大象传媒

The best of the world's arts, film, music, literature and music brought to you every day. Presented by Mark Coles.

Children's Misery Literature
Anne Fine, one of the UK's top children's writers has recently spoken out about the need for happy endings in books aimed at a younger audience. According to the author, much of what is published today has too much gritty realism, and not enough hope. We speak to four different writers from around the world to discuss the need for children to read stories of a sad nature, and what they can learn from them

Michael Morpurgo's book is called Running Wild, published September 3rd by Harper Collins Children's Books.

Adeline Yen Mah's most recent book in the Chinese Cinderella series is The Mystery of the Song Dynasty Painting. Published in August by Puffin Books.

Michelle Paver's 6th and final installment of the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness, Ghost Hunter, is published in August by Orion Children's Books.

Veronique Tadjo's book is called Ayanda, La petite fille qui ne voulait pas grandir. It's published by Actes Sud Junior in France.

Jesus and Bullets
In Canada, Serbian artist Viktor Mitic has recently made headlines after he exhibited his portraits - including one of Jesus with an outline pricked out by bullet holes. He explains why he wanted to use weapons in his art to construct rather than destroy

US Land Art: Spiral Jetty
Arguably the most iconic image from the US Land Art movement in the 1960's and 70's is Robert Smithson's Spiral Jetty, a spiral constructed from basalt rock and earth which juts into the Great Salt Lake in Utah, USA, from its northeastern shore. It was created in 1970 and its beauty and isolation have been a constant source of fascination for visitors but now the site is under threat from possible oil drilliing, as Alastair Sooke reports.

Alcazaba
Alacazaba are a new acoustic group that pull together the sounds of Moorish Spain, the Middle East and India in a thrilling blend of music that traces the Islamic connections between the three regions. The largely instrumental group, who are joined on vocals by the Spanish Flamenco singer Eva Pinero Mesa, dropped by The Strand studios to perform for you.