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In the first instalment of his brand newsegment, Play Time, Ben...

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 19:53:00 +1000

In the first instalment of his brand newsegment, Play Time, Ben Yonson delves into the world of dystopian classic game Bioshock, ultimately arguing that video games are an artform as well as entertainment.

Avid gamers and interested novices alike can continue this exploration by heading to ACMI’s Game Masters exhibition before October 28 to learn about the designers behind innovative and influential games.

A NEW AZEALIA BANKS SONG TO GET DOWN TO! If you haven’t...

Tue, 04 Sep 2012 22:04:52 +1000

A NEW AZEALIA BANKS SONG TO GET DOWN TO! If you haven’t yet got onto her 90s dance slash hip hop/rap fusion bandwagon start with this rude number (if you’re not offended by the C-word). Then check out this tune (note the incredible orange suit), before jetting across to this amazing clip featuring Azealia Banks in chaps as an all-American-Western heroine.

And with that you have my playlist for the past month! To any haters who think this is an artless exercise, I’ll point you to a great review on iTunes, where you can also get her EP 1991. You can read more in-depth reviews here and here which explain her appeal. But to boil it down, her music is about energy and attitude. As these kids put it, “the music makes me feel angry”, “she sounds like a monster”, “I think a lion would like this… because it eats meat.” High praise for this potty-mouthed cowgirl who is also an exciting musical talent and cultural phenomenon to be reckoned with.

- Claire

“Henri 2, Paw de Deux” by Will Braden took home the...

Sun, 02 Sep 2012 23:18:43 +1000

“Henri 2, Paw de Deux” by Will Braden took home the Golden Kitty Award at the Internet Cat Video Film Festival in Minneapolis. Yup, it’s a thing. Let’s bring it to Melbourne, people! Watch the film above for inspiration on how to do webcatz art.

Artshub's top tips for young writers!

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:22:57 +1000

Artshub's top tips for young writers!

Entries open for 2012 John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers!

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:13:54 +1000

Entries open for 2012 John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers!

I’m here to share my love today for Nicki Minaj. Yup. Just...

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 15:10:57 +1000

I’m here to share my love today for Nicki Minaj. Yup. Just trust me guys. Portable is in on this as well, and sum up her appeal here and here beautifully. And despite all that make-up, prancing and shiny booty - or maybe because of it! - legit feminist reporters Bitch Media also love Minaj, comparing the lyrics of Starships to 1923 Pulitzer Prize winner Edna St. Vincent Millay. Red hot.

For those who think that’s a stretch, first of all you might want to re-read that article. Secondly, you might want to check out this tune that’s been on repeat in my household for the last few days. And thirdly, let’s just put aside our differences and at least agree that Nicki Minaj knows what she’s doing, and she does it oh so well.

Wes Anderson hearts Criterion Collection and they heart him...

Wed, 15 Aug 2012 14:41:48 +1000

Wes Anderson hearts Criterion Collection and they heart him right back. It’s a love connection that might make some who don’t like such overt cinephilia gag, but one that definitively tickles my fancy. Check out this cute cover for the newly released Criterion edition of The Royal Tenenbaums. And over here is Wes Anderson’s top 10 Criterion picks. This stuff is like film-nerd-nip. Get on it.

Head here for more of the results of this clever Olympic-themed...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 21:01:57 +1000

Head here for more of the results of this clever Olympic-themed photography trick! Read here for a simple explanation of how this striking visual effect was achieved.

To anyone who is cynical and generally unimpressed by short...

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 20:53:49 +1000

To anyone who is cynical and generally unimpressed by short films, I challenge you to not enjoy Wholphin. As a subscriber and enthusiast of this incredible quarterly DVD magazine published by McSweeney’s I am clearly biased. But I can assure any haters out there you will soon be won over by the charms, energy and offbeat taste of the dudes who curate this little gem.

The video above, ‘Are you the favourite person of anybody?’ (featuring John C. Reilly, Miranda July, Mike White and Chuy Chavez), is an example of the kind of strange, transient, but potent short film treats that you get in a Wholphin collection. Whilst the magazine and this particular video are US products, many of the films come from other parts of the world, and generally wouldn’t be seen after being shown for a year or so on the festival circuit.

Which is why, becoming a subscriber at edition 12 seems so bittersweet. I was happy… but couldn’t help feeling there was something missing. But then all was sweet benevolence when the ’Wholphin Super Bundle’ (edititions 1-11 at 40% of the original retail price) came into my life. This bundle is clearly a gift to late subscribers. It also presents an exciting opportunity for Wholphin virgins (gross, apologies) to soak up as much of the diverse, challenging and gloriously curated content as you possibly can in one go. I clearly couldn’t blatantly promote this enough. So I’ll just end this glowing rant by saying that for the stubborn and unconvinced, and/or those who like their content free and online, there’s also the Wholphin youtube channel and web film collection. Enjoy!

- Claire

xx track ‘Angels’ has got to be my most played song...

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:57:35 +1000

xx track ‘Angels’ has got to be my most played song of the month. It’s being released on their new album Coexist by Young Turks in September. As an extra bonus, the visuals in this clip are suitably hypnotising. Enjoy!

The Other Film Festival need volunteers for September! Head here to apply.

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:32:15 +1000

The Other Film Festival need volunteers for September! Head here to apply.

The Melbourne Fringe need volunteers! Head here to find out more.

Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:29:06 +1000

The Melbourne Fringe need volunteers! Head here to find out more.

This is what you get when a 6 year old judges a classic book by...

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 01:12:44 +1000

This is what you get when a 6 year old judges a classic book by its cover. The results are clearly hilarious, but also sometimes surprisingly appropriate. For instance, even though Slaughterhouse 5 is not at all about a slot machine lost in a mysterious desert, it totally sounds like the kind of story Kurt Vonnegut would have written.

I got hooked watching Thomas Balmes’ 2010 doco Babies last...

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 01:03:00 +1000

I got hooked watching Thomas Balmes’ 2010 doco Babies last night. I just couldn’t take my eyes off these adorable, disgusting, hilarious babies! The film tracks 4 infants (from Mongolia, Namibia, Tokyo and San Francisco), documenting their first year of life. There is no narration and no subtitles so it is very non-narrative and intimate, like an extended, beautifully shot home movie.

While sounds like it has the potential to be boring it is entirely fascinating viewing. It helps that babies are cute, but they are also hugely entertaining. Let’s face it; babies are little aliens. They don’t know the rules of our planet. And they don’t care. Like some eating, sleeping, crying, pooping ‘id’ monster, the baby goes after what it wants with no regard for the consequences.

This can result in hilarious moments like babies reaching for the same toy and having fights and tanties, playing roughly with animals, and tipping over prams. OK so maybe finding it funny to see a baby risk hurting itself is in bad taste. But it is refreshing to see infants getting up to the kind of trouble you imagine would be natural to a thing that wants to touch and eat everything with no awareness of its own fragility and helplessness. It is a rare glimpse into the similarities and differences of how children are raised (as well as the contrasting ways of life and standards of living) in four distinctive parts of the globe. And it is an important reminder of how weird and raw we all are at the start of our lives.

- Claire

Brett Sheehy on his role as Artistic Director of the Melbourne Festival in Arts Hub

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:59:00 +1000

Brett Sheehy on his role as Artistic Director of the Melbourne Festival in Arts Hub

Love Story was a super fun way to start my 2012 MIFF schedule!...

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:40:30 +1000

Love Story was a super fun way to start my 2012 MIFF schedule! In this clip the film’s director, Florian Habicht, talks about the inspiration for his very playful, and often hilarious film and his experiences with MIFF. Florian is a guest of the festival and delivered a very entertaining intro and Q&A at today’s sold out session. Love Story will be screening again this Thursday so head along if you want to see a man (Florian, playing himself) pursuing a beautiful Russian woman holding a piece of cake, and getting love advice from strangers on the streets of New York!

- Claire

MIFF 2012 has well and truly begun. For anyone who hasn’t...

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:13:00 +1000

MIFF 2012 has well and truly begun. For anyone who hasn’t seen it, here is the brilliant festival trailer. The crisp German accents, the pre-requisite cinema nerd glasses, the self-deprecating jabs at hardcore film snobs and the city of Melbourne. “Where is Melbourne anyway?” OMG I love it so much.

- Claire

Apply here to join the Voiceworks Editorial Committee!

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 23:03:00 +1000

Apply here to join the Voiceworks Editorial Committee!

Lectures and Forums at Melbourne Art Fair

Fri, 03 Aug 2012 10:21:55 +1000

Lectures and Forums at Melbourne Art Fair:

If you are interested in art anywhere on the scale from sci-fi to the deepest thinking of the angsty painter contemplating the medium of paint then check out some of the great lectures and forums being held at Melbourne Art Fair!

THEESatisfaction will be playing with Big Freedia for the...

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 22:35:00 +1000

THEESatisfaction will be playing with Big Freedia for the Melbourne Festival in October. I love it that all the ladies in this amazing clip are such effortlessly pro dancers that they manage to get loose without ever banging into each other. I can only assume things will get messier in Melbourne. OMG I can’t waaaait!!

- Claire