Gothic literature can be dramatic, macabre, and weirdly insightful. To my tired eyes some examples of Gothic, like Castle of Otranto are also unintentionally and refreshingly hilarious. Yet Gothic tropes persist in popular culture even as they were interrogated centuries ago, and continue to be. Since it is Rare Book Week in Melbourne I took … Continue reading Review: Dark Imaginings
Frankenstein
Promethean Avengers
"To survive, you must tell stories." - The Island of the Day Before How can I attempt to ruin examine a 10-year-old film franchise? By adding a pinch of psychology, a dose of myth making, and then admixing a teaspoon of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. More importantly, by using the works of Umberto Eco to prove my … Continue reading Promethean Avengers
X Files: X marks the writer
I was always a fan of X Files. At the risk of revealing my age, some series were often enjoyed communally. It was virtually the only thing we all agreed on as bunch of undergrads, lapping up the ongoing trials and tribulations of FBI's most basementy duo, Mulder and Scully. It wasn't just Moonlighting, but … Continue reading X Files: X marks the writer
Avengers: Never ending cast of thousands
I've been thinking about Avengers: Age of Ultron since I saw it a week and a bit ago. I'm not a huge fan of heroes creating their own problems to solve, vis a vie Ultron. But I get it is less complicated for the heroes to go around pulverising robots than killing people. We can … Continue reading Avengers: Never ending cast of thousands
The Crux of The Crucible
I went to see The Crucible at The Old Vic via CinemaLive at Cinema Nova. This is my second such expedition. I saw Frankenstein with Jonny Lee Miller and Benedict Cumberbatch the same way a while ago. This play-as-film but is a play thing works. It doesn't feel too cinematic yet I don't seem to notice … Continue reading The Crux of The Crucible
Devolution of Promethean Proportions
I’ve had a very Promethean weekend. I saw Prometheus and also an encore screening of the NT Live Production of Frankenstein: A Modern Prometheus starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Frankenstein and Johnny Lee Miller as the Creature. Firstly, the film: I badly wanted to love it. And there are bits I did. Michael Fassbender as a … Continue reading Devolution of Promethean Proportions
Writing Bec 