Modern
Future is not what it used to be
AS A baby boomer, I must say I'm terribly disappointed with modern science and technology. I mean, where's my robot? Apparently Leonardo da Vinci invented the first robot in 1495.
Spare me harsh realities, slay that dragon and let the movies cast a spell
Clem Bastow When economic times are tough, fantasy and cinema come to the rescue, again.
Australia you are not a good friend
Martyn Awayang Namorong I'M on my first visit to Australia right now - and what an introduction to your country. A two-week run of four major cities where I'm meeting politicians, journalists and ordinary Australians.
Pain of modern paeans
Heckler WHY doesn't God turn them into pillars of salt? Or at least send a bolt of lightning or two?
Ancient world with which modern AFL must engage
Martin Flanagan Last week, I received a letter from Peter Collins, head of the Aboriginal Legal Aid Service in Western Australia, concerning Waylon Manson, a young Kukatja man and football talent from Billuluna in...
Modern art is nonsense on stilts
Stephanie Hayes (Heckler, Friday), I'm sorry. But you'll just have to put up with us poor, old ROMAs.
The distressing side of modern fashion
Richard Glover "'Do you have one of these T-shirts without the stain?'' I ask the young man behind the counter and he frowns, puzzled.
Rich narcissists much worse than me are ruining modern art
Charles Saatchi Being an art buyer these days is comprehensively and indisputably vulgar. It is the sport of the Eurotrashy, hedge-fundy, Hamptonites; of trendy oligarchs and oiligarchs; and of art dealers with...
Social networking sites are factories of modern ideas
Jessica Irvine As the Federal Parliament descended into farce over the resignation of the speaker, Harry Jenkins, on its last sitting day of the year, the micro-blogging website Twitter went into overdrive.
Rich mosaic of life in a modern jungle
Hamish McDonald Think of anthropologists. You probably picture a spectacled, tropical-suited person out in the jungle risking poisoned arrows, the cooking pot or forced marriage to the chieftain's daughter in a...
Opera must reflect modern Australia, or become irrelevant
Lyndon Terracini It's now two years since I took up my position as artistic director of Opera Australia and I've had time to understand the company, the culture in which it works and its position as a leader in the...
Even modern lyricists need rhyme (and reason)
Danny Katz If it was possible to punch a musical act, I'd punch Coldplay right in its alt-rock, dirge-chorded, anaemically anthemic Brit-teeth.
Facebook is full of modern Dorian Grays
Alexandra Patrikios When I checked my Facebook yesterday – for probably the 27th time that morning – two things happened.
Modern technology needs to be more than child's play
Joanne Orlando H ave you heard about the latest trend in toilet training young children? Letting them use the iPad while they're on the potty.
Sad-but-true link between tales of old Tom, bold Ned and a modern farce
Tony Wright The only way to get to Tom Mitchell's story about Ned Kelly is to ramble the long way around.
Modern post issues in a modern land
Heckler ''I'D LIKE to send this parcel by registered post, please.''
Grim tales of modern folk but they're no fairytale
Richard Glover So many of our fairytales are so old fashioned; so remote from the issues that confront contemporary Australians. Maybe it's time for a rewrite.
Could this be the year of the modern family?
Senthorun Raj NSW has finally made a claim to history by eliminating the last direct piece of legislation that discriminates on the basis of sexuality, to protect and acknowledge the state's many same-sex...
Our Mary - a saint or modern celebrity?
Desmond O'Grady When Mary MacKillop becomes Australia's first certified saint on October 17 her image will hang at St Peter's facade on a huge painted drape.
A creepy banker fleshes out the modern fascist
Philippe Mora I was struck by the weirdness of news out of Germany this week. First, a new restaurant called Filme in Berlin was advertising for human body parts to be used on their "Brazilian" menu.
.gif)
