restoration” tales – heroes coming to repair the collective damage left by identifiable villains.

PK column in The National: Blade Runner’s future dystopia reveals much about the present

By Pat Kane. First published on OCTOBER 7TH, 2017

THE new Blade Runner movie will be a total gift to yourself. It’s nearly three hours of mind-bending visuals and heart-shivering emotions. However, for all its dateline of “2049” – and like all the best SF – it’s hardly an act of escapism from the present.

No major plot spoilers, I will try my best (and if you’re nervous, of course, file this away till you’ve watched it). But I do want to explore how both movies illuminate the bigger future trends we’re facing.