The Idler’s Academy

Idler’s Academy

This year the Idler’s Academy of Philosophy, Husbandry and Merriment opens its doors for the first time. Tom Hodgkinson, editor of cult magazine The Idler, has established the Academy as a resource for these three valuable but generally neglected disciplines. This year’s curriculum includes Latin grammar, scything, woodwork, education theory, poetry and, of course, lashings and lashings of fun…

The faculty boasts Mr T Young (MA Oxon), Mr Bill Drummond (KLF), Mr H Mount (MA Oxon), Mr ML Young (BA U of Life), Mr J Mitchinson (BA QI), Mr J Butterworth (MA Cantab) and Mr Simon Fairlie. There will be distinguished visiting professors, tea ladies and biscuits in the staff room. You can find the Academy near the Boathouse. Lessons start at 12 sharp. The Tuck Shop will be open for penny chews, Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers, teas, coffees and text books. And please knock before entering the common room. See below for full timetable.

About The Idler:

Established by Tom Hodgkinson and Gavin Pretor-Pinney in 1993, the magazine quickly gathered a cult following for its blatant dismissal of the workers ethos and set about distorting the British work ethic of ‘live to work’ by offering an idle life style and combining work with play. The magazine features the idle musings of an eclectic cast including Jonathan Ross, Damian Hirst and Patrick Moore. Tom has also written three books How to be Idle – a bestseller in the UK, Italy and Germany – How to be Free and The Idle Parent.

In 2006 Tom created National Unawareness Day, which is celebrated on November 1, although in Tom’s world everyday is November 1. Encouraging us all to find our own little paradise in a world of encircling hells Tom’s writing is witty, intelligent and provocative which, rather ironically, sedulously campaigns against hard-labour, watching your life flash before your eyes and offers inspiration to the dream-chaser in us all. Pull out the sun-lounger, pour some wine and raise a glass to idleness.

www.idler.co.uk

“One of the most provocatively entertaining, creatively subversive and, frankly, essential manifestoes of this or any moment.”
Time Out

“An inspiring collection of historical references and intriguing socio-cultural comment for those of us who yearn to cast off our corporate and consumer shackles.”
Psychologies

Links:

Interview with Tom Hodgkinson

In addition to the ‘teachers’ listed individually in the Idler’s Academy section of this website, we are pleased to announce the following additions to our timetable:

Ian Bone is the founder of Class War and author of Bash The Rich: True Life Confessions of an Anarchist in the UK. He has recently started his own publishing imprint whose first release is Hartmann The Anarchist by 19th century Eton schoolboy E. Douglas Fawcett. He and Ray Roughler-Jones are the Academy’s visiting sociology professors.

Charles Hazlewood is an award-winning conductor who works regularly with great orchestras around the world — from the Philharmonia to the Gothenburg Symphony. He is the Idler’s choirmaster.

William Peers is a sculptor. He studied at Falmouth Art College and was then apprenticed to a stone-carver. His latest show was at London’s John Martin gallery. Mr Peers is the Idler’s art master and will be making a sculpture over the course of the weekend.

Ray Roughler-Jones has been called “Swansea’s Jack Kerouac” by Rhys Ifans. His biography, Drowning on Dry Land, is out now on Tangent Books.

Justin Welch played the drums in Elastica. He now teaches percussion and plays with Asbo Kid, whose other half is James from EMF. Mr Welch will be leading a drumming masterclass.