Culture wars
Opinion
Opinion
Don’t mention the (culture) war. Even I’m shutting up
Listening to intolerance and fear rather than challenging it is easier said than done. But I’m trying.
- by Antoinette Lattouf
Latest
Opinion
Cinema
Left-wing propaganda or anti-feminist? What Barbie is really trying to say
Yes, Barbie the movie has heard of feminism. (And thinks it sounds awesome!) But how patriarchy-toppling is it really?
- by Diana Reid
‘Denialism erases nothing’: Biden hits out at book bans and whitewashing of history
The US president has honoured the memory of Emmett Till and used his story to weigh in on the growing political battle over book bans and how history is taught in schools.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Exclusive
Publishing
‘Taking a leaf out of Trumpism’: Yumi Stynes on the ‘misguided’ backlash to sex book
Welcome to Sex was pulled from Big W after becoming the target of a conservative backlash, but the furore has led to skyrocketing sales.
- by Nell Geraets and Osman Faruqi
‘The world is watching’: Obama warns that book bans, censorship could cost America
The former president lamented the rise of books being challenged by people who disagree with certain perspectives, describing the trend as “profoundly misguided”.
- by Farrah Tomazin
Taylor Swift, Beyonce and Lizzo have all done it, but is self-censorship really that new?
There is a long history of artists second-guessing lyrics, but the reasons behind it and the way they manage it has evolved.
- by Nell Geraets
Opinion
Political leadership
Left’s identity crisis means Dutton can be a champion for equality
Working people increasingly find that left-wing parties no longer speak to them, but Peter Dutton’s plain-spoken appeal can cut through.
- by George Brandis
Opinion
Freedom of speech
Wake up, lefties, and reject wokeness
Fear of being publicly shamed, bullied, cancelled or even fired is stifling sincere dialogue – and there’s nothing left-wing about that.
- by Clive Hamilton
Opinion
Political leadership
Gen Ys aren’t swinging conservative as they age. Who can blame them?
The conventional wisdom is that as Australian voters get older, they become more conservative and swing steadily towards the Coalition. But those days are over.
- by Waleed Aly
No, gracias: Spanish language expert rejects ‘Ñamericano’ name change
The Spanish Royal Academy is a gatekeeper for correct usage of the language. But under 10 per cent of the world’s native Spanish speakers live in Spain.
- by Jennifer O'Mahony
The prime minister factory: How a UK uni is shaping Australian life
With six of our past 13 PMs holding a degree from Oxford University, the institution has had an outsize influence on Australia’s political and business elite.
- by Nick Bryant