Pop culture
Tenacious D pushed boundaries for 30 years, but one joke brought them undone
The self-proclaimed “greatest band on Earth” enjoyed a proud history as political provocateurs. Now the group is on the brink of demise.
- by Thomas Mitchell
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Could a single guitar change history? The Stratocaster did just that
From Smoke on the Water to Like a Virgin, the 70-year-old guitar shaped some of world’s biggest hits.
- by Barry Divola
Katy Perry is back with a ‘feminist’ anthem. It’s a train wreck
Katy Perry’s much-anticipated new single begins with the lyrics “sexy, confident, so intelligent”. Unfortunately, it is none of those things.
- by Meg Watson
Iconic fitness guru Richard Simmons dead at 76
A hero to a generation of people seeking weight loss transformation, fitness guru Richard Simmons was found dead at his Los Angeles home, aged 76.
- by Mark Kennedy
‘We’ve depleted our reserves’: MIFF offers $10 tickets to lure back audiences
The Melbourne International Film Festival faces its third consecutive loss, but its inaugural CEO insists it’s not about to collapse.
- by Karl Quinn
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