Something or nothing

People have been suspicious of ‘nothing’ going back all the way to the mathematical idea of “zero.” Yet there is real value in “nothing” and we need to appreciate it more.

Counterpoint by Mark Nicol – Who said God is dead?

Mark Nicol calls for a new religious vision of ‘native divinity’ to help reconcile humanity’s egoistic, humanist, environmentalist, and aspirational ambitions.

Are arts schools an endangered species?

Decades of under-funding have left many Australian art schools in a perilous state. And the present political and intellectual hostility to the creative arts is threatening their very existence.

Incels, trolls and attack helicopters

While ‘trolls’ have been around almost as long as the Internet, researchers say ‘Incels’ are a more recent and distinctly different cyber sub-culture which warrants more study.

Why everyone should learn a musical instrument

Learning and playing music has many benefits for people of every age, but not in the ways you might think.

Fighting the good fight

Giving the Devil His Due – Reflections of a Scientific Humanist, the latest book by American rationalist Michael Shermer, should be required reading for those who seek hope in reason in these troubled times.

A room made of leaves

The newest novel from the author of The Secret River is an imagined diary, detailing the ‘true’ story of Elizabeth Macarthur.

Spike Lee’s “Da 5 Bloods”

Spike Lee’s new film film tells a vivid tale of African American life from the battlefields of Vietnam to a return to a civilian world ungrateful for their wartime service.

Burn-in: a novel of the real robotic revolution

If you’d enjoy a thoughtful exploration of the complex implications oft technology in national security, this book will be well worth your time.

Why ‘the marketplace for ideas’ can fail

Competition in the marketplace for ideas is different to competition in the market for ordinary goods and services and bad ideas don’t necessarily get left by the wayside.

The show must go on

Musicians, dancers and live art performers have moved quickly to reimagine and adapt their creative pursuits under these challenging and uncertain conditions.

How will the arts recover from COVID-19?

Working with the limitations and opportunities of online interfaces, artists whose careers survive the pandemic will emerge with an altered sense of what they do, and of their place in society.