Getting the Story Straight: Greg Sheridan in the Shifting Moral Sands of Iraq
This essay traces the evolution of Greg Sheridan's public statements on international affairs since September 11, 2001, finding coherence in the moral epistemology that underpins his arguments. In a global media world dominated by news about the American-led 'war on terror', Sheridan has written extensively on the fall-out from September 11, the Bali bombings, Afghanistan, Iraq and terrorism more generally over this period. What becomes clear, when one looks closely at this oeuvre is that Sheridan is an ideologue, a crusader and an apologist for one of the most barbaric regimes on the planet and for the acolytes who, without question, back the war crimes and despotic violence that this regime visits on those who disagree with its religious fundamentalism and lust for world domination. In Sheridan's worldview, it is also legitimate to vilify, denigrate and misrepresent your intellectual and political opponents, while maintaining your own position in the face of competing facts and analysis.
Diverging frames: A comparison of Indonesian and Australian press portrayals of terrorism and Islamic groups in Indonesia
Media coverage of terrorism in Indonesia shows substantial differences in the way Indonesian and Australian news media portray terrorists, Islamic groups and Indonesian attitudes towards terrorism. While the Australian media’s framing of issues relating to terrorism and Islamic groups in Indonesia generates a hegemonic Orientalist image of Indonesian Muslims, Indonesian media treatment of the same issues is more moderate, presenting a very different picture. This comparative analysis of Australian and Indonesian mainstream news coverage, taken from the week following the 2002 Bali bombings, the 2004 Australian Embassy bombing in Jakarta and the 2005 Bali bombings, illustrates the ease with which stereotypical images can be created and reinforced in the media. At the same time, it shows how easily issues can be presented in a way that counters such generalizations.
The Hollywood War Machine: U.S. Militarism and Popular Culture
CONTENTS Preface Chapter One: Media Culture in the Imperial System Chapter Two: Militarism in American Popular Culture Chapter Three: War and Cinema: The Historical Legacy Chapter Four: The Vietnam Syndrome: Politics and Cinema Chapter Five: Recycling the Good War Chapter Six: Cinematic Warfare in the New World Order Chapter Seven: Hollywood After 9/11