We went searching for the most page-turning books, the funniest TV, the smartest theatre, the best books and music and film. After naming the best in politics, policy, media and business, we present the 2011 Cultural Crikeys.
Cate Blanchett
David Williamson: actors aren’t stupid — and Cate was brave
All power to our high profile artists, like Cate and Tim Winton, who refuse to be intimidated into silence, writes David Williamson.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Carbon tax, celebrities and climate change
Correction: Brenden Hills, The Sunday Telegraph, writes: Re. “Tips and rumours” (yesterday, item 8). Crikey published: “The co-author of the Sunday Telegraph’s “Carbon” Cate Blanchett beat-up, Brenden Hills, is fondly remembered by Labor advisers for an amusing performance during the NSW state election campaign. Spies say Hills ventured down to Pitt Street’s Civic Hotel one […]
Guy Rundle: Rundle: the celebrities won’t save us
The spectacle of the debate centring around the presence of one celeb in one ad, should be something more than merely wearying in the manner of beat-ups.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Carbon Cate, climate change and Iris
Crikey readers have their say.
Say Yes… to better climate policy?
The media is buzzing with Cate Blanchett’s involvement in a new ad campaign about a carbon price. This ‘Say Yes’ campaign reveals just how low the bar has been set on national climate policy, writes Leigh Ewbank.
‘Carbon Cate’ and the confected outrage of News Limited
News Limited’s hatchet job on Cate Blanchett hit all the right notes for this sort of confected outrage. It highlights the assumption that commercial media outlets reflect “community concerns” isn’t borne out by evidence.
Murdoch v Murdoch in climate change ad stoush
Murdoch money is being used to buy full page ads supporting climate action as Rupert’s Murdoch’s paper simultaneously goes to war with the star of those ads.
Come in Spinner: Jury’s still out on the Blanchett-Caton carbon ads
No one can really judge whether the Blanchett-Caton carbon ads are any good until research is done on community reactions.
Political snippets: An ominous greenhouse warning
The International Energy Agency is warning the world that greenhouse gas emissions increased by a record amount last year, to the highest carbon output in history.
‘Carbon Cate’ Blanchett sparks ‘outrage’
The Daily Telegraph and other News Limited rags are running stories about how Cate Blanchett’s appearance in a pro carbon tax ad has reportedly sparked outrage. Problem is, the ads hadn’t even aired when the story was written, writes Dave Gaukroger.
My Cup Of Tea: Hey Cate, you wouldn’t know a cultural heart if you planned it yourself
Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton are out of touch, argues Ben Eltham. From their state-sponsored ivory tower they can’t see where Sydney’s real cultural beats are played.
Snubs and surprises at the Helpmanns … so what’s the scandal?
That’s the Helpmann Awards for you — a bit all over the place, really; a grossly subjective and geographically-challenged absurdity to decide the best of the best on stages across the country.
Snubs and surprises at the Helpmanns … but is that such a scandal?
Cate Blanchett was snubbed! Not a complete surprise, granted, given she wasn’t even nominated. But still outrageous! Jason Whittaker reviews Australian theatre’s night of nights.
revealed 
Former Rudd adviser: The real reason Kevin didn’t attend John Button’s funeral
For months Kevin Rudd has been chastised for choosing to see Cate Blanchett and her new baby, rather than attending ALP heavyweight John Button’s funeral. Former Kevin Rudd adviser Annie O’Rourke explains what happened.
Cate Blanchett: Arts is far more than just an industry
There is a growing demand for the arts industry to ‘prove’ itself, with KPIs and profitability charts. We’ve proved ourselves. Now let’s stop thinkings of arts as a business, when its power is far beyond that, writes actress Cate Blanchett.
Political snippets: Keeping the score, lucky Sydney and cutting aid to Uganda
Keeping the score, lucky Sydney and cutting aid to Uganda. All your meaty bites.
Guy Rundle: Little-t Williamson at $60 a seat
Playwright David Williamson is pissed off that the Sydney Theatre Company has declined the opportunity to take his new work.
The Budget Lock Up
A discussion with Crikey’s Editor
The day before the Olympic Torch relay
The Cane Toads for a Free Tibet Action Committee are planning…
2020 summit snips, aka Cate watch
Enthralling snippets from the 2020 summit…
What we did at the 2020 Summit
It was pretty exciting!
Garrett’s star-studded bash — and a new arts policy
The Labor Party faithful gathered at the Randwick Labor Club in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to cheer on candidates Peter Garrett (Kingsford-Smith) and George Newhouse (Wentworth). Spotted throughout the big hall were the arts community barracking for a Rudd Labor Government win.
State of the Planet
The history (and future) of environmental scepticism … US media to blame for climate change. sorta … Green website launch 1 … Green website launch 2.
