Art, Film and Performance Archives - Edinburgh University Press Blog

**Alt text:** A wide view down a cobblestone street in Edinburgh's historic city center, lined with large stone buildings. A Gothic church with a tall, ornate spire stands prominently on the right side of the street. Crowds of pedestrians gather along the sidewalks and at intersections, while a few vehicles travel along the road. The scene is photographed from the upper deck of a red sightseeing bus, with part of the bus and a passenger visible in the foreground. Dark, dramatic clouds hang overhead, contrasting with patches of lighter sky.

The Battle for the Soul of the Edinburgh Fringe

Free is not rubbish! The Free Fringe is a key part of the Fringe's ecology, injecting a much-needed dose of authenticity.

Edinburgh University Press
August 6, 2026

Colour drawing of a staged theatrical scene framed by two symmetrical classical structures with niches containing gilded statues, flanked by trees. At the centre, a painted backdrop shows an island within an archipelago, with a visible settlement; in the foreground, a vessel approaches the shore. Four figures stand before the backdrop holding branches and other objects. The composition is enclosed within a thin rectangular gold border.

Q&A with the author of Performing Worlds at the Baroque Court of Christine of France

This interview explores how Christine of France used Baroque court spectacles to shape political authority, global imagination, and cultures of consumption.

Edinburgh University Press
May 8, 2026

Stone gargoyle perched on Notre-Dame Cathedral overlooking the dense rooftops of Paris, with the Seine River running alongside the city and the Eiffel Tower visible in the distance beneath a dramatic, cloud-filled sky.

Q&A on French Horror

Q&A with Reece Goodall, author of French Horror

Edinburgh University Press
April 23, 2026

A dimly lit movie theater filled with seated audience members facing a large, brightly glowing screen. Rows of red upholstered seats extend toward the front, and the ceiling features curved architectural details with recessed panels. The atmosphere suggests a film screening in progress.

Five of the most unusual Sunday Opening conditions

Peter looks at how wartime Britain reshaped cinema-going on Sundays

Edinburgh University Press
April 20, 2026

Two women sit on a small outdoor stage holding microphones and speaking to each other. One wears a bright pink dress and smiles while listening; the other wears a green dress and speaks into the microphone. Behind them is a large pink decorative sign, and two water bottles sit on a table between them. The setting appears to be a public talk or interview event.

5 Surprising Facts about Greta Gerwig

Did you know these facts about the Barbie (2023) director?

Edinburgh University Press
March 23, 2026

Barbed wire and razor wire coiled along the top of a tall metal security fence silhouetted against a dusk sky with the moon visible in the background.

Borderland horror: Q&A with Anna Marta Marini

Q&A with Anna Marta Marini, author of The US-Mexico Borderlands in Contemporary Horror. Crossing the Boundary

Edinburgh University Press
March 17, 2026

Interior of a video rental store aisle with rows of DVD cases displayed on wall-mounted racks. Blue carpeted floor with several loose balloons scattered along the aisle. Shelving and displays extend into the background, with one person partially visible near the back of the store.

1980s video memories with Peter Turner

Q&A with the author of 'Unsuitable Film and Video Audiences: Underage Viewing Memories and Practices in 1980s United Kingdom'

Edinburgh University Press
February 26, 2026

The image shows a sparse, worn room that appears to be a former prison cell. The walls are yellowed and heavily stained, with patches of peeling paint and dark discoloration near the bottom. The floor has a checkerboard pattern of tan and white tiles. In the center of the room is a simple metal bed frame with a grid base and no mattress. On top of the bed frame sits a small metal box. Attached to the frame are metal shackles, suggesting restraints were used. The room has a barred window on the right side, allowing some daylight to enter, casting shadows on the floor. The overall atmosphere feels stark, somber, and austere.

What do hundreds of documentaries on genocide say about perpetrators?

After analysing over two-hundred documentaries, Julian Koch explains how genocidal 'perpetrators' are more complex than representational schemata of violent hatred and racism suggest

Edinburgh University Press
February 24, 2026

Silhouetted martial artist mid-air against a sunset sky over the sea, holding a poised, balanced stance that emphasises calm, control, and intention rather than force.

Martial arts ecology and the quiet life of action cinema

Martial arts cinema is often discussed through intensity. But what about when action slows down?When cinema asks us not to watch bodies fight, but to attend to how they might think and feel.

Edinburgh University Press
February 20, 2026

The Battle for the Soul of the Edinburgh Fringe

Q&A with the author of Performing Worlds at the Baroque Court of Christine of France

Q&A on French Horror

Five of the most unusual Sunday Opening conditions

5 Surprising Facts about Greta Gerwig

Borderland horror: Q&A with Anna Marta Marini

1980s video memories with Peter Turner

What do hundreds of documentaries on genocide say about perpetrators?

Martial arts ecology and the quiet life of action cinema

6 Things About Irish Literature and Periodical Culture You Probably Didn’t Know

The Battle for the Soul of the Edinburgh Fringe

A Lifetime Exploring the Achaemenid Empire

Arthur Conan Doyle in Egypt

FIFA World Cup 2026: Extract from The Beautiful Game on a Muslim Pitch