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By Helen Razer
For many years, great artists have depended for their flourishing upon the generous patronage of…blah, blah, blah, Leonardo. Give it a rest with the Renaissance Defence. Yes. Of course. We know: all art demands material support for its creation and survival. In this way, it is much like every single part of human life. Art
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By Helen Razer
Your reporter is stricken with head-cold, or, as I choose to know it: the unofficial viral partner of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Thus, all reason is heated by fever and all passion drowned by phlegm. I had intended to bring you account of several Festival performances, but can now recall nothing, not even the
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By Helen Razer
CNN is in urgent need of counselling. Since the 2016 death of Campaign Clinton, the poor old thing has suffered a collapse. Of course, it’s difficult for any of us to face the real life facts of a death, and we are often given in our grief to magical thinking. When, for example, my dear
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By Helen Razer
There are Renaissance Australians who are so moved by sports as they are by the literary arts. There are those universal persons right here on this soil. A morning in gratitude to high art, an afternoon in awe of a half-forward flank. Oh. It’s a magnificent agenda. It’s also a bullshit “classless Aussie” myth, if
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By Helen Razer
Mass culture has produced no form more lifeless than radio journalism. If you’re yet to read this stuff, please, don’t start now. That modest rise in Radio Shitstack’s 18-24 demographic is only of interest to shareholders, and that monumental rise in some twit’s salary can be only of interest to masochists. Reports of broadcast radio
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By Helen Razer
Young people. Who knows what sort of popular entertainments they enjoy? But, we can probably name the sort of thing to which they are likely to remain indifferent. Say, murder mysteries set in quaint and monocultural English villages. Any product involving or inspired by Jeremy Clarkson. Australian television program The Project. Folks in the 16-39
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By Helen Razer
I am not invulnerable to Reese Witherspoon. Between us, her ruling class charm once struck so hard, I took a picture of it to a stylist and said, “Make me look like this.” So, yes: Hollywood women may have authority over intimate lady things, including my hair. That they can touch us less superficially is
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By Helen Razer
Alright, Ladies. Before you call for her expulsion from all internet, permit your loving sister to be clear as a Perspex bell: this critique of the #MeToo moment is not also one of the entire feminist movement. This critique of the #MeToo moment, which continues its focus on that abuse committed or suffered by the
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By Helen Razer
Yes. You are tired of writers with nothing but mean things to write about the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Here’s the thing: writers are tired of writing them, too. Of course, I imagine those writers who have for so long held that the nation should not waste its money on fancy things like culture and news
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By Helen Razer
“Rich people got that way because they were really careful with money.” This is the claim of comedian Claire Hooper, newly commissioned by the ABC to challenge the logic of current capitalism. A cynic might say that the host of The Great Australian Bake Off is not also the ideal host for a podcast that
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