Almost a century ago, New Zealand and Australia were at the forefront of an environmental crisis that forewarned of humanity’s global impact – erosion. It left its mark on culture.
‘Shearing sheep, Barcaldine District’, 1948.
Queensland State Archives, Item ID ITM1154347
Far from mere underwear, singlets have many cultural meanings. Once worn chiefly by shearers, laborers and soldiers, they have been embraced on dance floors and in the gym.
Rather than presenting a disability as an obstacle, life writing can explore the joys, frustrations and creativity of living with disability or Deafness.
A memorial to the 35 people killed in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
AAP Image/Robyn Grace
A film about the shootings is likely to be very distressing for people directly impacted by the massacre, particularly those who still have PTSD or strong grief responses.
Pristine and beautiful or black and dirty? As bushfires become more frequent and we look to Indigenous fire control practices, it is time to reconsider our attitudes to burnt earth.
Millicent Bryant made her first solo flight at the age of 49 in 1927. The life of this bold, unconventional woman was tragically cut short in a ferry disaster that same year.
Eryn Jean Norvill in STC’s inventive adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s 1890 novel.
STC/Dan Boud
Actor Eryn Jean Norvill’s portrayal of all the characters in The Portrait of Dorian Gray triumphantly illustrates Oscar Wilde’s notion of the self as a form of performance.
The Macquarie Dictionary has chosen “doomscrolling” and “rona” as its words of the year. The Australian National Dictionary chose “iso”. Is “quazza” too far?
This wooden dish from Broome, pre-1892, was made by Yawuru people, collected by police and later presented by the Commissioner of Police, Colonel Phillips, to the WA Museum.
Courtesy of the WA museum
A spear-thrower, a shell, a bowl, a vase, a bucket. Five very different items tell us much about the history of collecting, the role of Indigenous experts and the shadow of colonial violence.
David Byrne redefined the idea of what a band onstage looks like. Spike Lee has made a film about Byrne and his band that stands up with the best.
Kath and Kim (aka Jane Turner and Gina Riley): the suburban hornbags used swearing in clever ways in their 2002-2007 TV series.
Riley Turner Productions
Long regarded as guardians of morality, women who swore were often policed and punished. But whether protesting or parodying, they have used bad language in creative ways.
We interviewed consumers about ethical fashion choices - they were well intentioned but overwhelmed. There are, however, some good sources of information for conscious shoppers.
Many important Australian books have found themselves out-of-print and hard-to-find. The Untapped project aims to change that, bringing classics to a library near you.
Trixie Belden wasn’t as pretty as her best friend, or a cool as Nancy Drew. But she had a ‘mental computer’ for solving mysteries and a non-judgmental moral core.
Will the newest batch of books about the climate crisis change minds? Reading about the problem can help us understand it, but it’s political action that is needed now.