Arts and Ideas

With Samira Ahmed. Sarah Churchwell and Kevin Jackson discuss the Great Gatsby as a new film, directed by Baz Luhrmann is released. Samira talks to the Indian architect Charles Correa about how he attempts to marry modernism with concern for local meaning in his work. And Samira is joined by historian and blogger Tim Stanley, the historian of Communism Robert Service, and the leader of the Green Party Natalie Bennett to discuss political movements.

Matthew Sweet visits Tate Britain’s unveiling of a comprehensive new vision of its permanent collection. Thematic presentation gives way to strict chronology. Susannah Clapp gives a first night review of Public Enemy, a new production of Ibsen's play about corruption and the nature of the public good. New research has revealed only a very small percentage of the population has made plans for the end of their lives. Matthew and guests discuss the idea of the good death. F R Leavis’ spirit has been summoned to the discussion table in the recent wranglings about what should be taught to children in schools. David Ellis, who studied with, and the novelist Margaret Drabble discuss his influence and reputation.

Anne McElvoy applies herself to the crisis of modern banking, the plight of buildings in Moscow and a masterpiece of British theatre. She talks to Simon Russell Beale and John Simm about the latter, Pinter's early tragicomdedy, The Hothouse, before sharing notes on bankers with the academic economist, Anat Admati and then enlisting the views of the conservationist, Clem Cecil about the Melnikov House - one of the jewels in Russia's modernist crown. She’s also joined by Karen Leeder and Catherine Merridale to discuss the power that Hitler and Stalin still exert over writers in Germany and Russia.

The Mark Rothko Arts Centre has opened its doors for the first time and some of his paintings return to his birthplace in Daugavpils, Latvia. Philip Dodd journeys there to speak to curator, for whom the project has been a labour of love, and Rothko's children about their father's memories of the city. John Beddington is the former chief scientific advisor to the government. He’s represented the interests of the scientific community to Whitehall during an era of massive cutbacks in public spending. He talks to Philip about what role scientists play in the big decisions of public life?

Rana Mitter talks to the playwright Peter Nichols as his 1981 Passion Play opens again in the West End with Zoe Wanamaker as the betrayed wife Eleanor. In his latest book Strictly Bipolar, psychoanalyst Darian Leader looks at the cultural setting for bipolar disorder, and suggests a new way of making sense of the condition. And the architect Sunand Prasad and critic Rowan Moore discuss meaning in architecture and the role of the audience - or the public as we call them when discussing buildings rather than plays - in creating that meaning.

Matthew Sweet talks to actor, writer and international screen star Terence Stamp as a season of his films re-examines his career at London's British Film Institute.

Anne McElvoy hosts a special edition looking at the state of warfare in the modern world. Today Western nations find themselves in conflicts with enemy networks, rather than enemy nations, the technology of war has developed to using unmanned aerial vehicles, and our increasing reliance on the internet raises the spectre cyber warfare. Do these developments mean we've entered a new era for warfare? What do they mean for the ethics of conflict in the modern world?

50 years since 'Billy Liar' was released Samira Ahmed talks to one of the film’s stars, Helen Fraser, and film historian Melanie Williams to discuss its role in British cinema. When it comes to success and leadership, are those who are extroverted given an unfair advantage? Susan Cain, who argues the power of the introvert is undervalued, Julia Hobsbawm, the business woman dubbed the "Queen of Networking", and the cultural historian Henry Hitchings discuss. Sarah Kent talks about the artist Ellen Gallagher’s new exhibition, AxMe. And Michael Burleigh argues the collapse of colonial empires after World War II led to countless vicious power struggles and that the consequences of distant wars are still with us.

Philip Dodd talks to film and television producer Tony Garnett about his career including his early BBC work with Ken Loach, the traumatic death of his parents. Margaret Mead was a famous anthropologist who fought for a seat at the table of international relations for her discipline. Discussing her legacy and the shifting status of anthropology are Peter Mandler, author of a new book about her, and the anthropologist Kit Davies. In his latest book Steve Jones asks how the Bible fares as a scientific textbook. He joins Philip to discuss the science of culture and the culture of science.

Matthew Sweet is on stage at the Theatre Royal Stratford East for a post-performance discussion of The Octoroon, by Dion Boucicault, which can be heard on Sunday 5 May 2013 on Drama on 3. To discuss the enduring appeal and legacy of the play, Matthew Sweet is joined by playwright Mark Ravenhill, who adapted the play for Radio 3; the cultural commentator Kit Davis; the Victorian theatre expert Anne Varty; and two of the cast members, Amaka Okafor and Golden Globe nominee Toby Jones. As the play’s attitudes reflect the time in which it is set, this edition contains some language now regarded as racist.

Simon Schama joins Anne McElvoy to discuss his foray into literature, and the controversy it caused amongst historians. As a new series starts on BBC 2 looking at American Primetime TV, Simon Schama, Alan Yentob and American TV Executive Caryn Mandabach discuss how popular American TV series have reflected American social history. Kamila Shamsie, reflects on Intizar Husain and his masterpiece, Basti, a vivid fictional account of Pakistan from partition to the present that has made its author one of the frontrunners for this year's Man Booker International Prize. David Darcy reviews a musical about the life of Imelda Marcos written by the musician and artist David Byrne.

Philip Dodd, Jesse Norman MP, Lord Maurice Glasman, the author Paul Kingsnorth, theatre director Lisa Goldman, Dr Joanne Parker of the English Department of Exeter University and the broadcaster and historian Michael Wood discuss the enigma of Englishness and its uses as an identity.

Rana Mitter talks to Susannah Clapp with the first review of the National Theatre's production of 'Othello', starring Adrian Lester as the Moor. According to David Boyle's new book, 'Broke', something is killing off the middle classes and to discuss this are Selina Todd and Mark Littlewood. The literary biographer Richard Holmes has taken to the air in his latest book - a history of ballooning and its pioneers. And, as "Who's the Pest?" brings a season of insect inspired events to the Wellcome Collection in London, Rana is joined by Mark Moffett, and Erica McAlister to discuss the hidden virtues of insects.

Matthew Sweet is leading an elite party of literary explorers - Linda Grant, Aminatta Forna, Naomi Alderman and Tim Stanley on an expedition to find "the common reader" -- being stalked by Woolf in the 20th Century and by Johnson in the 18th. Both believed that the common reader "uncorrupted with literary prejudices" was the final arbiter of "poetical honours" so it's a quest that's clearly still relevant today. The question is what does a common reader look like in our digital age? What are they reading? Where? And how?

Anne McElvoy and Susannah Clapp review the west-end play Doktor Glas, starring Krister Henricksson, best known in the UK for his role as Kurt Wallander. Sheryl Sandberg the chief operating officer of Facebook talks about her new book, Lean In, describing how women unintentionally hold themselves back in their careers and encourages women to sit at the table and pursue their goals. Saloua Raouda Choucair has her first international exhibition at Tate Modern. Richard Cork and Karl Sharro assess her work and examine how she fits within 20th century art history. Thane Rosenbaum and Salil Tripathi discuss revenge and justice.