Shots fired in the culture wars

UNSW Associate Professor Lizzie Muller is urging the arts sector to come together to fight for the arts in schools after the federal arts department was amalgamated into another portfolio.

Does that word mean what you think it means?

Words change their meaning over time, but it can be hard to keep up, especially when some words evolve to mean the opposite of their original definition.

Robots won’t replace our need to work

As machine automation and artificial intelligence surge, there’s paranoia our jobs will be overrun by robots. But even if this happens, labour won’t disappear, because humans need to work.

Searching for love, laughter and adventure? Read a book

Whether you’re spending the holidays at the beach or at home, the summer break from school offers a great opportunity for teens to catch up on some reading.

The weird world of Christmas traditions

Christmas is over for another year.  How did you celebrate it?  From wrapping presents to decorating a tree, some of the traditions many of us associate with Christmas get their own cultural spin in very different ways around the world.

Art is good for your health

Regular visits to museums, art galleries, the theatre or concerts is linked to a longer life, according to a new study in Britain.

The changing face of the park barbecue

Gathering around the barbecue in public spaces is a time-honoured tradition, but the utilitarian barbecues in our local parks need to change to reflect the diverse needs of our communities.

The evolving story of Hanukkah

The eight-day Jewish festival of Hanukkah began on Sunday, December 22, and although its roots lay in the distant past, it has evolved markedly in recent years, particularly in America.

Whatever happened to Christmas films?

Every festive season for years, we’ve been served Christmas schmaltz at the movies, but that’s now changing. And while we’re on the subject, why is Die Hard a Christmas film?

All I want for Christmas is … an earworm

Christmas songs package up all of the joy and nostalgia of the ‘ideal’ festive season into a three-minute ditty. But, my goodness, they can be annoying.

A ghost story for Christmas

Our fascination with ghostly tales around Christmas time goes back thousands of years and is rooted in ancient celebrations of the winter solstice.

Remembering William Cooper

William Cooper is best known as a visionary campaigner for his own indigenous people, their equality under the law, and their right to be recognised as their land’s original custodians.