Culture

  • A new direction for trade unionism

    A new direction for trade unionism Workers in a Lean WorldBy Kim MoodyVerso, 1997. 342 pp., $37.95. Review by David Bacon Last northern autumn, Italy's Party of the Democratic Left (PDS), which leads the country's new government of ex-Communists,

  • A film of mesmerising power

    A film of mesmerising power WalkaboutRestored original cutDirected by Nicholas RoegStarring David Gulpilil, Jenny Agutter, Lucien JohnScreening at Trak, Toorak, in Melbourne and Chauvel, Paddington, in Sydney this month. Then at Electric Shadows,

  • Prompting visions of glory

    Roll Away the StoneKelly Joe PhelpsRykodisc (through Festival) Review by Barry Healy Even the most avid fan of the slide blues guitar would have to admit it's a slightly surreal form of music. Strange timbres and harsh harmonics mix with the

  • Left on-line

    Left on-line WWWW (Wharfies on the World Wide Web) — The hottest topic on the web at the moment is the courageous struggle of the Maritime Union of Australia to defend its right to organise. Sites devoted to labour issues throughout the world

  • Why bother with Brecht?

    We should thank Eric Singh (GLW #313) for reminding us that this year is the 100th anniversary of the birth of the German playwright Bertolt Brecht. No doubt, as the drama industry cranks up, we are sure to be treated to a fact feast

  • Exposing journalism's secret agendas

    Hidden AgendasBy John PilgerVintage, 1998. 680 pp., $19.95 (pb) Review by Saffron Howden In an age of escalating social problems, few are even properly acknowledged. Hidden Agendas is a tribute to some of the strugglers against oppression,

  • Poem: The Two Bums

    The Two Bums The bum on the road is an enemy of mankindThe other is driven around to his club, is feted, wined and dinedAnd they who curse the bum on the road as the essence of all that's badWill greet the other with a winning smile and extend the

  • Defying the 'barbarism of Stalinism'

    Eisenstein: A Life in ConflictBy Ronald BerganLittle, Brown and Company, 1997 — 384 pp., $39.95 (hb) Review by Phil Shannon When the sailors on the battleship Potemkin mutiny and (under the red flag in the last reel) persuade their comrades on

  • The Last Battle: Archangel — 1918

    A short story by Craig Cormick A shell explodes overhead. Bright. Like a star. It startles Private O'Connor awake. His eyes snap open wide. Staring around quickly. He sees the snow and icy mud of the trench. Sees Private Duigan staring at him. Like

  • Song: Blue-eyed Bonking Bill

    Blue-eyed Bonking Bill Chorus: I am the US President, I'm Blue-eyed Bonking Bill,And if Saddam don't get you, be sure my missiles will. Back in the 1970s, we needed a strong manTo fight a little war for us in far away Iran,So we said to our

  • From Marx to Nietzsche, erratically

    Jack London: A LifeBy Alex KershawHarperCollins, 1997. 335 pp., $45 (hb) Review by Phil Shannon Leon Trotsky praised him as a revolutionary artist. Lenin was moved by his stories. Could this be the same author who wrote popular novels about the

  • Left on-line

    Left on-line Free Speech TV: Shell on Earth — This episode of the British activist series Undercurrents documents the collaboration of Shell Petroleum with the dictatorship of Nigeria in oppressing — and slaughtering — the Ogoni people. Visit