Pop culture
Australia’s oldest film festival is broke. Can it survive?
The Melbourne International Film Festival faces its third consecutive loss, but its inaugural CEO insists it’s not about to collapse.
- by Karl Quinn
Latest
How TikTok revolutionised Andy Warhol’s 15-minute fame cycle
From Baz Luhrmann on the streets of Sydney to a nobody going viral after a provocative TikTok vox pop, street interviews are hijacking social media with mixed results.
- by Thomas Mitchell
Why the next Baby Reindeer may be too afraid to step into the spotlight
Caught in the clash between documentary, embellishment and a $US170 million lawsuit, getting the facts straight on TV has never been more important.
- by Michael Idato
The case for Justin Timberlake, the celebrity we deserve
JT has once again proven that he is there to meet the moment, to show us who we are.
- by Mali Waugh
Why TV’s most hyped show triggered a fan backlash
Has The Bear become a victim of its own success? Season three of the series which dropped last week has been savaged by its fans.
- by Meg Watson
How Mia Goth became Hollywood’s most gloriously demented scream queen
With MaXXXine, the British actor wraps up a film trilogy for the ages.
- by Robert Moran
What does Michelangelo have to do with Baby Reindeer? You’ll never guess
Long before Taylor Swift, conspiracy theorists were joining the cultural dots.
- by Jordan Prosser
Country pop has taken over the charts – good god, why?
Genuine musical superstars – exceptional voices, charismatic presences, excellent lyricists – have been dulled and flattened, their voices muted and their lyrics uninspired.
- by Tom W. Clarke
Michael J Fox joins Coldplay, and other things you missed from Glastonbury
From Banksy protests to lip-synching accusations, here are some of the buzziest moments from the UK’s biggest music festival.
- by Nell Geraets
From Dave Grohl to Charli XCX: Five ways to maximise a pop feud in 2024
In today’s saturated pop landscape, feuds are a proven way to boost yourself to viral stardom. Here’s how it’s done.
- by Robert Moran
Long before streaming, video stores offered happiness for hire
Youth groups were too holy, malls too expensive and skate parks too unpredictable when I was growing up. Thank goodness I had somewhere else to get my dopamine hit.
- by Simmone Howell