Attitude, Alchemy, and Archive – Arena’s Arts Television and its Fight for Survival

This article looks at the landmark BBC television series Arena, exploring the impact of its vast oeuvre that stretches nearly half a century. Focusing on Arena’s irreverent and playful approach to 'ordinary' culture, the article argues that the documentary series' staying power amidst dramatic decline of arts television as a genre owes not only to its thematic range and collaborative breath, but also its imaginative use of archive and ability to capture the zeitgeist and anachronisms of 21st century media.