Culture

  • Memoirs of an ex-menace

    Hons and RebelsBy Jessica MitfordIndigo, 1996. 227 pp., $16.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon Jessica Mitford, born in 1917 into a family of rural English aristocrats, had by age 15 declared herself for communism and later, during the '40s, graduated

  • Poem: BHP — A Share Prospectus

    BHP — A Share Prospectus There is a company called BHP drilling for oil in the Timor Sea, that's why we can't set Timor free we've all got shares in BHP. Don't talk to me about democracy human rights or humanity, 'cause we're drilling

  • Warnings without the moralising

    On Earth UndeadCD features Cryogenic, Tatoo Blue, Deadspawn and Ken MitchellVideo produced by Art ResistanceAvailable through South Western Sydney Area Health Service, PO Box 39, Liverpool NSW 2170 Reviewed by Norm Dixon Drug and alcohol education

  • Tale of moral dilemma and intrigue

    The Herbal BedBy Peter WhelanDirected by Marion PottsSydney Theatre CompanyWharf Theatre until March 8 Review by Helen Jarvis Using fragments from the historical record, British playwright Peter Whelan has woven a well-crafted tale of moral dilemma

  • The short, troubled life of the NDP

    Half-life: The NDP: Peace, protest and party politicsBy Gillian FisherState Library of NSW Press, 1995. 154pp., $14.95Reviewed by Margaret Gleeson The decision by the federal ALP government, in its first year in office, to give the go-ahead for the

  • Indonesian activists document their struggle

    The Struggle for Democracy in Indonesia: Introducing the People's Democratic PartyPublished by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor in cooperation with the People's Democratic Party (PRD)46pp (large format), $6 Review by Mel Bull "I

  • Poem: The Quest

    The Quest Old questions, faced down the ages, by each generation and each man and woman in their own way and in their own time. Questions, simple yet profound. Do we accept: Each against all? Survival of the fittest? Go for the

  • Time wars

    Taking Our Time: Remaking the Temporal OrderBy Mike DonaldsonUniversity of Western Australia Press, 1996. 206 pp., $26.95Reviewed by Phil Shannon Any passing extraterrestrial from an advanced civilisation would be scratching their two heads with

  • Do it together

    DIY FeminismEdited by Kathy BailAllen & Unwin, 1996. 211 pp., $19.95 (pb)Reviewed by Carla Gorton DIY Feminism follows the 'zine style of bite-sized articles interspersed with computer-scanned and hand-drawn graphics. Most of the content is less

  • A taste for writing

    St Kilda Writers FestivalFebruary 1 - 16 at various locations Preview by Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE— "Beyond Writing" is the theme of the 10th annual St Kilda Writers Festival. The theme is addressed in a number of events that look at writing and

  • Pick of Adelaide's music crop

    Pick of Adelaide's music crop FruitFruitproduced by Tony Nesci and FruitReviewed by Melanie Sjoberg The 1995 Victor Harbour Folk Festival was dominated by the exciting sound of a new band called Fruit. The marquee was packed and encores demanded.

  • A question of honesty

    Sparring PartnerWritten and Directed by Bogdan KocaPlaying until February 2, Pilgrim Theatre, Sydney as part of the Sydney Festival Review by Anne O'Callaghan Sparring Partner, says writer and director Bogdan Koca, "exists within its own structures