Caroline Moorehead salutes the energetic brilliance of singer Josephine Baker; and Aaron Peck on the past, present and future of the avant-garde.

'Fearless and free: A memoir', by Josephine Baker, translated by Anam Zafar and Sophie Lewis

'Josephine Baker's secret war: The African American star who fought for France and freedom', by Hanna Diamond

'What art does: An unfinished theory', by Brian Eno and Bette A.

'How to be avant-garde: Modern artists and the quest to end art', by Morgan Falconer

'The uncanny muse: Music, art, and machines from automata to AI', by David Hajdu

Produced by Charlotte Pardy

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We take a brief break from revolutionary ideas for a special live episode of PPF recorded in front of an audience at the Regent Street Cinema in London. David talks to writer and journalist Helen Lewis about Network (1976), a film still best remembered for its catchphrase: ‘I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Just how prophetic is that cry of rage in the age of Trump? What does the film say about the continuing power of television in the era of social media? And who or what does it remind us of: Ye, Tucker Carlson, Russell Brand, WWE wrestling… or is it about something else entirely?

Out now on PPF+: the second part of David’s conversation with Adam Rutherford about Darwin and the most revolutionary idea of them all. To get this and all our bonus episodes plus ad-free listening sign up now to PPF+ https://www.ppfideas.com/join-ppf-plus

Next time: J. S. Mill and Free Speech w/Fara Dabhoiwala

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