Michael Connor

I had a nightmare

by Michael Connor

December 11, 2008

Wouldn’t it be awful if Barack Obama ...

Quadrant exits closet and bakes cake

by Michael Connor

December 11, 2008

Quadrant - a magazine that lost its raison d’etre after the Cold War, and is a refuge for fruitcakes and closet racists.

[Note to Editor - Perhaps we should contact Louise Malaprop at SMUP and suggest a Quadrant Fruitcake and Biscuit Cookbook?]

The ASIO tapes - Louise Malaprop

by Michael Connor

December 10, 2008

Louise Malaprop is Director-For-Life of the South Melbourne University Press (SMUP). Mrs Malaprop is the wife of renowned actor and esteemed purveyor of charcuterie to the gentry Max Malaprop.

Wadeye is us

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

Over its lifetime Quadrant has published important essays which have had an impact on Australia’s public life. In the December issue Patrick McCauley’s essay, “Wadeye: Failed State as Cultural Triumph”, is such a work.

Titanic Inc. appoints Arts advisory panel

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

The Prime Minister’s 2020 Creative Australia was a weekend party which produced confusion, quite a lot of hot air, and a huge hangover.

Titanic Inc. gives cash to steerage class

by Michael Connor

December 9, 2008

Latest news from White Star head office in Canberra.

Money, money, money - Christmas '08

by Michael Connor

December 7, 2008

The auction was very interesting. There were a lot of first home buyers. It was held by a well known local firm and they began with a Welcome to Country ritual. Tracey said they get Arts funding to do it. At some auctions they even perform smoking ceremonies.

Why don't they get it?

by Michael Connor

December 5, 2008

Left blogs attract Left readers. Conservative blogs attract Right and Left. The comments pages on the blogs of Andrew Bolt, Janet Albrechtsen, Tim Blair and Piers Akerman etc are lively places. Phillip Adams’ blog is a cemetery with dull contributions from the typing dead.

Silly season begins early - in Canberra

by Michael Connor

December 5, 2008

 “AUSTRALIAN universities are not controlled by left-wing academics hell bent on brainwashing students, a Senate inquiry has found.” News.com.au

I don't think like that anymore

by Michael Connor

December 5, 2008

Before, every time news of something awful broke, I used to say “Now, they’ll understand. Now they’ll get it.” They never did and I felt awful.

Whiteness Studies Uber Alles

by Michael Connor

December 4, 2008

Last week the Mumbai killers were asking who among their victims were British or American. This week Monash University is hosting the Australian Critical Race and Whiteness Studies Association’s  “Re-Orienting Whiteness Conference”. Connect the dots for yourself between foolish western academics with killing ideas and terrorists killing for ideas.

Actor bites audience - Is there a vet in the house?

by Michael Connor

December 4, 2008

It’s true, Left theatre even bores Left actors.

The reason we don't see Don Burke on TV

by Michael Connor

December 2, 2008

So this is cultural studies

by Michael Connor

December 2, 2008

“The beach remains the rallying ground of Anglo-Australia, the preserve of decent, wholesome white bodies, policed in a variety of ways against any contaminating whiff of “dirty wog” – and, by implication, even dirtier black – bodies.” Suvendrini Perera

Australiaphobia - the movie not by Baz Luhrmann

by Michael Connor

December 1, 2008

It starts with a revolving globe showing the Imperial Japanese Army heading for Australia with duty free stopovers in Hong Kong, Bali and Singapore and then it cuts to the tastefully naked lady aristocrat dancing under the Botox gusher she has just discovered in the desert.

On Spring Theatre

by Michael Connor

November 1, 2008

Free in Melbourne on a spring afternoon I went walking. Last time in Melbourne was mid-winter and the place was dirty and dull. It had recovered. In the capital of black I noticed an ecotourism travel company called Extragreen Holidays. Their advertising sign had the company name emblazoned across a very big jumbo jet.

On David Williamson

by Michael Connor

September 2, 2008

Behind me the ladies ate Maltesers, in a satirical manner, while talking of crumbling bones and ABC reruns of As Time Goes By.

The Follies Bizarre: Australia's political theatre

by Michael Connor

September 1, 2008

The hero of a Stephen Sewell play, and clearly his creator’s alter ego, says: “People change.

The Australia Day Hate List

by Michael Connor

January 1, 1970

Australia Day is a time for reflection – on some of the things the Left hates about Australia.

Simon sells "Kisses"

by Michael Connor

January 1, 1970

Simon’s new job with Cripes is certainly not a dead end job and provides a matchless insight into the ethics and practice of journalism. Sort of.