[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-23121106m14sculturefile-pid0-374448.mp3]

Is there anything worse that a year-end “Best of” list? Perhaps a list of year-end “Best of” lists, suggests Luke Clancy.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-22121105m57sculturefile-pid0-357456.mp3]

Luke Clancy reviews Neil Hannon ofThe Divine Comedy’s first shot at a West End musical, Swallows and Amazons.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-21121107m00sculturefile-pid0-420768.mp3]

Luke Clancy talks to Richard Skelton about the artist’s long running commemorative project for his late wife, Louise.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-20121107m08sculturefile-pid0-428424.mp3]

How do you follow up a cult novel written entirely in questions? Would US author, Padgett Powell know?

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-19121106m48sculturefile-pid0-408480.mp3]

If you think the odd mobile phone going off during a performance is a new low, you clearly need a course in bad manners in the 17th century Dublin theatre, with Prof. Christopher Morash.

[audio http://www.tumblr.com/audio_file/culturefilepod/14460556246/tumblr_lwgmnhYNCG1r3x39e?plead=please-dont-download-this-or-our-lawyers-wont-let-us-host-audio]

A special Hanukkah treat. Here is the full version of song that ended our piece with soprano, Judith Mok last week, featuring Judith, accompanied by Shane Booth on guitar on his arrangement of Una Pastora Yo Ami. We even enjoy the police sirens at the end.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-15121107m38sculturefile-pid0-458184.mp3]

If it’s good enough for De Falla and Llorca! Soprano, Judith Mok, guides us through the passion of the Sephardic tradition of Jewish song.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-16121105m56culturefile-pid0-356832.mp3]

Luke Clancy talks to bird-fancying recorder virtuoso, Laoise O’Brien about her collection of ornithologically inspired music, How Happy for the Little Birds.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-14121106m19sculturefilemp3-pid0-379344.mp3]

Let’s partita! Culture File talks to musicologist, David Ledbetter, about the buried secrets of Bach’s Clavier-Übung I.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-13121107m08sculturefile-pid0-428520.mp3]

Willie Doherty talks about his latest video work, Ancient Ground, set in an ancient Donegal bog.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-12121107m09sculturefile-pid0-429864.mp3]

Luke Clancy talks to Jes Benstock, director of The British Guide to Showing Off, a documentary about the Alternative Miss World.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-09121111m15sculturefile-pid0-675624.mp3]

Stand up comedian Maeve Higgins talks to Luke Clancy about the fine art of the comedy record.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-08121107m14sculturefile-pid0-434880.mp3]

In the final part of our Van Gogh special, we get all CSI Auvers, as we hear about a newly constructed theory of the painter’s death. (Part 4 of 4).

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-07121106m32sculturefile-pid0-392712.mp3]

Van Gogh wasn’t a good mixer — to put it mildly — and instead filled his days with hour upon hour of reading, much of which shows up in his paintings one way or another, according to his biographers, Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith. (Part 3 of 4)

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-06121107m14sculturefile-pid0-434256.mp3]

Van Gogh-biographer, Gregory White Smith, explains how contemporary theories of colour and emotion fed into the painter’s work. (Part 2 of 4)

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-05121107m10sculturefile-pid0-430944.mp3]

Culture File lends an ear (ouch!) to Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith, authors of a blockbusting new biography of Van Gogh. (Part 1 of 4)

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-02121106m56sculturefile-pid0-415968.mp3]

Samuel Pepys has 22,000 followers on twitter - not bad for a guy who hasn’t written anything in 300 years. What explains his enduring attraction?

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-01121106m06sculturefile-pid0-366600.mp3]

Luke Clancy reviews the opening of Carpet Remnant World, the latest stand up show from Stewart Lee.

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-17111106m08sthursculturefile-pid0-368808.mp3]

Falling behind on your readings? Prof John Sutherland estimates there are around 12,000 new novels each year. So which ones to read? (part 1 of 2)

[audio http://culturefilepod.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/pod-v-30111105m47sculturefile-pid0-347640.mp3]

Consider the currach. Osaka-born sculptor, NaoMatsunaga did when creating his ceramics, for CGI’s Modern Languages show in Kilkenny.