Culture wars
Opinion
Social media
The charts that prove social media has bigger dangers than Elon Musk’s ego
The argument about the violent terror attack video is urgent and important. But what if the greater danger is slow and insidious?
- by David Crowe
Latest
Opinion
Opinion
The best thing about the Lehrmann judgment? Its slowness in a time of dangerous speed
We have increasing difficulty in integrating disparate views, and having civil disagreements. The only antidotes are slowness, nuance, and a tolerance for complexity – all things that are increasingly rare.
- by Jacqueline Maley
Civil War is dividing audiences. But what is the chilling film trying to say?
The author of The Beach and director of Ex Machina has made a film about the collapse of democracy. It’s a harrowing vision but, he says, it needn’t come true.
- by Karl Quinn
Opinion
Opinion
This is how cancel culture ends. Thank you, JK Rowling
When the author dared police to arrest her – if they believed she’d broken new hate-speech laws – she struck a blow for freedom.
- by Parnell Palme McGuinness
Why these best-selling authors are playing a dangerous game
On their way to Australia, Ann Patchett and Lauren Groff explain why selling certain books demands grit these days.
- by Jane Sullivan
Context is everything: Revisiting Chris Lilley’s Jonah after Leniu-Mam saga
The racism case that has polarised the NRL has raised difficult questions about what’s offensive and who gets to judge it.
- by Emma Kemp
Exclusive
Discrimination
Australia’s new commissioner says ‘anti-white racism’ claims miss the point
If conversations about racism feel difficult or make you uncomfortable, Australia’s new race discrimination commissioner is not surprised.
- by Natassia Chrysanthos
Opinion
Private schools
Privileged white men are under attack again. Somebody please call Anti-Discrimination!
The King’s School headmaster is railing against ‘wokeness’. Grab a musket and ready the hounds.
- by Michelle Cazzulino
‘Victimhood culture’: King’s School head takes aim at ‘wokeness’
Headmaster Tony George says children attending non-government schools are being increasingly ridiculed.
- by Christopher Harris
Liberal fury at the antics of Alex, the anti-woke senator
Within 24 hours of rolling his senior South Australian colleague for top spot on the state Senate ticket, conservative firebrand Alex Antic was on the attack.
- by James Massola
Opinion
Gender equality
Women are lurching to the left. Why aren’t men following them?
As the gender divide becomes the political divide, we’ll have to wait and see what happens to traditional relationships.
- by Jacqueline Maley