Into the manosphere

Louis Theroux’s new Netflix documentary explores the world of ‘manosphere’ influencers and podcasters and their appeal to young men in a world which not only doesn’t seem to need them, but actively despises them.

Beware of zombies

Zombie fiction imagines a world that has been changed forever, but also offers hope that individuals can still resist and repel despair and assimilation, rather than one than succumb to it without a fight.

The cracked bowl is more beautiful

The Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi draws attention to the meaning and value of imperfection, impermanence and incompleteness in life.

Reading Camus

Author and philosopher Albert Camus died in a car crash in 1960, aged just 46 but the existential, moral and political issues Camus’ writings address still trouble us today.

Remembering Robert Duval

Success came late to the late American actor Robert Duvall but in a career spanning seven decades, he won an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, four Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his characterful character performances.

The Times They Are a-Changin’

Protest singers like Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan drew popular attention to social issues and civil rights in the United States through their songs, so will a new generation of artists carry the torch against the appalling excesses of Donald Trump?

Standing in front of a painting I didn’t understand

Public art galleries offer a rare forum in which contemplation and ‘slow thinking’ are encouraged. Encounters with art, no matter how new or strange or challenging, remain a precious opportunity to engage with ourselves, our nation and each other.

Six of the best

Six Australian podcasts approach the world of books in very different forms but all contribute to audio has ironically become such an important medium for contemporary reading.

In vino ineptias

Florid descriptions of wine are designed to boost the purchase price and flatter the taste of all concerned, but however comical they appear to non-wine buffs, they directly influence purchasing decisions and people’s enjoyment.

The magnificent seven

Many people resolve to read more at the turn of the year, so here are seven books from 2025 offering fascinating glimpses into other cultures and people’s lives.

Remembering Brigitte Bardot

From luminous actress to social activist Brigitte Bardot’s death at the age of 91, brings to a close one of the most extraordinary careers in post-war French cultural life.

5 from ’25

2025 won’t be remembered as a great year for film, but here are five movies you may enjoy if you see art as a means to make political points as well as entertain the public.