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Re: The Pointless Question of "What is Art?"
You're article serves as a blatant example of people's lack of knowledge/interest in the contemporary art scene. Some of the most profound and revealing conversations stem from dicussions of art, politics and religion so why label them taboo subject matter? why not let the idiots add in their artistic two cents, because who knows what could happen? a change of opinion... an education... a flash of interest? Perhaps you and your friends to venture down to the COFA 09 annual exhibit and see some 200 fresh sydney artists emerge onto the art scene, unless it's too boring/inane. - Kara
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Re: The Pointless Question of "What is Art?"
I dare say the question is not pointless but rather is made pointless by overcomplications of academia and peripherals of market and status, in which Sean appears to have gotten bogged down notwithstanding the word limit. One of the things we do know about art for a fact is that we humans appear to have always had it around from the caves (who can forget the fetching bison from Alta Mira!) So the issue is cutting through the baggage of history as old as humanity to get back to the fundamentals. It took me about 35 years of research but does not take 100 words. It is this: "Art is something that is designed to communicate thoughts and feelings and to influence our thoughts and feeling through one or more of our senses."(25 words) Since we have space, a rider: "The particular art form is qualified by the particular senses involved in production and reception of that communication. If Sound then Music, If body then Dance. If we use eyes to perceive colour and shape we call it Visual art." How you work the item in question is the matter of objectivity after all some of us eat fruit raw and others make jam. If you choose to make art an investment go for it, if you choose to make it a status symbol you won't be the first. However, in my book, art is really the best at being art and in the immortal words of one Oscar Wilde, for any other purpose "All art is quite useless" - Valerie (Co-incidental author of "Why Art? The Pocket Art Expert)*********************************
Re: John Safran ready for when skit hits the fan
The only aspect of "multiculturalism" we (or any western society)have accepted, revolves around food: sweet and sour chicken or donner kebab..nothing else is relevent, interesting or in anyway beneficial to us. The Cronulla riots were seen as well overdue by most people abroad, we should be proud of standing up to and rejecting ethnic gangs from our pure shores - "Peter Piper"
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Re: Brassed off about creationism- by Andy Coghlan
This is why we need change in Texas and why I'm running for State Board of Education. - Rebecca Bell-Metereau (www.voterebecca.com)
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Re: The Rape Tunnel
It astonishes and intrigues me this 'shock art' Being a over zealous muscled ex con looking for love, where could one find Richard Whitehursts hole?
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Re: ETS Voted Down: Rudd Proves Himself An Evil Genius
Nice to see such an insightful article, despite the snide comments.. Did you read the Quarterly Essay by Guy Pearse in writing the first 5 paragraphs- not that that's a bad thing really. Nice of you to widen your vision beyond the road ahead and take in some history- but I would add one thing- that as it stands (in the senate, especially with Steve Fielding) we won't have a real, meaningful ETS passed. The bummer is that even with a double dissolution election and the resultant simultaneous sitting of both houses of parliament (which as you point out, the greens/minor parties and labor would benefit from) would still not change the ETS from it's current configuration- not unless the Greens tripled their vote. Silly that it all came down to labor preferences to a little known party led by a little know bloke named Steve Fielding and Family First- not that that should be the reason we're in this predicament... - Shaun Lambert
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Re: Evil Capitalists
In response to the "100 Words" on Psychotic Capitalism: The statement, "only psychotics fail to distinguish right from wrong," has a semantic problem. What makes a person psychotic is the inability to recognize that, theoretically, actions or behavior can be right and wrong. A psychologically normal person can do this by age 5. But well- intentioned people constantly disagree about which actions are right and wrong in particular situations. This evening my husband and I re- watched "Zeitgeist--- Addendum" on youtube. We had to restrain ourselves from a festival of paranoia, anger and frustration at what appears to be an evil plot to enslave us all, to bleed us like pods in The Matrix. I cannot argue against the idea that Capitalism--- looked at as a planetary movement--- seems heartlessly destructive, yet there is no single person or even group of Illuminati to blame --- we are willing participants in this plot to rule the world, exploit the human race, rape Mother Earth. All of us are not psychotic, rather we are doing what seems right, and we are following norms set by our culture and community. I personally do my best to support those lawmakers who help us define right at wrong at the transpersonal level--- where this kind of crime being committed, with vast and ultimately very personal consequences. Indeed people can be stupider and meaner in groups than singly --- but whatever the right word is for that, it is not psychotic. Our real problem is that we seem incapable of seeing consequences beyond the local and immediate, we are selfish and shortsighted. But the writer is right: stupid, mean, selfish, shortsighted --- these terms trivialize the unfathomable crimes of Capitalists and their sheep-like dupes. - Anna Willis
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Re: Ethics Implicit?
There is one place where ethics is not "implicit everywhere" and that is television and the media generally - the only ethic is win the audience. This is the toxic environment "informing" students. - Terry McGee
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Re: Australia's Swine Flu vaccination plan
The word "pandemic" has absolutely nothing to do with a deadly disease taking over the planet. The definition of "Pandemic" is simply about the SPREAD of a disease. Any disease. It could be a relatively harmless disease like the Swine Flu, to maybe a more harmful type (like normal seasonal influenza). Nothing to do with how bad or how good it is to your health ... just how WIDESPREAD it is. That is the interpretation of "Pandemic". A word that is nothing to be scared about, but just a measure of the SPREAD of any disease (harmful or relatively harmless) around the globe. The original "Spanish Flu" in 1819 killed 50 to 100 million people worldwide. Swine Flu deaths to date? 2,800 or so. Compare this to up to 500,000 deaths worldwide from our ongoing "Seasonal Flu". People need to see things in perspective. Swine Flu is a mild flu. No need for risky & possibly dangerous vaccinations. No need to be scared. In fact NO NEED TO DO ANYTHING. Just stay cool and take whatever vitamins & health supplements that are appropriate. Good luck & stay informed. - Tim
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Re: Kabul-shit
A nice puncture of the ADF's mad illusions. Shooting civvies in another land used to be called murder, now we pretend its nation building. It must have struck a chord. General Jim Molan, the butcher of Fallujah, who used white phosphorous & put snipers on hospital rooftops, raves in today's SMH about staying true to the mission. What is it with these guys? Untold deaths in Iraq, bombs still exploding, millions of refugees ... and this guy thinks he's a genius. - Tina G
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Re: Why we shouldn't care about he loneliness of the University Liberal
While you have managed to approach, with a complete lack of understanding and sensitivity, the complaints of the many people who feel alienated by the overtly leftist university agenda, I also think that you have failed to address the concerns of an increasingly disenfranchised leftist populace. The article was concerning the Left Handed bigots, not the personal politics of either of the 4 people mentioned. Their concern was not with, as you pointlessly attacked, their political beliefs, but rather with their freedom to express their beliefs and how they were treated on campus because of them. I write this as a disenfranchised leftist. Apparently, freedom of speech on campus somehow took a backseat to the far left's bigotry, however well intentioned they thought it was originally. I'm not right; I'm not left. But fuck anybody that tries to censure me and revoke my right to freedom of speech, merely for believing in a political party. Anyone that thinks that's OK, well simply look up the definition of fascist. - I Swing My Vote
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Re: Why we shouldn't care about he loneliness of the University Liberal
Sean Maguire makes some useful points in rebutting Paul Sheehan's puff piece about nasty lefties on campus. But he does Socialist Alternative a disservice by suggesting the Liberals stereotype us in the same we stereotype them. We don't stereotype Liberals; we understand the role they play (like Labor) in continuing the exploitative system that is capitalism. The suggestion in Sheehan's article that we would direct anti-semitic language at Liberals is a lie. We are opposed to Zionism, the apartheid philosophy which justifies on-going genocide against Palestinians. We are opposed to racism. We think that the political liberation of both Jews and Palestinians lies in a one state solution - a rainbow nation for all who want to live in a democratic and secular Palestine. To tar those who oppose Zionism with the brush of anti-semitism is cheap trick designed to avoid debate about the reality of Zionism and in this case to smear with a gross lie the Liberals' political opponents on campus like Socialist Alternative. Some leftists may have mistakenly called Liberals fascists. If so this is to misunderstand the class enemy. Liberals are not fascists; they are anti-working class warmongers. It is important to keep that distinction and truth in mind. - John Passant
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Re: 360 Degrees
In response to Al's earlier comment. Valid as your opinion is, it offers no alternatives nor progressive thought, which is exactly what has created the issue Jack brought up. Try creating a system different to the one that is now, and see if you can solve issues rather then identify, and then ingnore/accept them? - Khedra
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Re: CIA Cry Babies
The good news about the pro torture stance of The Wall Street Journal and The Australian is that it reminds the public of Murdoch's indifference to international law, his manipulation of idiots (Fox News) and his relentless sadism. The wars he promotes have killed over a million people - any regrets? Nah. Rupert puts the full resources of his media at the disposal of Dick Cheney & daughter to promote the glories of waterboarding. What next? A Wall Street Journal scoop: "why the Spanish inquisition saved civilisation." - Alistair
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Re: West is Best
It is true democracy is more benign than rule by Sheiks, mullahs and dictator's, but to boast the west is best in an age of perpetual war and planetary eco-rape is weird. Franklin D. Roosevelt is long gone and the Declaration of Human rights championed by Eleanor Roosevelt is ignored by post 9/11 USA. Today, American politicians and commentators LOVE cruel & unusual punishments, invasions, occupations, covert killings , exporting arms, etc etc. Sean believes colonialism is history. He needs to travel more. - Suzette
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360 Degrees of Bullshit
Well said Jack Freeman, but trying to cut out the middlemen is like draining the Ganges with a sieve.Doomed. Plus capitalism can't function without the drones fleecing the creatives and then going shopping. It's how the system works. - Al Kaufman*********************************
Yesterday's page was hot - Pilger, Neville and yippie publishing ikon Paul Krassner, also a comedian. (He featured at the Sydney writers fest a few year ago). And I like the new writers you're bringing and the hints of feminist consciousness. Keep it up. - Gerrie
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'Living in denial' The Australian Fim Industry was absolutley the best bit of journalism Ive read in a long time. Robert was spot on in every point of his discussion. IT laso should be noted it also affects our talent pool as well, as they end up heading overseas to find work and make a living in better evolved film enviroments. Hopefully one day the Film Industry, governments (and acting/film schoolsas well) will realise this epidemic and inject some much needed life and diversity in the industry to make us, 'the audience' want to go to an australlian movie.
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