Vale / in Memorium

[David]

Bit of a tenuous thread bump, admittedly, but Leunig finally managed to get the axe from Fairfax for another anti-vax (or, more specifically, anti–mandatory vaccination) cartoon:

https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/cartoonist-michael-leunig-axed-from-prime-spot-at-the-age-over-offensive-vaccine-image/news-story/3b6b99a4101ebe53df58cb21827df0d4

On the one hand, I see no particular reason to mourn this news: nobody is entitled to draw comics for the same newspaper for 40+ years, and I think it's reasonable to say that Leunig was a bit of a fossil with little connection to The Age's contemporary readership (and that it's thus entirely fair for his publisher to cut ties with him on that basis). Yet I can't help but feel that this is yet another small step in the expansion of echo chambers and narrowing of diversity of opinions in mainstream spaces – it really does seem like it'll be much more uncommon for us to be exposed to the work of unorthodox thinkers in years to come, for better or worse.

[stui magpie]

No bid deal for me, like you said, drawing cartoons for one paper for 40 years is a damn good gig.

My impression is that cartoonists in newspapers are supposed to be consistent with the organisations editorial values. That cartoon clearly wasn't with consistent with the Age's. Op-Ed writers are different, it's fine to publish articles that are different as it provides at least the appearance of balance but if you want to get a truly balanced view of news you need to read across different publishers

[roar]

Leunig is an absolute legend of Melbourne who nailed our foibles and fears in a gentle and sometimes fierce way. Alas, his axing is further proof that I really do not fit in with this modern world. For a while I thought The Age was still a place that could deal with different opinions but it seems it is much the same as The Guardian, and only the "woke" approach will do. Oh well, it's probably not a bad thing if I avoid all news outlets. It certainly lowers the stress levels.

I guess I knew it was coming when his cartoon with mum, pram, and mobile phone created such a stir, though it was, as usual, a perfectly accurate observation.

[David]

I don't think The Age is particularly "woke" – this is a company chaired by Peter Costello, after all! I think their new editorial stance, from what I can gather, is more or less establishment-centrist, an ideology that polices the boundaries of acceptable thought perhaps more stridently than any other, identitarians and orthodox leftists included.

As for Leunig, I guess there are two issues here – 1) his legacy as a cartoonist, which should absolutely be acknowledged whatever one's views of his more controversial work (and I do fear that he's at risk of being rubbed out due to his new role as pantomime villain for progressives), and 2) the question of his ongoing employment. Everyone gets put out to pasture at some point.

[think positive]

Some icons seem to live forever. Or maybe we just want them too. I took my inlaws to see him and Patty singing at crown a few years ago. He still had that amazing humour and timing.

Thanks for the memories

[stui magpie]

Yeah, RIP Bert.

I met him once, years ago, when he was the face of Telstras messagebank ads. He came to the outbound callcentre to meet with some of the staff.

What a fkn absolute genuine gentleman. So down to earth. He stayed much longer than was supposed to, just chatting with people, ripping pieces of his wig out to give to some of the women. Utter pleasure to meet him.

[swoop42]

I liked the boy.

RIP Bert.

[think positive]

Last nights tribute show was so good to watch. Well done to all

[Presti35]

Aussie TV royalty.

Such an icon.

[Jezza]

Australian television icon. Deserves to be remembered as such.

RIP.

[stui magpie]

Legendary Indigenous Actor, Rockstar without a band.

https://www.theage.com.au/culture/movies/a-rock-star-trailblazer-who-was-an-inspiration-for-indigenous-actors-and-filmmakers-20211130-p59daw.html

I remember watching Stormboy as a kid and was fascinated by him and even though he may not have rated it, his dry comedic performance in the Crocodile Dundee movies was brilliant.

[think positive]

He was brilliant in storm boy, also Dundee, RIP xxx

[roar]

Brilliant actor. Legend.

R. I. P.

[David]

A great actor with such a versatile range of roles. The one I remember him most for is his very first performance, Walkabout, made when he was a teenager, at a time when he barely spoke English and had grown up more or less traditionally in the bush. Another that I haven't seen but that people speak very highly of is The Tracker. Sad that he died relatively young – at 68 – but he certainly lived a full and constantly creative life.

[PyreneesPie]

Simply an extraordinary being.
I watched "My Name is Gulpilil" last night.
I found the last few minutes of it were so powerful and so moving.
I reckon he'd be at peace having joined the eternal dreaming with his ancestors.