Two more events!

Powerful Landmarks

In a stroke of scheduling genius, MWF organisers put Enza Gandolfo (author of The Bridge) and Kristina Olsson (author of Shell) together to discuss how built structures can be representative of difficult pasts and uncertain futures.

Enza reflected on a lifetime living in the western suburbs, and that when the Bridge fell down, “…everyone was working class, so we all knew someone who worked on the Bridge.” She was surprised that the story had not been told, but added, “I had to be careful because it’s a tragedy in living memory – I had to get it right.”

In contrast, Kristina lives in Brisbane but was drawn to writing about the Sydney Opera House after taking Swedish relatives there – they climbed all over it, admired it, were proud of it. On the ferry to Manly, Kristina looked back at the Opera House and felt her heart shift – “I didn’t want to write about the Opera House, but to use it as a lens.”

Both authors were careful about their research. Enza chose not to interview anyone, because if she’d done so she would have felt obliged to tell their story. Kristina absorbed herself in research and then put it to the back of her mind, “…because it was a novel, fictional, and I wanted the characters to tell the story.”

The discussion turned to the concept of ‘class’ in Australia. Of the current political climate, Enza said, “I’m concerned by this concept of ‘have a go’. It ignores the obstacles.” She went on to say that she thinks it has taken so long for stories about things such as the Bridge to be included in popular culture because they are stories about the working class. Kristina was particularly interested in the place of ‘art’ with the working classes – her family, all working class, would talk eloquently about form and beauty – “Everyone with a beating heart has a feeling about these things.”

Enza concluded by saying, “Often working class people are represented in jobs they hate. But the men on the Bridge were very proud of their work. They loved the Bridge.”

Antisemitism

It was a full house for Australian scholar, Dvir Abramovich, and acclaimed historian, Deborah Lipstadt’s discussion about the rise in antisemitic sentiment the world over. Host Sally Warhaft began by asking the panellists about their experience of antisemitic behaviour. Deborah quickly replied, “Not that much, although I did endure six years of David Irving and his sneering.” That said, she’s had her share of comments that include “…’you people’….basically, the anti-Semite who likes Jews!’

Dvir posed the question, were there now more anti-Semites or were they just feeling more emboldened? On antisemitic feeling in the present and the past, Deborah said that she compares antisemitism to herpes – “…it’s always there but lies dormant. It comes out with stress or in hospitable environments.” She went on to say that Trump promotes antagonism and division, giving antisemitism opportunity to thrive.

The discussion moved to the issue of having swastikas banned in Australia. Sally said that she’d rather know what’s in front of her, and Deborah agreed, saying that she wanted people to openly condemn the swastika. Dvir stated that the idea was put forward to generate discussion but added, “Make it a hate crime. It’s not just graffiti, it’s done with intent.” Deborah agreed – “There’s no neutrality about a swastika. You must be outraged by them.”

The discussion looped back to ‘veiled’ antisemitism, with Dvir referring to comments of the ‘some of my best friends are Jews’ variety. He wryly noted, “Did you ever hear someone boasting ‘some of my best friends are white Anglo-Saxon Protestants’?” Mic drop.

(Sorry, another tiny-people-but-beautiful-ceiling pic.)