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How Jurassic Park changed film-making and our view of dinosaurs

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/travis-holland-299087">Travis Holland</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a></em></p> <p>In June 1993, director Steven Spielberg released a film that unleashed a wave of technological change in film-making and simultaneously helped to revive popular interest in dinosaurs.</p> <p>Jurassic Park, based on Michael Crichton’s novel, spawned five blockbuster sequels as well as a multitude of spin-off games, toys, novels, and multiple animated television shows. It features a theme park housing de-extincted dinosaurs that break out of their confines and cause havoc.</p> <p>Underpinning the plot is clever genetic engineering that has allowed the Park’s scientists to assume they could control all aspects of the dinosaurs’ development, including their sex, much to their later horror when it becomes apparent such control was never possible.</p> <p>The film franchise has taken an average of over $1 billion dollars at the box office, <a href="https://variety.com/2022/film/box-office/jurassic-world-dominion-box-office-billion-1235380452/">according to Variety</a>.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QWBKEmWWL38?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>From puppets to CGI</h2> <p>According to industry legend and <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt20102096/?ref_=ttep_ep6">multiple documentaries</a>, Spielberg had planned to use only practical effects, including stop-motion Velociraptors and an animatronic Tyrannosaurus Rex. However, well into the filming schedule, he was convinced to also include wholly digital dinosaurs after viewing test footage produced by staff at special effects house Industrial Light &amp; Magic.</p> <p>In <a href="https://utpress.utexas.edu/9781477325308/">a critical history</a> of Industrial Light &amp; Magic, Julie Turnock observes that the film “relied on a canny mix of large-scale mechanical effects cut together with a few digitally generated shots”. After its success, ILM embraced digital composition technology more fully and integrated it into many later films.</p> <p>As it stands, Jurassic Park features about 50 shots of digital-only prehistoric creatures, including the first full-body scene of a dinosaur – the sauropod Brachiosaurus - flocking Gallimumus, and the T. rex chasing a Jeep.</p> <p>Industrial Light &amp; Magic <a href="https://www.ilm.com/vfx/jurassic-park/">now claims on their website</a> that “Suddenly, directors could imagine making films in which realistic animals, fantasy creatures, even digital people could perform without restraint.”</p> <p>Nowadays, films and television productions are replete with photoreal computer-generated animals and people and the next revolution in screen production has them projected live behind actors on a series of large screens known as “<a href="https://theasc.com/articles/the-mandalorian">the volume</a>”.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BPUEqvfQuHY?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <h2>Palaeontologists aren’t extinct</h2> <p>Shortly after seeing their first dinosaur, on-screen palaeontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) suggests to his palaeobotanist partner Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern) that the de-extinction success of Jurassic Park might make their profession redundant. Their colleague Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum) responds, “Don’t you mean extinct?”</p> <p>But far from extinction, palaeontology and associated sciences have seen an extensive rebound in public interest in the thirty years since Jurassic Park was released.</p> <p>In 1975, palaeontologist Robert Bakker <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/24949774.pdf?casa_token=s5us3t_9TrQAAAAA:hxfVrmS11FACTHHYosZSqQMLDJRWJZTE3a4ggr7kIFauNoIvT8WjUJaZ5hxrKkFNqMcn3-68yiuLlH1tWU7k4o--xCDBpQwYPv4tXjF8KTIU8kpHo0vS">popularised the term “dinosaur renaissance”</a> to describe a spate of developing research findings which argued the creatures were endothermic (warm-blooded), active, and related to the birds rather than cold-blooded, slow and wholly extinct as had been the public perception for much of the previous century. This renaissance lasted from about the 1960s into the 1980s and Jurassic Park reflected many of these new orthodoxies.</p> <p>Bakker himself consulted for the film and was referenced by the character Tim Murphy. A Bakker lookalike also appeared in the sequel The Lost World, further reinforcing its role in reflecting these new perspectives.</p> <p>But the film also arrived at the dawn of yet another new age of dinosaur discoveries which Steve Brusatte, in his 2018 book <a href="https://www.panmacmillan.com.au/9781760780524/">The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs</a>, described as “the golden age of discovery”. Brusatte referred to the cohort of scientists making these newer discoveries as “men and women from many backgrounds who came of age in the era of Jurassic Park.” Among their findings are new understandings that many dinosaurs were feathered like their modern avian cousins.</p> <p>Elizabeth Jones recently chronicled the history of the field of “<a href="https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/9780300240122/ancient-dna/">ancient DNA</a>” science, noting the “Jurassic Park effect” playing out on this fascinating area of research:</p> <blockquote> <p>Even as scientists rejected the conclusions or the implications of the <em>Jurassic Park</em> narrative, they drew on the popularity of the book and movie to emphasise the importance of the technical enterprise in which they were engaged.</p> </blockquote> <p>And <a href="https://cdnsciencepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/cjes-2022-0131">a recent review</a> of the last 60 years of dinosaur research by celebrated palaeontologist Philip J. Currie suggested “public interest continues to be stimulated by a multibillion-dollar movie, media, and toy industry founded on our interest in dinosaurs.”</p> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=1000&amp;fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=600&amp;h=338&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=45&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=30&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/530243/original/file-20230606-27-8gx3lo.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&amp;q=15&amp;auto=format&amp;w=754&amp;h=424&amp;fit=crop&amp;dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption><span class="caption">A scene from Jurassic Park (1993)</span> <span class="attribution">IMDB</span></figcaption></figure> <h2>The Jurassic Park legacy</h2> <p>Dinosaurs have long featured in popular media such as films and television. The first animated dinosaur, Gertie, debuted as <a href="https://palaeomedia.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/2019/07/24/meet-gertie-the-dinosaurus/">part of a vaudeville performance in 1914</a>. Dinosaurs, including a fearsome Tyrannosaurus featured in Disney’s groundbreaking and famed 1940 film Fantasia. But it was Jurassic Park which truly presented them as believable living creatures for the first time.</p> <p>Though the science of the film has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/science/2009/feb/08/jurassic-park-dinosaur-inaccuracies">been widely criticised</a> since its release, Jurassic Park succeeded in revolutionising film-making and reigniting a public fascination with dinosaurs even as palaeontology itself underwent a boom in new research efforts. In <a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/457392/did-i-ever-tell-you-this-by-neill-sam/9780241648988">his recent memoir</a>, actor Sam Neill described the film’s visuals as “a perfect collision of coming-of-age computer generated imagery… with state of the art puppetry”.</p> <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fb5ELWi-ekk?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> <p>The sequels sequels and spin-offs have continued to adapt to changing social expectations, featuring <a href="https://theconversation.com/toss-aside-those-high-heels-how-jurassic-worlds-claire-dearing-lights-a-path-for-women-in-action-films-182334">strong female</a> and <a href="https://www.pride.com/geek/2022/7/21/jurassic-world-camp-cretaceous-goes-out-queer-roar">queer characters</a>, and even <a href="https://www.wired.co.uk/article/jurassic-world-dominion-dinosaur-feathers">feathered dinosaurs</a> in response to changing scientific understandings.</p> <p>Perhaps the next Jurassic film will feature a full-lipped <a href="https://www-science-org.ezproxy.csu.edu.au/content/article/t-rex-lips-new-study-suggests">Tyrannosaurus</a>?<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/203147/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/travis-holland-299087">Travis Holland</a>, Senior Lecturer in Communication, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-sturt-university-849">Charles Sturt University</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-jurassic-park-changed-film-making-and-our-view-of-dinosaurs-203147">original article</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Universal Pictures</em></p>

Movies

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King's-eye-view: Story behind incredibly rare shot from palace balcony

<p>Getty photographer Chris Jackson has shared insight into what it was like to capture the coronation, and watch the moment King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla walked out onto Buckingham Palace balcony from a unique perspective.</p> <p>Taking to Instagram, Jackson shared a rare image that gave the public a small sense of what Charles and Camilla would see from the balcony.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6FZQwtiE6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6FZQwtiE6/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chris Jackson (@chrisjacksongetty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"An honour to shoot 'behind the scenes' and a never seen before angle from today's historic Coronation, what a day!!!!!! Save a 🥂 for me!", he captioned the post.</p> <p>That wasn’t the only ‘behind-the-scenes' look at the King and Queen’s time on the Palace balcony. Jackson also shared a photo of the pair watching the Royal Navy, Army Air Corps and Royal Air Force doing a flypast.</p> <p>The image shows the aircraft leaving a trail of red, white and blue exhaust as they flew over the proceedings.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6M3BDNoYw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cr6M3BDNoYw/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Chris Jackson (@chrisjacksongetty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>"What a view! What a day!" Jackson captioned the post.</p> <p>King Charles and Queen Camilla were captured waving to the crowd from the Palace balcony following his coronation at Westminster Abbey.</p> <p>The pair travelled to the infamous site in a royal carriage for the long-lived tradition.</p> <p>Charles and Camilla were joined on the balcony by their royal pages and members of the British royal family.</p> <p>Prince William and Princess Katie appeared on the balcony with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.</p> <p>There were two noticeable absences from the balcony, although neither were expected to be there as only working royals are given the honour of making an appearance on the balcony.</p> <p>Although Prince Harry did attend the coronation, he left shortly afterwards to travel back to the US for his son Archie’s fourth birthday celebrations.</p> <p>Prince Andrew was also present at the coronation but not on the balcony as Charles looks to “slim down” the monarchy.</p> <p>The day marked the first time the royal family appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.</p> <p>The late Queen waved to the crowd from the balcony, accompanied by Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and their children during Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.</p> <p>She passed away three months later on September 8, 2022, with Prince Charles immediately anointed as King.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Getty/Instagram</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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3 reasons you should never view or share videos showing children being assaulted – even if you think it helps ‘raise awareness’

<p>Australians have been shocked by an <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/22/queensland-children-aged-between-12-and-14-charged-after-allegedly-assaulting-girl-over-several-hours">incident</a> on the Sunshine Coast this month in which a 13-year-old girl was imprisoned, assaulted and tortured over many hours, allegedly by three girls aged 12, 13 and 14.</p> <p>The alleged perpetrators also filmed the abuse, which went <a href="https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/three-girls-charged-after-13yearold-allegedly-lured-to-home-and-tortured/news-story/c08af6c838e54fc0d39c449e57f9719a">viral online</a> with photos and videos being shared across news outlets and social media profiles.</p> <p>Some people may think they’re supporting victims by watching the videos and then expressing their outrage at their treatment. Morbid curiosity about the event might also prompt people to view the photos or videos.</p> <p>But there are three key reasons why you should never view, download or share photos or videos of children being assaulted.</p> <h2>1. You may be committing a criminal offence</h2> <p>Photos and videos showing this 13-year-old girl allegedly being assaulted and tortured are unlawful. Content such as this is called child sexual abuse material (CSAM), which has <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-in-a-name-online-child-abuse-material-is-not-pornography-45840">previously been called child pornography</a>.</p> <p>Child sexual abuse material is <a href="https://theconversation.com/virtual-child-sexual-abuse-material-depicts-fictitious-children-but-can-be-used-to-disguise-real-abuse-180248">offensive or sexual online material</a> depicting children. It’s a criminal offence to possess, view, share or create it.</p> <p>It isn’t just pornographic material. These laws extend to material that depicts children being assaulted and tortured, even without a sexual element.</p> <p>Criminal offences exist for possessing, viewing, sharing or creating such material. Each state and territory jurisdiction, and the Commonwealth, has their own legislation which may have a slightly <a href="https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Lawful_Acts_Unlawful_Images_The_Problematic_Definition_of_Child_Pornography/10064963/1">different perspective</a> on whether a person has committed an offence.</p> <p>Criminal offences can be committed in the following circumstances:</p> <ol> <li> <p>if someone <a href="https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2277239">downloads</a> a child assault photo or video, they are “possessing” child sexual abuse material</p> </li> <li> <p>where someone posts it to their social media page or <a href="https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage?handle=hein.journals/utasman40&amp;div=14&amp;id=&amp;page=">sends it</a> via email to others, they are “distributing” or “disseminating” child sexual abuse material</p> </li> <li> <p>when someone <a href="https://www.cdpp.gov.au/crimes-we-prosecute/child-exploitation">watches</a> a child assault video online without downloading, or looks at a photo, they are still “accessing” (viewing) such material, which can be an offence.</p> </li> </ol> <p>It doesn’t matter if the child victim indicates their approval for the material to be promulgated. Children are <a href="https://www.aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2020-05/58-1213-FinalReport.pdf">unable to consent</a> to material depicting their own assault being shared or viewed by others.</p> <h2>2. You are perpetuating the abuse suffered by the victim</h2> <p>Watching and sharing child abuse photos or videos does not support the victim. Every photo and video depicting child abuse <a href="https://theconversation.com/it-is-not-child-pornography-it-is-a-crime-scene-photo-12465">shows a crime scene</a>.</p> <p>A victim’s abuse being captured and shared as a video is a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213419303667">regular reminder</a> of their abuse. The photos or videos can cause <a href="https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi653">ongoing harm to a child victim</a>, beyond any physical harm they may have recovered from.</p> <p>US researchers conducted <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0145213418301510?via%3Dihub">a study</a>, published in 2018, to analyse the complex experiences of survivors (adults who, as children, had material of their abuse shared online).</p> <p>The participants described ongoing feelings of guilt and shame, and a feeling of enduring vulnerability because their records of abuse will always be online for others to see.</p> <p>As one survivor, not part of this study, <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/978-1-83982-848-520211053/full/html">said</a> "I have to live with the knowledge that my abuse will never end, and that every second of every day, someone could be – almost certainly is – watching my torture and abuse. Even once I’m dead, my degradation will continue. I will never be able to escape it. This trauma is infinite.</p> <p>Some also described an empowering dimension because the material provided validation of the abuse they suffered, or could be used as evidence in court.</p> <p>While victims may all process their experiences in different ways, it’s important to be mindful of the detrimental and ongoing effects on a child victim of an assault being captured and shared online.</p> <p>As a community, we must do everything we can to support those children, including refusing to watch or share photos or videos of their abuse.</p> <h2>3. You are giving undeserved notoriety to the perpetrators</h2> <p>Some perpetrators use records of their offending to create social media content for notoriety.</p> <p>“Performance crimes” allow perpetrators to use their online platform <a href="http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/journals/CICrimJust/2015/21.html">for attention</a>.</p> <p>Terrorism is another example, where terror attacks have been <a href="https://theconversation.com/social-media-create-a-spectacle-society-that-makes-it-easier-for-terrorists-to-achieve-notoriety-113715">livestreamed</a> and media outlets have responded by refusing to name the perpetrators.</p> <p>Do not reward the perpetrators by giving them a platform.</p> <h2>How should we respond?</h2> <p>It’s important we, as a community, acknowledge that children whose assaults are captured in photos and videos have been through a traumatic experience and need support.</p> <p>Watching or sharing their assault only perpetuates the abuse.</p> <p>We must refuse to watch videos of child abuse, and delete them if they’re sent to us.</p> <p>We then need to trust that police will conduct thorough investigations that will result in an appropriate outcome.</p> <p><em>This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/3-reasons-you-should-never-view-or-share-videos-showing-children-being-assaulted-even-if-you-think-it-helps-raise-awareness-202610" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.</em></p> <p><em>Images: Shutterstock</em></p>

Technology

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Jane Fonda's "realistic" views on her own mortality

<p>Jane Fonda has revealed why she feels "ready" to die, just months after her cancer diagnosis. </p> <p>The 84-year-old actress said that people her age need to be “realistic” about their mortality, and should “be aware of the amount of time that is behind you as opposed to in front you”.</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">She told <a tabindex="0" href="https://www.etonline.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener" data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;destination&quot;,&quot;t&quot;:13,&quot;b&quot;:1,&quot;c.t&quot;:7}">Entertainment Tonight </a>that she’s “aware” she is “not going to be around for much longer”, adding that she is “ready” as she has “had a great life”.</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">“Not that I want to go, but I’m aware that it’s going to be sooner rather than later,” she added, stating, “That’s just realistic.”</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">In September, Fonda revealed she had been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, which <span style="caret-color: #2b2b2b; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Sans-sarif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;">is a type of </span>cancer<span style="caret-color: #2b2b2b; color: #2b2b2b; font-family: Roboto, Arial, Sans-sarif; font-size: 17px; background-color: #ffffff;"> that begins in the lymphatic system, a part of the body’s immune system dedicated to fighting germs.</span></p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">She wrote on Instagram, “This is a very treatable cancer. Eighty per cent of people survive, so I feel very lucky. I’m also lucky because I have health insurance and access to the best doctors and treatments. I realise, and it’s painful, that I am privileged in this.”</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}">Fonda said that she would undergo six months of chemotherapy and that, so far, she has been “handling the treatments quite well”.</p> <p data-t="{&quot;n&quot;:&quot;blueLinks&quot;}"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Caring

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Machine learning gives us a dog’s-eye view, showing us how the brains of our best friends interpret the world

<p>Dog’s minds are being read! Sort of.</p> <p>Researchers have used fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) scans of dogs’ brains and a machine learning tool to reconstruct what the pooch is seeing. The results suggest that dogs are more interested in what is happening than who or what is involved.</p> <p>The results of the experiment conducted at Emory University in Georgia in the US are <a href="https://dx.doi.org/10.3791/64442" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">published</a> in the <em>Journal of Visualized Experiments</em>.</p> <p>Two unrestrained dogs were shown three 30-minute videos. The fMRI neural data was recorded, and a machine-learning algorithm employed to analyse the patterns in the scans.</p> <p>“We showed that we can monitor the activity in a dog’s brain while it is watching a video and, to at least a limited degree, reconstruct what it is looking at,” says Gregory Berns, professor of psychology at Emory. “The fact that we are able to do that is remarkable.”</p> <p>Using fMRIs to study perception has recently been developed in humans and only a few other species including some primates.</p> <p>“While our work is based on just two dogs it offers proof of concept that these methods work on canines,” says lead author Erin Phillips, from Scotland’s University of St. Andrews who conducted the research as a specialist in Berns’s Canine Cognitive Neuroscience Lab. “I hope this paper helps pave the way for other researchers to apply these methods on dogs, as well as on other species, so we can get more data and bigger insights into how the minds of different animals work.”</p> <p>Machine learning, interestingly enough, is technology which aims to mimic the neural networks in our own brains by recognising patterns and analysing huge amounts of data.</p> <p>The technology “reads minds” by detecting patterns within the brain data which can be associated with what is playing in the video.</p> <p>Attaching a video recorder selfie stick placed at dog eye level, the researchers filmed relatable scenes for the canine audience.</p> <div class="newsletter-box"> <div id="wpcf7-f6-p214466-o1" class="wpcf7" dir="ltr" lang="en-US" role="form"> </div> </div> <p>Recorded activities included dogs being petted by and receiving treats from people.</p> <p>Scenes with dogs showed them sniffing, playing, eating or walking. Other objects and animals included in the scenes included cars, bikes, scooters, cats and deer, as well as people sitting, hugging, kissing, offering a toy to the camera and eating.</p> <p><iframe src="https://players.brightcove.net/5483960636001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6312584526112" width="960" height="540" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>Time stamps on the videos helped classify them into objects (such as dog, car, human, cat) and actions (like sniffing, eating, walking).</p> <p>Only two dogs exhibited the patience to sit through the feature-length film. For comparison, two humans also underwent the same experiment. Both species, presumably, were coaxed with treats and belly pats.</p> <p>Machine-learning algorithm Ivis was applied to the data. Ivis was first trained on the human subjects and the model was 99% accurate in mapping the brain data onto both the object and action classifiers.</p> <p>In the case of the dogs, however, the model did not work for the object-based classifiers. It was, however, between 75 and 88% accurate in decoding the action classifiers in the dog fMRI scans.</p> <p>“We humans are very object oriented,” says Berns. “There are 10 times as many nouns as there are verbs in the English language because we have a particular obsession with naming objects. Dogs appear to be less concerned with who or what they are seeing and more concerned with the action itself.”</p> <p>Dogs see only in shades of blue and yellow but have a slightly higher density of vision receptors designed for detecting motion.</p> <p>“It makes perfect sense that dogs’ brains are going to be highly attuned to actions first and foremost,” Berns adds. “Animals have to be very concerned with things happening in their environment to avoid being eaten or to monitor animals they might want to hunt. Action and movement are paramount.”</p> <p>Philips believes understanding how animals perceive the world is important in her own research into how predator reintroduction in Mozambique may impact ecosystems.</p> <p>“Historically, there hasn’t been much overlap in computer science and ecology,” she says. “But machine learning is a growing field that is starting to find broader applications, including in ecology.”</p> <p><img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=214466&amp;title=Machine+learning+gives+us+a+dog%E2%80%99s-eye+view%2C+showing+us+how+the+brains+of+our+best+friends+interpret+the+world" width="1" height="1" /></p> <div id="contributors"> <p><em><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/machine-learning-dog-see/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/evrim-yazgin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Evrim Yazgin</a>. Evrim Yazgin has a Bachelor of Science majoring in mathematical physics and a Master of Science in physics, both from the University of Melbourne.</em></p> <p><em>Image: Emory Canine Cognitive Neuroscience Lab</em></p> </div>

Technology

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A “toilet with a view” is the latest popular bathroom trend

<p dir="ltr">The bathroom, often considered a sacred and private space, is the subject of a divisive new trend that does away with the one thing ensuring this security: doors.</p> <p dir="ltr">Instead, open plan ensuites are the latest trend that can even include a view to the great outdoors.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Open plan bathrooms are on the rise for a few reasons,” Tim Bennett, the founder, architect and engineer at Tim Bennetton Architects, says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Society has been more exposed to ‘resort-style’ living where spaces feel more generous than they used to be.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We have all allowed ourselves that touch more luxury - where the bathroom is not purely functional.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to Bennett, one popular layout includes opening up one wall to a view or courtyard to create a space that feels open “while still being private and intimate”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We did this with one of the first houses we designed back in 2008, so it’s certainly a trend that’s been around for a while but is quickly gaining popularity, and it makes sense,” he explains.</p> <p dir="ltr">But when it comes to the key issue - the privacy of using the toilet - Bennett notes that it’s “the only real issue that needs to be discussed”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Some people are quite uncomfortable with an open plan toilet. But others are fine with it,” he says.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You could argue that a toilet with a view adds to ‘the experience’, but on the other hand, many people like the extra level of privacy and separation that a separate compartment provides to the toilet.”</p> <p dir="ltr">If you are considering this trend but find that privacy is a top priority, there are a few things you can do to achieve both.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a8098de-7fff-998b-6302-86fdcf13172a"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">“Flexibility is the key - allow sliding doors so that the ensuite or bathroom can be separated off if desired, or decorate screens or blinds,” Tim says.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty Images</em></p>

Home Hints & Tips

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View from the hot seat: Mike Tindall's insight into Prince Louis' antics

<p>Going down as one of the most memorable moments from The Queen's Platinum Jubilee, Mike Tindall has revealed the reason behind young Prince Louis' cheeky behaviour.</p> <p>Tindall says the four-year-old prince had "complete sugar highs" during the Jubilee Pageant on Sunday after consuming handfuls of sweets behind the scenes.</p> <p>In full view of the world's media, Prince Louis was seen putting his hand across his mum's mouth, trying to shush her as she attempted to tell him to sit still, making a funny face and blowing a raspberry in her direction.</p> <p>Kate swiftly put Louis' hand down, before he did it again with his left hand.</p> <p>The little prince was excited throughout the parade, running up and down the seats, pulling his cousin's hair and eventually jumping onto his grandfather Prince Charles' lap, for a quick break.</p> <p>Tindall was photographed jokingly warning Louis that he was watching him from the seats above.</p> <p>Two days earlier Prince Louis stole the show during Trooping the Colour, pulling a series of funny faces as the rest of the royals watched a flypast of aircraft from the palace balcony.</p> <p>Tindall, also revealed the Queen's grandchildren and their families enjoyed a private lunch after Trooping, describing it was one of his highlights from the four-day celebrations.</p> <p>He spoke about the Jubilee and Louis' mischievous antics on his podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby.</p> <p>"Louis, he was just wanting to have fun, and my two [daughters] are always mischievous, so it was trying to keep a lid on," Tindall said.</p> <p>"There was a lot of sweets out back, though, so they had complete sugar highs. It's tough for them. They're all young, so asking them to sit, because it was two 'til five or whatever, it's a long time.</p> <p>As any parent knows, you just do whatever needs to be done."</p> <p>Tindall was seated directly behind the Cambridges at the Pageant with his wife Zara and their children Mia, eight, Lena, three and Lucas, one.</p> <p>Prince William and Kate later joked about their youngest child's actions, writing on social media, "We all had an incredible time, especially Louis".</p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

Family & Pets

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Take in the views this month at Sydney Opera House’s sunset tours

<p dir="ltr">The sails of the Sydney Opera House are an icon in Sydney's skyline, and now you can explore the building itself - thanks to a new series or sunset tours running through June.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sunset at the House is part of the NSW government's <em>Culture Up Late</em> initiative, offering an intimate tour of the landmarks halls and foyer spaces.</p> <p dir="ltr">Starting at 4pm, you'll get to go behind the scenes of the World Heritage-listed site during golden hour - the prime time to snap some photos of the stunning waterside views - and round out the afternoon with canapes and a drink.</p> <p dir="ltr">“There is no better way to step inside the Opera House and learn more about how the building comes to life,” Nicola Brandon, the Sydney Opera House General Manager of Tours, Retail and Projects, said.</p> <p dir="ltr">Sunset at the House is a wonderful experience where people can enjoy the Opera House at a time when it’s buzzing with energy. Guests will be awed by the beauty of a stunning harbour sunset, with delicious canapés and drinks served to them at Portside or the Joan Sutherland Theatre’s northern balcony, two of our finest locations,” </p> <p dir="ltr">Tickets cost just $20 - half the price of a standard Opera House Tour - and are available to purchase for select dates from June 3-29 <a href="https://www.sydneyoperahouse.com/visit-us/tours-and-experiences/sunset-at-the-house.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-58d4c7ae-7fff-574a-ee35-eca1e9b7260f"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Mafia fugitive caught after being spotted on Google Street View

<p>An Italian mafia fugitive has been found after 20 years on the run after being spotted on Google Maps in Spain. </p> <p><span>Gioacchino Gammino, one of Italy's most wanted mobsters, was handed a life sentence after being convicted of murder in 1989, before escaping prison in 2002. </span></p> <p><span>Following his escape, he fled to a town north of Madrid and changed his name before opening a fruit and vegetable shop. </span></p> <p><span>Despite his new identity, Italian police were hot on his tail after spotting him by chance on Google Street View standing outside a grocery shop named </span>El Huerto de Manu, Manu's Garden.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Gammino had since changed his name to Manuel.</p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Nearby where he was spotted, police found a listing for a restaurant named <span>Cocina de Manu which had been closed for some time.</span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font">Despite the restaurant appearing to be closed, the establishment's Facebook page was still active and showed photos of Gammino proudly posing in chef's clothing, with the menu featuring a specialty <span>Sicilian supper, with a design similar to the iconic poster for <em>The Godfather</em> film.</span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>Police recognised the images of Gammino on Facebook thanks to a distinct scar on his chin. </span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>He was arrested on December 17th, and was baffled at how authorities tracked him down. </span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>He said after his capture, "How did you find me? I haven't even phoned my family for the last 10 years."</span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><span>Gammino will now be returned to a jail in Italy were he will see out the remainder of his life sentence for murder. </span></p> <p class="mol-para-with-font"><em>Image credits: Google Maps</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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What is happening? Facebook blocks Australians from viewing news

<p>Facebook's latest decision has rocked Australia after the social media giant restricted publishers and people in Australia from sharing or viewing local and international news content.</p> <p><strong>Why is this happening?</strong></p> <p>Facebook's decision is in response to Australia's proposed new Media Bargaining law, which requires tech companies to pay for news content.</p> <p>“The proposed law fundamentally misunderstands the relationship between our platform and publishers who use it to share news content,” Facebook said in a statement shared on Thursday morning.</p> <p>“It has left us facing a stark choice: attempt to comply with a law that ignores the realities of this relationship, or stop allowing news content on our services in Australia. With a heavy heart, we are choosing the latter.”</p> <p>Facebook said they tried to work with the Federal Government over three years to try and come to an agreement that would be beneficial for both digital platforms and news organisations.</p> <p>“Unfortunately this legislation does not do that. Instead it seeks to penalise Facebook for content it didn’t take or ask for.”</p> <p>You can read Facebook’s full statement<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://about.fb.com/news/2021/02/changes-to-sharing-and-viewing-news-on-facebook-in-australia/" target="_blank">here</a>.</p> <p><strong>What does this mean?</strong></p> <p>From Thursday, Aussies will have woken up to a drastically different news feed.</p> <p>Australians have been banned from viewing news stories, both local and international, and major broadcasters and news outlets have been restricted from posting on the platform as well.</p> <p><strong>What happens now?</strong></p> <p>To continue reading stories from Over60, you can visit our website directly or subscribe to our<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/information/join" target="_blank">newsletters</a>.</p> <p><em><a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.facebook.com/help/2579891418969617" target="_blank" class="c-link" data-stringify-link="https://www.facebook.com/help/2579891418969617" data-sk="tooltip_parent">Read more</a> about how people can appeal by clicking directly on the notification on their Page which will bring them to the Facebook Help Centre &amp; appeal form.</em></p>

News

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Jojo Rabbit: Hitler humour and a child's eye view of war make for dark satire

<p>Jojo Rabbit is not Disney Studios’ first foray into Hitler parody. In 1943, it produced <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L90smU0SOcQ">der Fuehrer’s Face</a> – an anti-Nazi film inside Donald Duck’s nightmares.</p> <p>Now, Disney is the Australian distributor of Jojo Rabbit, a story of a young boy whose imaginary friend (and buffoonish life coach) is Adolf Hitler.</p> <p>In this dark satire, from the Polynesian-Jewish-New Zealand director Taika Waititi who brought us <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4698684/">Hunt for the Wilderpeople</a>, Nazi Germany is in its waning days. The Germans have all but lost the second world war but 10-year-old Johannes “Jojo” Betzel (Roman Griffin Davis) believes he, and he alone, will be the Aryan hero to turn the tide.</p> <p>The boy’s imaginary friend, a hilariously incompetent Hitler (played by Waititi in blue contact lenses and the trademark moustache), cheers him on. When asked to kill a rabbit to get into the Hitler Youth, Jojo baulks, though he does almost manage to kill himself in a grenade stunt.</p> <p>“You’re still the bestest, most loyal little Nazi I’ve ever met,” the fantasy Fuhrer enthuses.</p> <p><strong>Through children’s eyes</strong></p> <p>Themes and images of children have often been central in films exploring WWII. Steven Spielberg famously used <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUJ187mkMq8">“the girl in red coat”</a> to create a powerfully moving symbol of innocence in <a href="https://www.sbs.com.au/movies/article/2017/03/31/schindlers-list-one-most-visually-powerful-war-films-ever-made">Schindler’s List</a> (1993).</p> <p>Immediately after the war, a stream of films, including Roberto Rosselini’s <a href="https://www.criterion.com/current/posts/1358-germany-year-zero-the-humanity-of-the-defeated%22%22">Germany Year Zero</a> (1948), Gerhard Lamprecht’s <a href="https://ecommerce.umass.edu/defa/film/6025">Somewhere in Berlin</a> (1946), and Fred Zinnemann’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu8h7OyX8-Y">The Search</a> (1948) looked at wartime trauma through injuries acquired by children.</p> <p>Like Jojo’s grenade mishap, their wounds were permanent.</p> <p>In war films, children’s perspectives don’t diminish the ghastliness of war. Quite the contrary. When war and its pervasive horror spills over from the battlefield and intrudes on their youth, viewers are appalled at its spread.</p> <p>Containing that disease of war, curing it even, is where Waititi’s takedown of fascist group-think truly begins.</p> <p>How will Jojo escape the brainwash army of Reichswehr propaganda parrots like Rebel Wilson’s Fräulein?</p> <p>There are several steps. The first one for Jojo is finding out his mother has been hiding a Jewish girl in the attic.</p> <p>Scarlett Johansson gives an enchanting performance as a single mum who tries to keep the embers of humanity and love in Jojo’s heart alive as he gets lost in Nazi doctrines of vile anti-Semitism.</p> <p>Jojo starts falling for Elsa Korr (Thomasin McKenzie), the hideaway in his attic, as her humanity – and his pre-pubescent hormones – triumph over fascist indoctrination. Through Jojo’s eyes, we see Elsa turn from monster into human as he comes back from the brink of fanatic hatred.</p> <p>Waititi hides that innocent, simple love story under slapstick and a ton of special effects. The latter don’t always work. And some of the jokes fall flat.</p> <p>But what works is the message that Jojo is both manipulated and self-manipulating. His Nazi hate is a cage of his own making, and Elsa is the key to unlocking it. She teaches him that empathy for those who we think are different from us is powerful.</p> <p><iframe width="440" height="260" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VTqd4yNFuSw?wmode=transparent&amp;start=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><strong>Irreverent or irresponsible?</strong></p> <p>Hitler comedies have a long history. In 1940, Charlie Chaplin released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVLQ8lNd1Pk">The Great Dictator</a>. Mel Brooks created <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brkp2VhzdDI">The Producers</a> in 1968.</p> <p>German filmmakers Dani Levy (<a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0780568/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1">My Führer – The Really Truest Truth about Adolf Hitler</a>, 2007) and David Wnendt (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylstybS6rqw&amp;list=PL-2fuUy0f-jOu3bV_Bj1Uh-SbTO8OCK1A&amp;index=2&amp;t=0s">Look Who’s Back</a>, 2015) strived to find the right balance between comedy and drama.</p> <p>Like Waititi, those filmmakers experienced how mining sombre Holocaust themes and hateful iconography for the ridiculous splits public reactions along extreme lines. The critics bemoaned that Levy committed only halfheartedly to a funny Hitler, making the film the worst thing a comedy can be: too harmless.</p> <p>Wnendt faced another issue. He intercut his film with hidden camera footage of Germans reacting to the lead actor dressed as Hitler. People thought this was too much realism.</p> <p>Waititi <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-09/jojo-rabbit-review-and-taika-waititi-on-making-comic-hitler/11721074">says</a> he didn’t look at these forerunners and didn’t do any research on Hitler. He looked to literature instead.</p> <p>Jojo Rabbit uses the masterful dramatic novel <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25641300-caging-skies?from_search=true&amp;qid=ev2DKS7scE&amp;rank=1">Caging Skies</a> by New Zealand-Belgian author Christine Leuens as source material. The book doesn’t have the same generous scoops of comedy and tragedy found in Ladislav Fuks’ <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/725311.Mr_Theodore_Mundstock">Mr. Theodore Mundstock</a>, or in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18582851-the-nazi-and-the-barber">The Nazi and the Barber</a> by Edgar Hilsenrath.</p> <p>It’s all the more reason to recognise what Waititi has tried to accomplish. He had to negotiate between a book adaptation, Holocaust memory, and Hollywood.</p> <p>Commenting on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJSwD_17qjY">his motivation</a> for making the film, Watiti, whose mother is Jewish, said: “I just want people to be more tolerant and spread more love and less hate”.<em><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></em></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/benjamin-nickl-594248">Benjamin Nickl</a>, Lecturer in International Comparative Literature and Translation Studies, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/jojo-rabbit-hitler-humour-and-a-childs-eye-view-of-war-make-for-dark-satire-128622">original article</a>.</em></p>

Movies

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Best places to view the stars in New Zealand

<p class="">Who doesn’t love a night staring at the stars? </p> <p class=""><span>New Zealand is home to the only island granted dark sky sanctuary status – the north’s Great Barrier Island. Head to the south and you could catch a glimpse of the </span><span>Aurora Australis. </span></p> <p class=""><span>The night sky is woven into the culture of the New Zealand Maori people. Matariki, the rise of the Pleiades constellation, signals the start of the Maori New Year. </span></p> <p class="">Here are some of the best places to view the stars in New Zealand. </p> <p><strong>Great Barrier Island (Aotea)</strong></p> <p class="">Great Barrier Island is an<span> International </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.darksky.org/idsp/sanctuaries/" target="_blank">Dark Sky Sanctuary</a><span>. It’s </span><span>one of only four places in the world (and the only island) to be granted sanctuary</span><span> status.</span><span> </span><span></span></p> <p class=""><span>A dark sky sanctuary is defined as public or private land that has "an exceptional or distinguished quality of starry nights".</span></p> <p class="">Great Barrier Island the largest of the Hauraki Gulf islands north east of Auckland. It’s <span>isolated, has a small resident population and is free from the electricity</span><span> grid. What this means for travellers is less light pollution and more protected stargazing. At night the Milky Way spans the sky and the Magellanic Clouds, not visible in the Northern Hemisphere, are easily seen.</span></p> <p class=""><span>For the roughly 1000 residents, a dark night sky has become a way of life and you’ll find yourself slowing down and appreciating life on any visit here. But star gazing isn’t the only thing you can do. </span><span>Aotea is also a boating paradise, a popular destination for diving, fishing, surfing, mountain bike riding and hiking.</span></p> <p><strong>Aoraki Mackenzie</strong></p> <p class="">Another top spot to search for shooting stars is Aoraki Mackenzie, in the middle of the South Island. Aoraki Mackenzie is a designated International Dark Sky Reserve. The difference between names is that a sanctuary is usually in a remote place with little threat to its night skies. It includes Aoraki Mt Cook National Park, and the villages of Lake Tekapo, Twizel and Mt Cook.</p> <p class="">Aoraki Mackenzie isn’t remote – but it is still a prime place to admire the constellations. It is the largest dark sky reserve in the world. </p> <p class="">Spend one night doing a classic guided tour to the observatory to learn about the stars. And then the next just soaking up the view while relaxing in the<span> </span>hot pools at Tekapo Springs.</p> <p class="">Or for something really special, check out SkyScape Lodge, an architecturally designed, glass-roofed accommodation building on a 6000-acre high country station about 12 kilometres from Twizel. </p> <p><strong>Lake Tekapo</strong></p> <p>Lake Tekapo is home to New Zealand’s premier scientific astronomy observatory, Mt John Observatory. The observatory site was chosen in 1963 for the clarity and darkness of the night sky after three years of site testing.</p> <p class="">About three hours drive south-west of Christchurch in the Mackenzie Basin, Earth and Sky Tours at Mt John Observatory offers a range of astro-tours. On a clear night several telescopes are set up outside. If you bring your DSLR camera, the observatory’s astro-photographers may capture the night sky for you. </p> <p class="">If the sky is cloudy, don’t worry. Mount John also offers a fascinating behind the scenes tour of what life is like for an astronomer. It offers the chance to see the research equipment that is usually off limits to the general public and to learn about the research conducted at Mt John. </p> <p class="">In the day time, the views at Lake Tekapo are just as stunning. The remarkable turquoise colour lake is framed by snow-capped mountains. Lake Tekapo gets its intense milky-turquoise colour from the fine rock-flour (ground by glaciers) which is suspended in the water. </p> <p><strong>Stewart Island</strong></p> <p>Head south if you want to see the Southern Lights, also known as Aurora Australis. The aurora occurs when <span>electrically charged solar particles collide with gases such as oxygen and nitrogen</span><span> in the Earth’s atmosphere</span><span>, causing those gases to emit light. The most common colour is a yellow-green, but the aurora can also be pink or purple. </span><span></span></p> <p><span>The auroras happen in ovals around the earth's two magnetic poles. The further south you go, the more likely you are to see the Aurora Australis. </span></p> <p>The furthest south you can go in New Zealand is Stewart Island. Up to 80 per cent of the island is made up of the Rakiura National Park – meaning there’s little light polution and a great chance for star-gazing. </p> <p class="">Auroras can happen at any time, but they are more common in the winter months. </p> <p class=""><span>The website </span><a rel="noopener" href="http://www.aurora-service.net/aurora-forecast/" target="_blank">Aurora Service offers hourly aurora forecasts</a><span>, using real time solar wind data from Nasa’s Ace Spacecraft. The aurora strength is measured in Kp. Kp ranges between zero and nine. Zero is the weakest and nine is the strongest. Anything Kp5 or above is considered a geomagnetic storm and a good chance of an aurora occuring.</span></p> <p class="">Dunedin is one of the best larger cities to catch the colourful night-time display. Queenstown has also been known to have incredible southern lights displays. And Lake Tekapo (see above) is also known for spectacular displays.<span></span></p> <p class=""><em>Written by Alison Godfrey. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.mydiscoveries.com.au/stories/dark-parks-the-best-places-in-new-zealand-to-view-the-stars/">MyDiscoveries</a>.</em></p>

Domestic Travel

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Meet the 76-year-old man behind the most viewed photo in history

<p>Some estimates say that the Windows XP’s wallpaper has been seen by 1 billion people, making it the most viewed photograph in the world.</p> <p>In 1996, Charles O’Rear, on the way to visit his girlfriend, captured the iconic wallpaper “Bliss” in Sonoma County, California.</p> <p>The 76-year-old man behind the image is now producing “the next generation of wallpapers” and they look just as stunning.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="500" height="460" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7267411/in-text_500x460.jpg" alt="In Text (2)"/></p> <p>Now, his new projected called New Angles of America is wallpapers targeted for smartphone users.</p> <p>“I am thrilled to create for Lufthansa a sequel to the “Bliss” photo on smartphones so that my views of other beautiful places can continue to be enjoyed by millions of people. After all, smartphones have become the primary place for the world to see new and interesting photography. And, I’m glad to be part of it.”</p> <p>“I am turning 76 and realise how much the Microsoft Bliss photograph has meant to my life. As the photographer of the most viewed photo in history, I have enjoyed every minute of the fame.”</p> <p>Scroll through the gallery above to see his latest images.</p> <p>Do you have the “Bliss” photo as your wallpaper? Let us know in the comments below.</p> <p><em>Image credit: <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=47&amp;v=b414uFIR5RM" target="_blank">Lufthansa</a></strong></span></em></p>

Art

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Where to find the most spectacular views of Sydney Harbour

<p><em><strong>Robyn Kennedy loves to explore and photograph Sydney and surrounds. Her blog <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/" target="_blank">Life Out &amp; About</a></span> has become a passion, sharing ideas for outings in and around Sydney - charming gardens, bush walks, art galleries and inspiring places to eat!</strong></em></p> <p>If you’re looking for one of the most spectacular Sydney Harbour views, you need to visit Georges Heights Lookout at Headlands Park Mosman. Perched high above the harbour the lookout offers unparalleled views to Manly, Vaucluse and the Sydney CBD. There are also a number of inspiring bushwalks and cafés in the area, as well as an Artist Precinct.</p> <p>Georges Heights was formerly used by the military as a lookout area to see approaching enemy ships. Many of the historical military structures are still in place, such as concealed gun pits, underground tunnels and barracks. All well worth exploring.</p> <p><strong>Where:</strong> Middle Head Peninsula, Middle Head Road, Mosman<br /> <strong>Website:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/visit/georges-heights-headland-park" target="_blank">Harbour Trust Georges Heights</a></strong></span><br /> <strong>Allow:</strong> 1/2 day<br /> <strong>Getting there: </strong>Car – Bus – Walk – Water Taxi to Chowder Bay<br /> <strong>Also see:</strong> <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/harbourside-eat-drink/" target="_blank">Harbourside Dining</a></strong></span>, Balmoral</p> <p><strong>What to See &amp; Do</strong></p> <p><strong>1. Georges Heights Lookout – Sydney Harbour Views</strong></p> <p><img width="538" height="269" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Georges-Heights-Views.jpg?resize=800%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2359" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Georges Heights Mosman – Sydney Harbour Views &amp; military heritage</em></p> <p>On a clear day the view from Georges Heights Lookout is absolutely magical. It’s also an inspiring place for a picnic, however there are no picnic tables/chairs… just grass and steps </p> <p>There are usually plenty of parking spots close by, and the walkway from the car park to the lookout is easy and wheelchair-accessible.</p> <p><strong>2. Walk – Georges Heights Lookout to Clifton Gardens</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="300" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Clifton-Gardens-Chowder-Bay2.jpg?resize=800%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2363"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Clifton Gardens Beach ~ views &amp; bush track ~ Bacino Kiosk ~ East Coast Lounge (café &amp; shop)</em></p> <p>In the warmer months we love to do this walk early, finishing up with a coffee and bite to eat at Drift Café (formerly Bacino Kiosk), overlooking the beautiful waters of Chowder Bay. If you follow the path and stairs south, past Gunners Barracks Tearooms to Chowder Bay and Clifton Gardens you will be rewarded with a brilliant aquamarine harbour and a white sandy beach…. and some fabulous eateries and picnic spots.</p> <p>The track down through the trees can be quite steep in areas and also a little rough, so you will need reasonably good walking shoes. It’s shady, so perfect for a walk on a warm summer’s day.  If you’re unable to do the walk you can easily drive from Georges Heights to Chowder Bay or Clifton Gardens… or catch the bus (parking is expensive at Chowder Bay and Clifton Gardens). Water Taxi’s to Chowder Bay are also an option.</p> <p>With <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://taronga.org.au/" target="_blank">Taronga Zoo</a></strong></span> literally just around the corner you could if time permits continue the walking trail beyond Clifton Gardens to Bradley’s Head and the zoo (approx. 30-45 minutes).</p> <p><strong>3. Visit – Headland Park Artist Precinct</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="300" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Headland-Park-Artist-Precinct.jpg?resize=800%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2371"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Headland Park Artist Precinct</em></p> <p>If you take the path north from the Georges Heights Lookout, you will arrive at the Headland Park <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.headlandparkartistprecinct.com/index.php/artists" target="_blank">Artist Precinct,</a></strong></span> and the delightful Frenchy’s Café (an easy 10 minutes walk).</p> <p>The collective of 15+ studios with sculptors, painters, potters and photographers is housed in former military buildings.   The studios are open to visitors and works can be purchased directly from the artists. I particularly enjoy the ceramic exhibitions at the small free standing cottage which houses the Mu Studio.</p> <p>A coffee and bite to eat at Frenchy’s Café is always enjoyable, where one can sit under the trees / shading and take in harbour and leafy views.</p> <p><strong>4. Walk – Georges Heights Lookout to Balmoral Beach</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="300" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Georges-Heights-to-Balmoral.jpg?resize=800%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2366"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Georges Heights to Balmoral via Headland Park Artist’s Precinct</em></p> <p>Heading north from the lookout is an easy 10 minute walk along a well maintained path to the Headland Park Artist Precinct. The views along the way are stunning.</p> <p>From the Artist Precinct you can walk a further 10 minutes north to Burnt Orange Café and Shop, or head down the stairs to Balmoral beach… there are lots of stairs so this may not be your idea of fun. Once at Balmoral there are a zillion eating options. Checkout the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/harbourside-eat-drink/" target="_blank">Harbourside Dining</a></strong></span> blog for a few suggestions.</p> <p><strong>5. Explore – Old Military Structures</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="300" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Georges-Heights-Military.jpg?resize=800%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2373"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Georges Heights Military Heritage &amp; Sydney Harbour Views</em></p> <p>There is a maze of underground tunnels and gun pits in this area. One can wander freely around most of the sites, or if you prefer a guided tour, the <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.harbourtrust.gov.au/event/headland-park-tunnels-gunners-georges-heights-first-sunday-every-month" target="_blank">Headland Park Tunnels &amp; Gunners tours</a></strong></span> are held on the first Sunday of every month.</p> <p><strong>6. Curious Grace</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="300" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Curious-Grace-Middle-Head-Cafe2.jpg?resize=800%2C400&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-2403"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Curious Grace Designer Furniture &amp; Homeware – Middle Head Café across the road</em></p> <p>What a curious name!!! It certainly makes one want to explore further. Just down Middle Head Rd, past Burnt Orange Café is the delightful and very stylish <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://curiousgrace.com.au/" target="_blank">Curious Grace</a></strong></span> designer furniture and homewares store… beautifully located in the renovated army barracks buildings, surrounded by lush vegetation and harbour views, the perfect place to display their collection. Easiest access is from the car park at the corner of Middle Head Rd and Chowder Bay Rd (the entrance is off the undercover walkway displayed in the image above).</p> <p>If you’re feeling a little peckish, just across the road is the Middle Head Café, serving delicious quiches and other French goodies… also with leafy harbour views and tables under the trees!</p> <p><strong>Eat &amp; Drink</strong></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="221" src="https://i2.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Georges-Heights-Frenchys-Cafe.jpg?resize=800%2C296&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-1904"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Georges Heights area – Frenchy’s Café at the Artist’s Precinct</em></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img width="600" height="221" src="https://i1.wp.com/www.lifeoutandabout.com.au/wp-content/uploads/Chowder-Bay-Bacino-Bar-Kiosk.jpg?resize=800%2C296&amp;ssl=1" class="size-full wp-image-1887"/></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Chowder Bay – Drift Café (formerly Bacino Kiosk) overlooking the bay and Clifton Gardens Beach</em></p> <p>There’s absolutely no shortage of fabulous eating options in this area, from cafés to fine dining. Set in the bush or with harbour views, you are guaranteed of finding somewhere for a coffee or bite to eat! With Georges Heights and Clifton Gardens having wonderful outlooks, it can also be fun to take a picnic.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrenchysCafe/" target="_blank">Frenchy’s Café</a></strong></span><br /> <strong>Location:</strong> Artist’s Precinct – Bush setting minutes to harbourside walks<br /><strong>Food:</strong> French style homemade</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.burntorange.com.au/" target="_blank">Burnt Orange</a></strong></span><br /> <strong>Location:</strong> Bush setting water views – historic sandstone mansion about 15 minutes walk down the road from Georges Heights lookout.<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Modern Australian</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Middle Head Café</span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"> </span></strong><br /> <strong>Location:</strong> 1110 Middle Head Rd, overlooking the oval and Balmoral harbour<br /><strong>Food: </strong>French café – delicious quiches and salad…. and desserts.</p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.eastcoastlounge.com.au/" target="_blank">East Coast Lounge</a></strong></span> <a href="http://www.eastcoastlounge.com.au/" target="_blank"><br /> </a><strong>Location:</strong> Chowder Bay – housed in an historic army building overlooking the Bay<br /><strong>Food &amp; Shop:</strong> Casual Modern Australian + wine bar + homewares &amp; gifts</p> <p><a href="http://rippleschowderbay.com.au/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Ripples</strong></span><br /> </a><strong>Location:</strong> Chowder Bay – overlooking the bay<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Modern Australian with European influences</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Drift Café (formerly Bacino Kiosk)</span></strong><br /> <strong>Location:</strong> Chowder Bay – Water’s edge – housed in what was the old army ammunitions store (just below Ripples Restaurant…. a few steps from Clifton Gardens beach)<br /><strong>Food:</strong> Light / pre-made sandwiches, coffee, cakes – eat out or takeaway</p> <p>Have you ever been to this beautiful part of Sydney?</p> <p><em>Image credit: Robyn Kennedy</em></p>

International Travel

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You can now experience a 360 degree view of Uluru online

<p>With ever-growing troves of valuable data on its shelves, Google has expanded its Street View range further to Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in Northern Territory, Australia.</p> <p>However, rather than eyeing ad revenue, Google seems intent on documenting the cultural heritage of the area in this project, and after two years of collaborative development the Story Sphere of Uluru is now live online.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Yocf-lFF49g?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p> <p><span style="text-align: center;">Since 2007, Street View has captured some of the world's most famous sites across 83 countries, including the Grand Canyon in the US and the Taj Mahal in India.</span></p> <p>The service offers 360 degree panoramas from various vantage points around each site, in what are like dynamic brochures for curious parties and potential visitors, who are probably many kilometres away.</p> <p>The new Uluru coverage includes nine sites, under labels including Uluru View, Kata Tjuta View, Tjukurpa and Watering Hole in line with existing Street View scenarios.</p> <p>However, when tackling Uluru, the Google team thought the unique Australian site needed the presence and voices of its people to fully capture the Tjukurpa, or way of life of the local Anangu people.</p> <p>Working closely with Parks Australia, the local community and Tourism NT, the company engaged its existing Story Sphere platform to bring the Street View to life for the special site.</p> <p>After clicking through to the Story Spheres from Street View, the scenes become animated with voice-overs and music, adding rich currents of songlines and stories.</p> <p>Click on the white notes that hover over certain areas of the scene to be taken on a guided tour by Anangu traditional owner Sammy Wilson about its history or cultural relevance, with songs and music by traditional owner and Anangu Elder, Reggie Uluru.</p> <p>It respectfully avoids climbing the rock, in line with wishes of traditional owners, and rather traces paths around its base away from sacred sites deemed inappropriate for the project.</p> <p>"If people see this, they will hopefully have more of an understanding about Uluru. They will also want to come and visit," Wilson says.</p> <p>"Everybody in the world has their own culture, their own ways of expressing and celebrating their belief systems and culture. The natural world holds our belief system".</p> <p>"Guests can arrive informed of more than just the picture postcard views and with an appreciation and a desire to learn more when on the ground," says Jason Pellegrino, managing direction of Google Australia and New Zealand.</p> <p>"For locals, it's an opportunity to share their heritage amongst themselves in a new way. Younger generations have taken up new technology. Traditions are now transferred in multiple ways, in addition to the oral telling of stories.</p> <p>"This platform is not monetised whatsoever. There's no money being made".</p> <p>Have you ever been to Uluru?</p> <p><em>Written by Richard McLeish. First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></strong></a>. </em></p>

International Travel