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Jane Howard

@janeannehoward

Arts and culture editor, The Conversation Au+NZ

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10.10.2023
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Latest posts by Jane Howard @janeannehoward

Amanda Seyfried's "prosthetic butthole" was reported with breathless sensationalism – but the story of why actors might want to cover up (even when they're "naked") and the role costume designers play in this is a really interesting one.

06.03.2026 02:33 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I thought this was a young Sarah Jessica Parker!

03.03.2026 00:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

As the laid off Middle East News Editor, I concur. Management eliminated the positions of every single staff correspondent and bureau chief in the Middle East.

02.03.2026 20:39 πŸ‘ 8061 πŸ” 2216 πŸ’¬ 121 πŸ“Œ 70

"I have a right to feel safe!" Babe, you bought a ticket to a show called Nun Slut. "I can't believe you would pack out a room like that!" Babe, everyone was excited to see a show called Nun Slut.

02.03.2026 11:58 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

I don't think I'll have a better theatrical experience this year than the woman who, presumably, bought a ticket to "Nun Slut", and then left after 10 minutes and yelled to the FOH staff, loud enough so everyone in the theatre could hear, about how dare they put on such an abomination.

02.03.2026 11:57 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Once again the @walkleys.bsky.social have conflated judging arts journalism and arts criticism. As a 30+ year practitioner of both, these involve very different skill sets. I predict criticism - already endangered in Australia - will continue to be sidelined. It's a regressive decision.

02.03.2026 02:34 πŸ‘ 34 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Another novel I loved last year was The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji, about three generations of Iranian women, some who left during the revolution and some who stayed. Really expanded my understanding of the country and its people. (It is also incredibly funny.)

01.03.2026 23:14 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Adelaide Biennial 2026: from piss to politics, this survey of Australian art wants you to think a bit harder The exhibition brings sculpture to the fore – by artists including Archie Moore, Kirtika Kain and Nathan Beard – and leaves space for big questions and great humour

In Guardian Australia today, my take on the Adelaide Biennial www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

27.02.2026 23:28 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Inside Writers' Week crisis talks: Minutes show why Randa was cancelled - News | InDaily, Inside South Australia Documents obtained under Freedom of Information reveal why the former Adelaide Festival board decided to deprogram a Palestinian-Australian author

InDaily has the board minutes regarding AWW. Board was fearful the government would cut funding to the festival if they didn't rescind Randa Abdel-Fattah's invitation. www.indailysa.com.au/news/in-dept...

27.02.2026 02:23 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
β€˜Let me in!’ The artist inviting you to protest outside major art venues he can’t access In Let Me In, Let Me Out, Hugo Flavelle takes audiences on a tour of galleries and theatres he has struggled in around Perth – creating a protest crossed with a mobile rave

β€œPerth festival’s artistic director, Anna Reece, who commissioned the project, says none of the institutions she approached on Flavelle’s behalf declined. β€œWe expected some trepidation from some of them about not wanting to be blamed or shamed…””” www.theguardian.com/artanddesign...

26.02.2026 19:41 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
Committee to Protect Journalists Reports a Record 129 Journalists Killed in 2025 For both 2024 and 2025, the Israeli military was responsible for two-thirds of all press killings.

A record 129 press workers were killed worldwide in 2025, more in one year than in any of the previous three decades. The previous record was set in 2024. For both 2024 and 2025, the Israeli military was responsible for two-thirds of all press killings.

26.02.2026 22:00 πŸ‘ 116 πŸ” 92 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 4

Start-up idea: an instant cooling/anti-sweat spray for when you've sped your bike to a theatre venue in the middle of summer, pulling up with two minutes to spare. Name? FringeFreeze.

26.02.2026 10:25 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

lmao i can't believe he literally did the "i was saying boo-urns"

26.02.2026 00:00 πŸ‘ 62 πŸ” 18 πŸ’¬ 5 πŸ“Œ 3

Congratulations!

26.02.2026 00:12 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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The Bondi Royal Commission has confirmed it won’t be examining the Bondi attack.
Top work, everyone.

24.02.2026 21:03 πŸ‘ 234 πŸ” 112 πŸ’¬ 23 πŸ“Œ 14

I'm seeing it.

24.02.2026 21:25 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

otoh taking a day off your great love (editing arts stories) for your other great love (writing arts stories) is pretty great

24.02.2026 09:30 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I need to learn how to rest.

24.02.2026 09:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

as a side note I think we should do this again, I'd love it if my job was to reach out to famous artists about their views on the news of the day, I would like to print that in the newspaper

24.02.2026 09:24 πŸ‘ 177 πŸ” 14 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 0

Amazing! Congrats Patrick x

24.02.2026 07:41 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
The Death of the Critic: From Cultural Visionaries to Vacuous Performers Critics must reclaim their roles as navigators of meaning – not algorithmically-rewarded pastiche provocateurs, writes Iain Overton

The Death of the Critic: From Cultural Visionaries to Vacuous Performers – Byline Times bylinetimes.com/2024/12/09/t...

23.02.2026 20:22 πŸ‘ 15 πŸ” 7 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 4
'You're still in bed at ten
And work began at eight
You've burned your breakfast 
So far, things are going great'

'You're still in bed at ten And work began at eight You've burned your breakfast So far, things are going great'

This lyric from 'I'll Be There For You' suggests that the subject of the song, (me/you), woke up at 10, two hours late for work, then chose to make a cooked breakfast. No wonder my/your life is always stuck in second gear

23.02.2026 09:50 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I've said it before and I'll say it again: half stars are the coward's way out.

23.02.2026 10:06 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

I regret to inform you I am reading theatre reviews, and the critics continue to be wrong.

23.02.2026 09:43 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Pretty unbelievable that over three seasons and 18 episodes of Creative Types, Virginia Trioli will have interviewed 13 men and 5 women.

23.02.2026 03:19 πŸ‘ 8 πŸ” 5 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
Preview
1 year editorial cadetship Job at The Conversation AU/NZ in Melbourne, Australia Apply for THE CONVERSATION AU/NZ 1 year editorial cadetship Job in Melbourne, Australia with Compensation: $68,000

The Conversation is hiring two cadet journalists, send this on to all the young journos and new grads jobs.theconversation.com/jobs/5026001...

23.02.2026 00:00 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 11 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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I’ve found it, I’ve found the worst take

20.02.2026 22:11 πŸ‘ 2363 πŸ” 403 πŸ’¬ 65 πŸ“Œ 51

The really insane thing about arts funding cuts like the ones currently devastating Victoria is how small the savings are. Jacinta Allen is presiding over generational damage to the arts scene, for a saving of around 1 day of transport infrastructure spending

19.02.2026 22:08 πŸ‘ 138 πŸ” 74 πŸ’¬ 6 πŸ“Œ 5
Preview
β€˜Let’s go out in a beautiful fashion’: Australian theatre company says goodbye with one last wondrous show After losing funding, the acclaimed Slingsby Theatre Company is staging its final show: A Concise Compendium of Wonder, a fairytale triptych in a purpose-built, travelling theatre

I'm in Guardian Australia today talking to Adelaide children's theatre company Slingsby as they prepare to present their last ever shows www.theguardian.com/stage/2026/f...

18.02.2026 22:17 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

south australian government make a funding announcement about anything other than sports challenge

19.02.2026 04:47 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0