

Gambling with the Voice
This week’s Stan Grant news cycle has been a solid dry run for how the Voice to Parliament will likely play out in Australia’s media if it fails. Continue reading Gambling with the Voice

Trans folk need policy commitments, not sour political nothings
Saturday’s display of Police linking arms so blackshirts could perform the Nazi salute has potentially undone decades of reconciliation efforts between the police and Victoria’s LGBTQIA+ community. Continue reading Trans folk need policy commitments, not sour political nothings

You must be Djoking
It’s appropriate one of the most highly anticipated matches of the Australian Open thus far is a pairing that two years ago would barely have raised a pulse. It’s grist for the mill in what has to be the weirdest Australian Open on record. Not to suggest it hasn’t been interesting. Continue reading You must be Djoking

Avatar 2: what’s space opera doc?
Avatar 2: the Way of Water is a dying breed: a true cinematic event. But it’s so busy trying to be so many different movies, it forgets to become one of its own. Continue reading Avatar 2: what’s space opera doc?

The excruciating inevitability of the Voice
While many Australians are readying for the inevitable misery caused by the referendum on the First Nations Voice to parliament, some politicians and talking heads will be living their best lives. Continue reading The excruciating inevitability of the Voice

Mommie Tár-est
Now and again Hollywood is graced with a drama leaning so hard into the mantle of its own genius it falls into a slapstick alternate reality. Enter Cate Blanchett as fictional EGOT-winning conductor/composer Lydia Tár. Continue reading Mommie Tár-est

Two Weeks with the Queen: the children’s book that helped change my young life
When I was ten years old, I read my first fictional depiction of gay people. Reading it again for the first time 27 years later has been a “mood”. Here’s why. Continue reading Two Weeks with the Queen: the children’s book that helped change my young life

Blonde: the anti-Elvis
Blonde has staggered viewers and it’s not hard to see why. Its central concept is a violation of the contract behind the American dream: anything is worth it for fifteen minutes of fame. Continue reading Blonde: the anti-Elvis

Il Mago di Oz: opera debut is old humbug
A new artistic director, Stuart Maunder, takes over Victorian Opera next year. Whether he can raise a pulse with their next season remains to be seen. But for now, this company’s road to hell is paved in artless yellow brick. Continue reading Il Mago di Oz: opera debut is old humbug

Lazy, lazy, lazy… the clickbait evolution
Every Australian newspaper and website has a Google spreadsheet brimming with the names of clickbait authors. They’re usually over 50, white and distinguishable for being ready and willing to burp out content at a moment’s notice. Continue reading Lazy, lazy, lazy… the clickbait evolution