In the news … April 2021
Commentary on the news, current affairs, journalism, and the news media landscape more generally for April 2021.
Posts
Spellbound (1945)
Alfred Hitchcock’s Spellbound remains captivating, though contexts have changed for genres, subject, and artistic treatment.
Notes on Appiah’s Lévi-Strauss
Kwame Anthony Appiah’s New York Review of Books essay on Claude Lévi-Strauss confirm my old antipathies to his work, but also reveal some new façets to me.
In the news … March 2021
Commentary on current affairs, the news media, and the the state of journalism generally for March 2021.
Morrison and Freud: What’s on his mind?
What could a Freudian perspective reveal to us about the angry Scott Morrison thrashing about for an end to his sexual assault and harassment problem.
Does left arrogance drive right extremism?
Translating Thomas Frank’s editorial about arrogant American ‘liberals’ for Australian audiences reveals a very unflattering picture of local left elitism.
In the news … February 2021
Commentary on current affairs, the news media, and the state of journalism, February 2021.
Remembering Google Plus: ‘ere, it’s bollocks, innit!
Some humour from 2013, when I tangled with Google Plus zealots about the failed attempt to compete with Facebook.
Our democracy under threat all around
Australian democracy is threatened by Chinese expansionism, unregulated corporate excesses, and its own neo-fascism.
News Corp lies to Australia
True to form, News Corp executives give senate inquiry misinformation, disinformation, and outright lies.
This Gun for Hire (1942)
Not the noir some claim, but an outstanding hybrid with a powerful performance from Ladd and impressive mises en scène.
Conspiracy (2001)
The recent emergence of furtive and overt neo-fascism in some Western nations gives this film new meaning and power.
In the news … January 2021
Commentary on current affairs and the state of journalism.
Breaker Morant (1980)
A landmark Australian film made relevant afresh as we consider contemporary war crimes.
Managing fear of change
Managing fear and resistance to change requires insight and tact .