Meadow

BBC Defends Its ‘Doctor Who’ Against Accusations Of Racism A new book calls out the BBC’s sci-fi series Doctor Who as “thunderingly racist,” but the UK pubcaster begs to differ. The Beeb has hit back at the accusations claimed by a group of academics in Doctor Who And Race, and fans have rushed to dismiss the criticisms as “groundless” and “ridiculous.” The BBC noted the 2006 casting of Freema Agyeman as the Time Lord’s first black assistant and Noel Clarke playing Mickey Smith for five years. The pubcaster’s reply came as critics alleged the Doctor’s apparent dismissive attitude toward black companions, his contempt for “primitive” people, and his passion for cricket as proof of a reactionary “whiteness”. Related: BBC Confirms ‘Doctor Who’ Season 8 Edinburgh Fest Announces 147-Film Lineup The Edinburgh International Film Festival on Wednesday announced the lineup for its 67th edition, slating 147 movies from 53 countries. The festival, which runs June 19-30, will open with a gala screening of Drake Doremus’ Sundance entry Breathe In, and titles vying for the Michael Powell Award for best British feature film include seven world premieres. This international competition includes such pics as Aleksey Fedorchenko’s Celestial Wives Of The Meadow Mari, Mohammad Shirvani’s Fat Shaker and Mahdi Fleifel’s A World Not Ours. Related: S. Korean Helmer Boon Tops ... Read More »

Most days after school, Sean Garcais and his friends ride their BMX bikes in North Kelvin Meadow, a patch of scrub land in the west end of Glasgow. They build ramps, try new tricks. Sean and his friends are like 15- or 16-year-olds anywhere else in the world, but with one difference: Next year they will all have a say on the future of their country's independence.