This Month
Trump pulls US out of UNESCO for second time
The president has continued his pattern of withdrawing from global agencies, this time claiming that the UN culture and education agency supports “woke” policies.
Hate has no place? If only that were true
The best way to start to overcome antisemitism is to encourage young people to have a bit more empathy and lot less hatred for those they disagree with.
June
‘Bikinis and burgers’: How the culture wars are remaking advertising
Brands are diluting or scrapping campaigns with a social purpose as the movement against DEI intensifies.
As Gillham fights the MSO, the paying audience is neglected
Whatever the court verdict, consumers should continue to object to musicians who insert surprise provocations of no artistic relevance into their concerts.
May
Trump’s war on Harvard could cripple Australian research
The blunt-force targeting of foreign students is not only reckless but erodes the pillars of intellectual diversity that Trump claims to be defending.
Aussies in turmoil as Trump bans overseas students from Harvard
Donald Trump’s surprise move to ban international students from Harvard has caused shock in the alumni community and uncertainty among those enrolled.
Will early voting cook the democracy sausage?
More people will have voted before election day than on the day itself this year. What does that portend for our snag-related traditions?
April
Welcome to Country: In defence of culture wars
Culture wars break out amid debates such as the frequency of welcome to country ceremonies because elites fail to listen to ordinary people’s legitimate social concerns.
Why America’s left is going ‘dark woke’
Sick of seeing the right get cut-through with profanity-laden nastiness, some progressives – especially US Democrats – are going for the jugular.
March
‘Snow White’ remake misses box-office hopes amid woke controversy
Disney made the update a tale of female empowerment. Instead of trying to find a husband, the new Snow White leads a Joan of Arc-like rebellion against the Evil Queen.
‘No room for nuance’: Melbourne Writers Festival avoids Gaza
After the war in the Middle East tore apart the organisation last year, new artistic director Veronica Sullivan’s 2025 program has adopted a small target strategy.
Disney’s Snow White is not too woke – and it’s better than Wicked
This flashpoint of the culture wars avoids being the disaster many feared (or hoped for).
Festival politicking shows why donors are walking away from the arts
The politicisation of philanthropy has led to artists and organisers engaging in their own ideological frolics using other people’s money.
Disney retreats from the culture wars, one trigger warning at a time
Donald Trump’s crackdown on diversity has seen the Mouse House tone down its pre-program messages. But content advisories have their defenders elsewhere.
February
Why we need simple signals of elite status more than ever
The more information there is in the world, the more we need simple signals of elite status to cut through it all.
Sydney Writers’ Festival ex-chair breaks silence on resignation
Kathy Shand says she was not aware of any plot to remove her from the Sydney author talkfest’s board, although sources said her pro-Israel views had left her “isolated”.
This film has 13 Oscar nominations. Why does everyone hate it?
Since Emilia Perez debuted on Netflix last year, there has been plenty of backlash on multiple fronts that has marred its pathway to Oscar glory.
Bigger story behind Sanjeev Gupta’s faltering empire
Readers’ letters on the need for a new model of capitalism; improving students’ literacy; culture wars hurting innovation; CBA’s share price; and robot dogs.
America is engaged in a ‘rich white civil war’
I’m not a fan of populism, but real populism would be better than the right-wing elite nihilists who are running the country now.
‘Culture first’: One theory that explains what Trump is up to
Trumpian policy is about elevating cultural policy above all else. He doesn’t have to win the cultural debates, but he will control the ideological agenda.