ReFocus: The Films of Spike Jonze, a collection of essays edited by Kim Wilkins and myself, is now out with Edinburgh University Press. Two of the chapters are written by me: “Adaptation in Adaptation in Adaptation in Adaptation” and “Spike Jonze’s Screenwriting: The Screenplay.” https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-refocus-the-films-of-spike-jonze.html

Two new articles published recently, for those interested in readings of domestic ensemble films: For Style journal, I wrote a piece on emotional contagion in the film Parenthood (Ron Howard, 1989): https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5325/style.52.3.0302 For Sydney Studies in English, abject humanism in adaptations of Tom Perrotta novels, Election (Alexander Payne, 1999) and Little Children (Todd Field, 2006): https://openjournals.library.sydney.edu.au/index.php/SSE/article/view/12638

In the wake of the federal election, some online communities have begun to speculate on the need for a Science Party in Australian politics. This is something I’ve been considering for some time; with momentum gathering behind the idea, it seems a fine moment to float my musings on how such a party might work…. Read more

The Australian media inquiry is currently taking submissions until Oct 31 2011, and I urge everyone to get involved. Email media-inquiry@dbcde.gov.au to make your submission, or use NewsStand’s online form at http://www.newsstand.org.au/make-your-submission. You might consider the following points: 1. Media ownership: do we need to break up New Ltd’s 70% market share and cross-media control,… Read more