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By Helen Razer
I reckon that the study of antiquity must be a real pain in the urn. Much of what the classical scholar has to go on is a collection of objects or texts. I mean, proceed with your analysis of the pre-modern period, and do help us all understand the mistakes of dead civilisations—even though we’re
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By Helen Razer
Far be it from me, a patron of dubious pleasures, to deride your taste. While it is true that I am in the occasional (okay, regular) habit of diminishing things you may personally happen to enjoy, it is not my intention to diminish you. Nor, I would argue, should this be considered the possible effect
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By Helen Razer
Last week in the publication Crikey, my comrade Guy Rundle did that annoying thing he has been doing for years and wrote much better than me. Now, before you complain that the recommended piece is paywalled and not available as free pleasure, I’d like you to consider why your purchase of this speciality product, and
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By Helen Razer
Sure, President Obama may have ordered countless deaths and deportations during his time as President. But, you gotta admit, the guy is good with a gag. In 2012 when human brochure for hate, Mitt Romney, told CNN that Russia was a “geopolitical foe” of utmost concern to the US, Obama countered later in debate with, “The 1980s
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By Helen Razer
I wish I’d made a retirement plan, for the conquest of my industry is close. And, yes, we in the traditional media can certainly blame faster technology, diminishing revenues and—far less credibly—the slowing minds of consumers for this imminent death. But, geez, at some point, we gotta take a look at ourselves. Certainly, we must
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By Helen Razer
Your reviewer has not been gifted of especially fine cultural taste. For instance, she is tremendously fond of Foxtel’s Australia’s Next Top Model, not at all fond of the ABC’s sophisticated lifestyle offerings, and is wont to talk about herself in the unfashionable third person for almost entire paragraphs. All of which is to say, my
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By Helen Razer
Gwyneth Paltrow is both tedious shopkeeper and handy personification of the decadence of “self-esteem” that will lead to Western decline. And, yes, I’ve made this point before, as have those commissioned to assemble open letters, as have, presumably, a majority of respondents to Most Hated Star surveys where Gwyn is regularly elevated to top position.
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By Helen Razer
The US election gave us two lessons. First, when faced with a choice between two unremarkable nominees, many folks will select the one with most value to late-night gag writers. Second, media professionals can get it wrong. So terribly wrong. The gulf between what the people want to consume and what rot they are provided
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By Helen Razer
In a good Fairfax piece this week reporting on a new pop-culture exhibition, Queensland journalist Andrew Stafford spoke with its curator. The work of Amanda Slack-Smith, and of many filmmakers and comic book artists, has attracted not just local media interest, but that of those abroad. The Hollywood Reporter welcomes the high-brow attention to superheroes
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By Helen Razer
It was likely not Frank Zappa who said, “Writing about music is like dancing about architecture.” For this, fans of the late absurdist might be grateful. It’s a statement empty of use to all but those musicians who simply prefer not to be written about. Serious writing about music has as much in common with “dancing
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