Ephemera, Ephemera Reviews

The Biscuiteer: Apple Snaps

By Mel on February 8th, 2010 at 8:28 am

The Biscuiteer goes back to school with these individually wrapped kiddie treats. But if we were kids, we’d be kind of disappointed to find these in our lunchboxes.

Books, Books News

Do Not Feed The Literary Lions

Australian Book Review just polled its readers’ favourite Australian novels, and we haven’t read many of ‘em. Are we philistines, or is it time to hunt Australia’s literary lions rather than feed them?

Do Not Feed The Literary Lions

By Mel on February 7th, 2010 at 1:20 pm

Australian Book Review just polled its readers’ favourite Australian novels, and we haven’t read many of ‘em. Are we philistines, or is it time to hunt Australia’s literary lions rather than feed them?

Music, Music Features

Come For The Music, Stay For The Fashionalism

An unremarkable Big Day Out lineup this year had us turning our attention to the many ways that Australian flags and other patriotic objects can be repurposed as style statements.

Come For The Music, Stay For The Fashionalism

By Mel on February 4th, 2010 at 1:23 pm

An unremarkable Big Day Out lineup this year had us turning our attention to the many ways that Australian flags and other patriotic objects can be repurposed as style statements.

The Stage, The Stage Reviews

Review: Ron Mueck

The joy of this extensive retrospective from enigmatic Australian hyperrealist sculptor Ron Mueck is watching it provoke and interact with viewers. (Note: some images may be NSFW, even though it’s aaaart.)

Review: Ron Mueck

By Mel on January 28th, 2010 at 3:56 pm

The joy of this extensive retrospective from enigmatic Australian hyperrealist sculptor Ron Mueck is watching it provoke and interact with viewers. (Note: some images may be NSFW, even though it’s aaaart.)

Ephemera, Ephemera Features

Beneath Our Racist Southern Cross

Do you want to celebrate Australia Day without looking like a neo-nazi or a Patagonian? The Enthusiast provides an alternative to flag-capes and Southern Cross tatts.

Beneath Our Racist Southern Cross

By Andrew on January 26th, 2010 at 11:43 am

Do you want to celebrate Australia Day without looking like a neo-nazi or a Patagonian? The Enthusiast provides an alternative to flag-capes and Southern Cross tatts.

Film, Film Features, Uncategorized

Hollywood’s Wild Colonial Boys, Part 2

In the second part of our investigation into onscreen colonial encounters, we look at films that depict European colonialism as a narrative of progress from primitivism to ‘civilisation’.

Hollywood’s Wild Colonial Boys, Part 2

By Mel on January 25th, 2010 at 3:17 pm

In the second part of our investigation into onscreen colonial encounters, we look at films that depict European colonialism as a narrative of progress from primitivism to ‘civilisation’.

TV, TV News

The Late Night Battle Endeth

Conan O’Brien ended his seven month stint on the Tonight Show with trademark class, and – in a delicious if predictable irony – his highest ratings ever.

The Late Night Battle Endeth

By Daniel on January 25th, 2010 at 2:44 pm

Conan O’Brien ended his seven month stint on the Tonight Show with trademark class, and – in a delicious if predictable irony – his highest ratings ever.

Film, Film Features, Uncategorized

Hollywood’s Wild Colonial Boys, Part 1

James Cameron’s alien eco-adventure Avatar has been criticised for its colonialist overtones. We decided to examine how Hollywood really imagines the space of colonial first encounters.

Hollywood’s Wild Colonial Boys, Part 1

By Mel on January 25th, 2010 at 1:02 pm

James Cameron’s alien eco-adventure Avatar has been criticised for its colonialist overtones. We decided to examine how Hollywood really imagines the space of colonial first encounters.

Film, Film Reviews

Review: Van Diemen’s Land

A cannibalistic convict film could have gone one of two ways: exploitative horror or existential dread. While Dying Breed chose the former path, Van Diemen’s Land wisely chooses the latter.

Review: Van Diemen’s Land

By Andrew on January 24th, 2010 at 4:31 pm

A cannibalistic convict film could have gone one of two ways: exploitative horror or existential dread. While Dying Breed chose the former path, Van Diemen’s Land wisely chooses the latter.